"The Flying Doctors" (1986) TV series 1986-1991

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

Peter Andrikidis
Michael Offer
(more)

Writers:

Tony Cavanaugh (writer)
Elizabeth Coleman (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | unknown

Release Date:

15 May 1986 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This series chronicles the events surrounding the activities of the Royal Flying Doctors Service, which...

Plot Keywords:

Medical | Doctor | Hospital | Aviation | Medical Profession

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Lenore Smith	...	Kate Wellings / ... (163 episodes, 1986-1994)
Robert Grubb	...	Dr. Geoff Standish / ... (147 episodes, 1986-1994)
Maurie Fields	...	Vic Buckley (139 episodes, 1986-1994)
Val Jellay	...	Nancy Buckley (83 episodes, 1986-1994)
George Kapiniaris	...	Dimitrios "D.J." Lonniadis / ... (78 episodes, 1987-1994)

(more)

Series Directed by
Colin Budds		(27 episodes, 1986-1991)
Brendan Maher		(24 episodes, 1986-1991)
Mark Defriest		(22 episodes, 1986-1991)
Catherine Millar		(14 episodes, 1987-1994)
Paul Moloney		(10 episodes, 1987-1989)
Mark Callen		(8 episodes, 1986-1988)
Dan Burstall		(8 episodes, 1986-1987)
Pino Amenta		(8 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ian Gilmour		(7 episodes, 1990-1991)
Chris Langman		(6 episodes, 1986-1991)
Arch Nicholson		(6 episodes, 1986-1989)
Kendal Flanagan		(6 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mandy Smith		(4 episodes, 1988-1989)
Rob Stewart		(3 episodes, 1986)
Rod Hardy		(3 episodes, 1987-1991)
Katherine Hayden		(3 episodes, 1990)
Karl Zwicky		(3 episodes, 1990)
Ian Barry		(2 episodes, 1987)
Chris Adshead		(2 episodes, 1988)
Marcus Cole		(2 episodes, 1988)
Riccardo Pellizzeri		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gary Conway		(2 episodes, 1989)
Bill Hughes		(2 episodes, 1989)
Viktors Ritelis		(2 episodes, 1990)
Mario Andreacchio		(2 episodes, 1991)
Stephen Wallace		(2 episodes, 1991)
Oscar Whitbread		(2 episodes, 1991)
Peter Andrikidis		(unknown episodes)
Michael Offer		(unknown episodes)
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Shane Brennan		(18 episodes, 1987-1991)
Vincent Moran		(16 episodes, 1986-1991)
Denise Morgan		(12 episodes, 1986-1991)
Tony Morphett		(10 episodes, 1986-1988)
José Luis Bayonas		(9 episodes, 1987-1989)
Graham Hartley		(8 episodes, 1986-1991)
Peter Hepworth		(6 episodes, 1986-1989)
Alan Hopgood		(6 episodes, 1987-1991)
Mary Dagmar-Davies		(5 episodes, 1986-1989)
Peter A. Kinloch		(5 episodes, 1987-1990)
Leon Saunders		(5 episodes, 1987-1989)
Michael Joshua		(5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Annie Beach		(4 episodes, 1986-1989)
Vincent Gil		(3 episodes, 1986-1991)
Peter Schreck		(3 episodes, 1986-1991)
John Reeves		(3 episodes, 1986-1990)
Cassandra Carter		(3 episodes, 1986-1988)
John Alsop		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Andrew Kennedy		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Allen		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jutta Goetze		(3 episodes, 1990)
Judith Colquhoun		(2 episodes, 1986-1990)
Peter Pinney		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Alison Nisselle		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Cliff Green		(2 episodes, 1988-1990)
David Phillips		(2 episodes, 1988-1990)
David Boutland		(2 episodes, 1988)
Anne Lucas		(2 episodes, 1989)
Terry Stapleton		(2 episodes, 1989)
Craig Wilkins		(2 episodes, 1989)
John Coulter		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jocelyn Moorhouse		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Leonard Rosen		(2 episodes, 1990)
Everett De Roche		(2 episodes, 1991)
Sue Hore		(2 episodes, 1991)
Bevan Lee		(2 episodes, 1991)
Tony Cavanaugh		(unknown episodes)
Elizabeth Coleman		(unknown episodes)
Anthony Ellis		(unknown episodes)
Greg Haddrick		(unknown episodes)
Glenda Hambly		(unknown episodes)
Simon Hopkinson		(unknown episodes)
Maureen Ann Moran		(unknown episodes)
Marie Trevor		(unknown episodes)
Stuart Wood		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Oscar Whitbread	....	producer (2 episodes, 1986)
Ian Bradley	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Barbara Burleigh	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Hector Crawford	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Ian Crawford	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Jan Marnell	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Garry McDonald		(2 episodes, 1986-1989)

