"Bodyline" (1984) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Directors:

Denny Lawrence
Lex Marinos

Writers:

Robert Caswell (writer)
Terry Hayes (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 July 1984 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | History | Sport

Tagline:

The day England declared war on Australia.

Plot:

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia...

Plot Keywords:

Australia | Bowling | Batsman | Bowler | Cricket

Cast

Gary Sweet

...

Donald Bradman (unknown episodes)

Runtime:

330 min (7 episodes)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Australia:PG (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: In Episode 7, the series portrays Woodfull being bowled by Larwood. However, the records show Woodfull was bowled by Mitchell in the first innings.

Quotes:

Richardson: [to Jardine] You cannot dictate terms to the MCC!
Douglas Jardine: Well, in that case, my resignation with be on your table in the morning!

There were two scriptwriters out there, and only one of them was...

Purely for cricket lovers, Bodyline was a much-publicized and long-awaited mini-series that made its appearance in the mid 1980s, and told the story - or one perspective of it, at least - of the controversial and volatile English Test tour of 1932-3. Being an Australian production for (mainly) Australian audiences, it will not surprise you to discover quite a deal of syrupy nationalism as well as some blatant misrepresentations and omissions, that result in a lop-sided and nonobjective interpretation of these events. The English, or most of them, are painted as win-at-all-cost and heartless, their captain a sneering, condescending bigot, while the Australians are of course far more sporting and right-spirited. Such bias is to be expected because it reflects the folklore that has built up around the facts of the series; and like most folklore, it makes good entertainment but doesn't hold up to serious factual exposition.

The cast in Bodyline do a good job of maintaining its continuity and rising sense of tension as it proceeds. They were well chosen, particularly as they not only had to master the role but also to look like Test cricketers - Gary Sweet (Bradman) was a talented schoolboy player, as were some other male leads, which made this easier. Maintaining a balance between the political aspects of the event, the on-field action, the teams and personal lives of the key players would've been complex and fraught with risk, but Bodyline copes with it well. The script is competent, although it tends to fall to the level of sanctimonious or jingoistic gloop at times - incorporating several lines or items of cricket parlance that came before or after this series, or having Yabba the barracker shouting a dozen well-known but generic witticisms, or such nauseous analogies as comparing facing Larwood to 'being at Gallipoli' all tend to alienate the thinking viewer. Again, too much myth and not enough research and thoughtful reconstruction.

Still, it's an interesting watch, and was recently released in Australia on DVD.