''The Great Bookie Robbery'' is a 1986 Australian mini series about a 1976 crime known as the Great Bookie Robbery. It aired over three consecutive nights from the 15th to 17 September.

Plot

A group of men, led by veteran bank robber Mike Power on temporary release from Parkhurst Prison in the UK, plan Australia's biggest heist. After meticulous planning, they hold up Melbourne’s Victoria Sports Club, where bookies bring their cash, escaping with millions of dollars. Pulling it off proves far more challenging than anticipated, as they struggle to evade the law, corrupt cops and underworld figures, all wanting a share.

Cast

John Bach John Bach (born 5 June 1946) is a British-born New Zealand actor who has acted on stage, television and film over a period of more than four decades. Though born in the United Kingdom, he has spent most of his career living and working in New ...

as Mike Power *

Catherine Wilkin Catherine Wilkin (born October 1950) is a New Zealand actor who has worked in New Zealand and Australia. Career Wilkin has acted in many Australian television shows, with a mix of guest and multi-episode recurring roles. She played the recur ...

as Carol Power * Gary Day as Col Reynolds *

Bruno Lawrence David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born New Zealand musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia. Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ...

as Cracka Park * Andy Anderson as Tony Lott *

Gary Sweet Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957) is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in ''Alexandra's Project'' (as Steve), ''Police Rescue'' (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), ''Cody (TV series), Cody'' (as Cody), ''Big Sky (Australian ...

as Chicka White *

Candy Raymond Candida Raymond (born 1950) is an Australian actress of film and television during the 1970s and early 1980s. Biography She attended St Ives High School in Sydney. As a teenager she played small guest roles in Australian television soap oper ...

as Sonya Reynolds *Madeleine Blackwell as Anne Marks *

George Spartels George Bernard Spartels (born 25 April 1954) is an Australian actor, presenter, director, playwright and children's musician of Greek descent on his father's ancestry, and English and Irish on his mother's. He remains best known for his role ...

as Jaffa Davis * Arianthe Galani as Mrs Davis * Paul Sonkkila as Merv Temple *

Frank Gallacher Frank Gallacher (7 April 1943 – 23 February 2009) was a Scottish-Australian actor. Early life Gallacher was born in Glasgow in 1943. In 1962, aged 19, he was working in London when his parents and younger sister decided to emigrate to Austra ...

as Inspt. Castleway *

Dennis Miller Dennis Michael Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American political commentator, stand-up comedian, talk show host, writer, actor and former sportscaster. Miller was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' fro ...

as Edwards *Tim McKenzie as Det. Ross *Margie McCrae as Wendy Lott *Conor McDermottroe as Red Collins *

Peter Cummins Donald Cummins (2 June 1931 – October 2024), better known as Peter Cummins, was an Australian actor of stage and screen and chorister who was especially prominent in the 1970s and appeared in some of the most famous Australian films of the pe ...

as Father Moore *Feon Keane as David Power *Denis Moore as Rusee Lockhart * Frank Wilson as Winton Bathurst *

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 Det. Sgt. Townsend * Scott Burgess as Les 'Robbo' Robbins *

Ray Meagher Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Ste ...

as Bob Temple *

Mary-Anne Fahey Mary-Anne Fahey (born 19 August 1955 as Mary-Anne Waterman) credited also as Maryanne Fahey, is an Australian actress, comedian, screenwriter and children's author. Career Fahey has starred in and written for numerous TV and film comedy program ...

as Cheryl *

Rebecca Gibney Rebecca Catherine Gibney is a New Zealand actress known for her roles on Australian television in '' The Flying Doctors'', '' Halifax f.p.'', ''Packed to the Rafters'', ''Winter'' and '' Wanted''. She has also featured in a number of Australia ...

as Bonnie *

Ross Newton Ross Newton (born 20 February 1967) is an Australian actor, best known for playing Greg Marshall in the television series ''Home and Away''. Early life Newton was born and grew up in the Australian city of Melbourne. He first showed an interes ...

as Police Officer *

Marty Fields Marty Fields (born 18 December 1961) is an Australian comedian, host/mc, actor, writer, musician, singer, and radio presenter from Melbourne. Early life The son of Australian actors Maurie Fields and Val Jellay, Fields trained for fifteen ye ...

Reception

The series got modest ratings figures but won its timeslot over the three nights, peaking at 22, 21 and 20 respectively. The series won best mini-series and best direction at the 1987 AFI Awards. Anthony Dennis of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote a mixed review stating "It is smartlymade with spotless acting, the mandatory gratuitous violence (done with a degree of style), and a thoughtful use of the mundane urban locations. However, it does lack the intrigue involved in the planning of the crime. There's a feeling that reading press clippings from the day is more compelling than watching the series." Richard Coleman also of The Sydney Morning Herald gave it a positive review concluding "We've seen some excellent cop shows this year in ''Widows'' and ''Edge of Darkness''. ''The Great Bookie Robbery'' was in the same class."

Awards

*1987 AFI Awards ** Best Mini-Series - Ian Bradley - Won ** Best Direction in a Mini Series - Marcus Cole, Mark Joffe - Won ** Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series - Catherine Wilkin - Nominated ** Best Mini-Series Screenplay - Philip Cornford, Ian Bradley - Nominated

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Great Bookie Robbery, The 1980s Australian television miniseries 1980s Australian drama television series 1986 Australian television series debuts 1986 Australian television series endings