Series Cinematography by
Barry M. Wilson		(5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ron Hagen		(unknown episodes)
Louis Puli		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Scott McLennan		(1 episode, 1989)
Peter Carrodus		(unknown episodes)
Ralph Strasser		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Jan Pontifex		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Art Direction by
Brian Betts		(1 episode, 1986)
Andrew Reese		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Costume Design by
Keely Ellis		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Makeup Department
Maggie Kolev	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Longhitano	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1989)
Fiona Rees-Jones	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1989)

Series Production Management
John Hollands	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Lake	....	production supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Chris Page	....	production manager (1 episode, 1986)
Barbara Burleigh	....	production supervisor (1 episode, 1989)
Tony Leach	....	production manager (1 episode, 1989)
Sue Washington	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1989)
Pam Tummell	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robin Newell	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1991)
Brendan Campbell	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Richard Clendinnen	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jamie Crooks	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Arnie Custo	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Ross Hamilton	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Ray Hennessy	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Phil Jones	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Robert Kewley	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jamie Leslie	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Don Linke	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Michael McIntyre	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Chris Odgers	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Chris Page	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
John Powditch	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Stuart Wood	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Stewart Wright	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
James Cox	....	props (1 episode, 1986)
Glen W. Johnson	....	props buyer (1 episode, 1986)
Jane Saunders	....	assistant art director (1 episode, 1986)
Scott Adcock	....	set dresser (1 episode, 1989)
Angela Christa	....	assistant props buyer (1 episode, 1989)
Stuart Redding	....	props (1 episode, 1989)

Series Sound Department
John McKerrow	....	sound recordist (82 episodes, 1986-1991)
Greg Nelson	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1986-1989)
John Wilkinson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Terry Wilcock	....	special effects (1 episode, 1986)

Series Stunts
Chris Anderson	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1986)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Angus Denton	....	gaffer (1 episode, 1986)
Tracy Kubler	....	focus puller (1 episode, 1986)
Warwick Simpson	....	grip (1 episode, 1986)
Craig Dusting	....	key grip (1 episode, 1989)
Kim Jonsson	....	clapper loader (1 episode, 1989)
Doug McAndrew	....	best boy (1 episode, 1989)
Louis Puli	....	focus puller (1 episode, 1989)

Series Casting Department
Jan Pontifex	....	casting (1 episode, 1986)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Reuben Thomas	....	wardrobe (1 episode, 1986)
Denise Brandon	....	stand-by wardrobe (1 episode, 1989)

Series Editorial Department
June Robb	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1986)
Bob Weybury	....	color grader (1 episode, 1989)

Series Other crew
Tony Cavanaugh	....	story editor (1 episode, 1986)
Deborah Cox	....	script editor (1 episode, 1986)
Anne McLeod	....	continuity (1 episode, 1986)
Ralph Price	....	location manager (1 episode, 1986)
Terry Stapleton	....	script consultant (1 episode, 1986)
Dean Hood	....	assistant accountant (1 episode, 1989-1991)
Maurice Burns	....	location manager (1 episode, 1989)
Howard Griffiths	....	story editor (1 episode, 1989)
John Lord	....	script editor (1 episode, 1989)
Vicki Madden	....	script coordinator (1 episode, 1989)
Ron Sinni	....	production accountant (1 episode, 1989)
Anne Went	....	continuity (1 episode, 1989)
Susie Wright	....	assistant coordinator (1 episode, 1989)
Angela Finlay	....	medical consultant (unknown episodes)
Russel Finlay	....	medical consultant (unknown episodes)
John Fox	....	armorer (unknown episodes)
Jutta Goetze	....	script editor (unknown episodes)
Vincent Moran	....	storyline (unknown episodes)
Jillian Wood	....	medical consultant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Crawford Productions
• Nine Network Australia

Distributors

• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• SBS6 (????) (Netherlands) (TV) (repeats)

Runtime:

Australia:50 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Crawford Productions

Trivia:

Maurie Fields and Val Jellay played husband and wife in this show. They were married in real life.

Quotes:

[to Tom Callaghan]
David Gibson: There's an aging hippie in there somewhere, struggling to get out.

Movie Connections:

Follows "The Flying Doctors" (1985)

Forget Neighbours - this is the real 80s Aussie drama

Recent reruns of this well-acted and well-written drama from the mid-eighties have reminded me just how good 'The Flying Doctors' was. The key word for me is realism, maybe because the plotlines were based on actual RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) cases, and checked for accuracy by the real Flying Docs. The acting was very believable, and the characters became like old friends. The publicans' wisdom of Vic, the pub landlord in Cooper's Crossing, still makes me laugh - true blue Australian humour. And I still cry every time I see the last episode from the first series, where the pilot dies, because he was one of my favourites. But each series had its bonuses - this show is very easy to dip into, as well as follow as a soap.