"Blue Murder" (1995) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Michael Jenkins

Writer:

Ian David (written by)

Release Date:

14 September 1995 (Australia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

One of the most shocking chapters in the history of Australian Law Enforcement!

Plot:

Detective Sergeant Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson got fame because he knew how to take care of most dangerous and violent criminals...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Detective Sergeant | Drug Deal | Corruption | Prostitute

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Roxburgh	...	Roger Rogerson
Tony Martin	...	Arthur "Neddy" Smith
Steve Bastoni	...	Michael Drury
Gary Day	...	Bill Crofton
Steve Jacobs	...	Mal Rivers
Peter Phelps	...	Abo Henry
Marcus Graham	...	Alan Williams
Alex Dimitriades	...	Warren Lanfranchi
Bill Hunter	...	Angus McDonald
Gary Sweet	...	Christopher Dale Flannery
John Hargreaves	...	Chester Porter QC
Ian Bliss	...	Bobby Chapman
Stephen Eley	...	Duty Sergeant
Richard Carter	...	Lyail Chandler
Joy Smithers	...	Debra Smith

Runtime:

198 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Kings Cross, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Trivia:

The broadcast of this film in New South Wales was delayed for six years due to Neddy Smith's appeal against his life sentence.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Arthur "Neddy" Smith: Something's up mate.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bad Eggs (2003)

Quite simply the best Australian television ever produced.

Blue Murder is far and away the best piece of television I have ever seen.

Never in my life have I seen a more well acted presentation. Every actor here is in top form, every scene works. This is not TV that tries to emotionally lead the viewer, it shows these brutal and truthful events as they occurred, and thats what makes it so engrossing, and so watchable, never once do we feel patronised by the makers.

Tony Martin is fantastic on every level as Neddy Smith, the seedy Sydney underworld character, portraying him to a tee. Steve Bastoni gives a totally believable performance as Micheal Drury. As Drury he gives Australian television possibly its most powerful scene ever after being shot in the kitchen of his family home. I can honestly say that this scene, where he tries to maintain control of himself while bleeding to death and trying to protect his family is the most anguishing scene of a mans life slipping away that I have ever witnessed.

However, the rest of the production is stolen by one man, Richard Roxburgh as the corrupt policeman Roger Rogerson. Roxburgh is a standout here, his is embued with that tough smoke and beer stained swagger that one associates with the 'old school' style of policing in the 70's and 80's in New South Wales. He and his police mates impeccably re-create the seedy and corrupt feel of tones of that plagued the NSW police through the 80's and 90's, complete with boozey lunches, prostitutes and revenge killings.

Blue Murder was not shown in my home state until 6 years after its production. It was considered too powerful, too close to the truth. It was feared it may influence several court cases that were proceding at the time along with the Corruption Commission set up to investigate such activities. With this in mind it is mind blowing to finally see what the rest of Australia has been privy to for the last 6 years.

Though 6 years old when first screened here, there's no doubt that Blue Murder is a landmark in Australian television. Its just such a shame that our best work seems to sprout from our darkest moments...