For the Term of His Natural Life (1983) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Rob Stewart

Writers:

Marcus Clarke (novel)
Patricia Payne (writer)

Release Date:

16 June 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure

Tagline:

Marcus Clarke's Classic Tale Of Australia's Infamous Convict Past

Plot:

In 1830's England, a young man from a good but troubled family is unjustly convicted of stealing a watch...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Whipping | Shirtless Male Bondage | Based On Novel

Cast

Diane Cilento
Robert Coleby	...	John Rex
Jeremy Coote	...	Frank Edgely
Samantha Eggar	...	Mrs. Vickers
Colin Friels	...	Rufus Dawes
Damon Herriman	...	Blinker
Susan Lyons	...	Sarah
Patrick Macnee	...	Major Vickers
Rod Mullinar	...	Lt. Maurice Frere
Glynn Nicholas	...	Kirkland
Anthony Perkins	...	Rev James North
Henry Salter	...	Troke, prison warder
Penelope Stewart	...	Sylvia Vickers

Runtime:

Australia:520 min (6 Episodes)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Filmco Limited

Trivia:

This was the fourth filmed version of this story.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Life of Rufus Dawes (1911)

Settle down and enjoy the (lengthy) journey!

Overall a great adaption to TV of the classic novel. Colin Friels does an admirable job of playing the protagonist, Rufas Dawes, and the chemistry between him and Rod Mullinar (Lt. Frere) is excellent. Whilst the plot remains by and large true to the novel, the writers of this made-for-TV version for some reason felt it necessary to give the movie a 'happily ever after' ending, hence the last hour or so of this lengthy movie is drastically different to the story originally told by Marcus Clarke. None-the-less, worth the watch if you enjoyed the book, or simply for the historical aspect (the Australian convict era). So be prepared to settle down and enjoy the (lengthy) journey!