Jenkins, Michael

Five Mile Creek - The Complete First Season

A somewhat unusual but very fine drama series for the family, Five Mile Creek: The First Complete Season gets under one's skin very quickly. A 19th century Western set in the wilds of Australia, the show concerns a small but international community of men and women whose lives revolve around the scrappy origins of a stagecoach line. The story begins when a headstrong American woman, Maggie Scott (Louise Caire Clark), arrives in New South Wales with her daughter, Hannah (Priscilla Weems), in search of her husband, Adam. The latter, an American prospector who came to make his fortune in Aussie goldfields, sent word to his family to meet him at a place called Five Mile Creek. When Maggie and Hannah arrive there, they find Adam isn't around and no one has heard of him.

Stuck in the deeply wooded outpost, which is halfway between two important port towns and plagued by highwaymen and violent squatters (two dangerous groups interested in preventing progress in the region), Maggie settles in at the Haven. A makeshift rest stop and lodging for travelers on the Australian Express stagecoach, the Haven becomes a domestic mecca for the series' other major characters. Among them are the Express' two enterprising partners, a chivalrous American, Con (Jay Kerr), and a mischievous Aussie, Jack (Rod Mullinar). Restless taskmaster Kate (Liz Burch), a lovely young woman who owns the Haven, rides herd over several colorful hands, including reformed scoundrel Paddy Malone (Michael Caton). The 13 episodes in the first (1983) season juggle several running storylines (including the dramatic appearance of Adam, played by Star Trek: The Next Generation's Jonathan Frakes) and introduce a host of guest stars conveniently supplied by Con and Jack's daily stagecoach runs. Five Mile Creek also imparts some interesting historical context, including native revulsion at England's brutal military presence, old battles between white settlers and indigenous blacks (similar to the American West's Indian wars), and a climate of lawlessness that makes pioneering a dangerous business. Despite these brushes with real seriousness, Five Mile Creek is a very entertaining show for school-age-and-up viewers. --Tom Keogh

Journey back to the booming Australian gold rush of the 1860s, a wild Outback frontier, and the spirited pioneers who aim to tame it. Now for the first time on DVD, enjoy every episode of the trailblazing first season of FIVE MILE CREEK, which chronicles a story of outlaw bushrangers, ruthless government troops, and the challenges of making an emerging stagecoach line a rip-roaring success. Filmed entirely on location -- your whole family can experience the adventure, courage, and heart of these enterprising young settlers as they meet one incredible challenge after another.~~

Sweet Talker

Blue Murder

The best police force money can buy

In 1995, BLUE MURDER—the most controversial series ever produced for Australian television—exploded onto TV screens down under with such incendiary force that it was banned from being broadcast in the state where the events took place, New South Wales, for six years. This was due to ongoing legal proceedings involving several key figures depicted in the photoplay. Often referred to as an Aussie Godfather, it was, more accurately, "Goodfellas Down Under" with the goodfellas being the cops.

The attempted, bloody murder of a "blue" (insider speak for "cop") is the dramatic lynchpin of this epic of police corruption that follows the booze-riddled, unlikely partnership of decorated copper Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh) and career criminal Arthur "Neddy" Smith (Tony Martin) after Roger gives Neddy "the green light" to rob, steal and beat his way through Sydney's underworld in the 80's.

Directed with gritty realism (many scenes were shot on the actual locations) by one of Australia's most celebrated directors, Mike Jenkins, BLUE MURDER is a landmark Australian drama that has not been bettered on television or on the big screen.

Impeccably researched and written by Ian David, the central performance by Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge) is a revelation and won the actor Australia's highest critical accolades. Tony Martin, mesmerizing as Arthur Smith, brings a likeable edge to a truly despicable character and actors Bill Hunter, as top cop Black Angus McDonald (Rogerson's protector) and Steve Bastoni (as straight "blue" Michael Drury) are outstanding.

Sweet Talker

When scam artist Harry Reynolds gets out of jail, he makes his way to the depressed coastal village of Beachport, where according to local myth, an old Portuguese treasure ship lies buried in the sand. Harry is an old pro at manipulating this situation to his best advantage, but never anticipates how deeply he will be affected by the relationship he develops with a young boy and his mother. A delightful tale of greed, gullibility and grandiose schemes, "Sweet Talker" is a romantic comedy for everyone in the family. Bryan Brown, Karen Allen