"Blue Murder" (1995) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

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 | Prostitute | Corrupt Police | Corruption | Bribe

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)

The GOODFELLAS of Down Under

The screenplay, by Ian David, is the primary reason why BLUE MURDER is the best TV ever produced in Australia -- in fact, it is better than 95% of the features produced in that country. And, yes, calling it the GOODFELLAS of Down Under is not exaggerating.

Other reviews here have detailed the content of this mini-series, so no point going there. I just hope my raving about it inspires people who haven't seen it to check it out and marvel at the sharp characterizations, brilliant performances, Michael Jenkins' intuitive direction and ultra-realistic dialogue.

The series captures the Aussie vernacular like nothing else ever has and portrays a "matey" political and social environment within the police force that allowed corruption to fester and become an accepted part of everyday life.

One powerful sequence, where a crooked lawyer is indifferently dropped into Sydney Harbor with a stove around his neck, perfectly captures the dark side of the Aussie "She'll be right, mate" approach to dealing with problems.

Richard Roxburgh as Roger Rogerson is nothing short of a revelation, but major nods must also go to Gary Sweet (his best performance by far), Gary Day (brilliant), Bill Hunter (solid as usual) and Alex Dimitriades (chillingly real).

If you're only retiring to that desert island with one Aussie DVD, this should be it.