''1915'' is an Australian

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...

television miniseries written by

Peter Yeldham Peter Alan Yeldham (25 April 1927 – 20 September 2022) was an Australian screenwriter for motion pictures and television, playwright and novelist whose career spanned five decades. Biography Peter Yeldham was born in Gladstone, near Smitht ...

, based on Roger McDonald's 1979 novel '' 1915: A Novel of Gallipoli'', that premiered on ABC TV on 27 June 1982, and concluded on 8 August 1982. The miniseries stars Scott McGregor, Scott Burgess,

Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes ''Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018) ...

, Jackie Woodburne, Ilona Rodgers,

Richard Moir Richard Moir (born 1950) is an Australian former actor and editor. Career Moir initially began his career as a film editor for low-budget 1970s Australian films and TV series, many of which were the work of director Esben Storm. Moir struck u ...

Serge Lazareff Serge Constantine Lazareff (7 August 1944 – 20 August 2021) was an Australian actor and screenwriter/editor, who was born in Shanghai, China. He appeared in 54 roles from the late 1960s until 1999, before starting a second career as a writer ...

, Damon Sanders, and Andrew McFarlane. It deals the friendship between two young mates during the outbreak of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p218

Cast

* Scott Burgess as Billy Mackenzie * Scott McGregor as Walter Gilchrist * Lorraine Bayly as Helen Gilchrist * Gary Holmes as Douggie Gilchrist * Bill Hunter as Alan Gilchrist * Jackie Woodburne as Dianna Bendetto *

Arna-Maria Winchester Arna-Maria Winchester was an Australian actress, appearing on film, TV and in the theatre. Career Winchester played the main role in the 1980 film '' The Chain Reaction'' and the 1983 TV series ''Kings''. Other featured screen roles include ...

as Brigid Scott *

as Frances Reilly *

Anne Haddy Patricia Anne Haddy (5 October 1930 – 6 June 1999), credited also as Anne Hardy, was an Australian actress, television presenter and voice artist, who worked in various facets of the industry including radio, stage and television. She was mar ...

as Mrs. Gillen * Andrew McFarlane as Robert Gillen * Gerard Kennedy as Dent *

as Blackly Reid *

as Reverend Fox *

Maurie Fields Maurice Fields (born Maurice Sheil, 4 August 1926 – 18 December 1995) was an Australian vaudeville performer, actor and stand-up comedian. Career Fields became a well-known face on television first thanks to his comic sketches on live progra ...

as Mayor * Ilona Rodgers as Mrs. Reilly *

Martin Vaughan Martin Kevin Vaughan (5 June 1931 – October 2022) was an Australian stage, television and film actor and musician. He is best known for appearing in the film ''Phar Lap'' as trainer Harry Telford and the lead role in the award-winning 26-part ...

as Hugh Mackenzie * Vince Martin as Frank Barton * Adrian Wright as Oliver Melrose * Ric Herbert as Pig Nolan * Mervyn Drake as Lt. Fagan *

Alan David Lee Alan David Lee (born 1955 or 1956) is an Australian actor. Early life Lee grew up on a farm in Kenya before moving to Australia when he was 7. He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1981. When he had initially applie ...

as Corporal * Ned Manning as Captain Ashworth

Reception

John Voorhees of the Seattle Times wries "But while the characters are compelling enough to hold our interest through all seven episodes, the real reason for watching ``1915`` is because it captures the feeling of time and place so expertly, exhibiting a sense of history that goes beyond old cars and period clothes. And it is that historical ambience that sets ``1915`` apart from many TV miniseries." Daniel Ruth of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 2 1/2 stars, criticising the pacing "This mini-series takes too long to establish itself, as McGregor and Burgess spend the first four hours of "1915" swooning over Thornton and Woodburne and calling each other "mate." Enough already." but praising other aspects "Two virtues of "1915" are its terrific production values and period costuming."

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
''1915''
at

Australian Screen Online The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting, and providing access to a national c ...

1982 Australian television series debuts 1982 Australian television series endings 1980s Australian drama television series 1980s Australian television miniseries Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming Australian military television series Australian English-language television shows Historical television series Television series about families Television shows based on Australian novels Works about friendship Works about the Gallipoli campaign World War I television drama series Works by Peter Yeldham {{Australia-tv-prog-stub