Blue Murder (1995) (TV)

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:

Detective Sergeant | Police | Corrupt Police | Drug Deal | Police Detective

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
Eleni Batley	...	Jaime Smith
Dion Mihajlovsky	...	Darrin Smith
Bruce Barry	...	Commissioner Abbott
Bogdan Koca	...	Lewis Roussos
Loene Carmen	...	Sallie-Anne Huckstepp
Ray Martin	...	Himself
Anthony Cogin	...	Steve Paully
Phillip Hinton	...	Ian Barker QC
Nicole Pottinger	...	Melinda Rogerson
Brigitte Lawson	...	Gillian Rogerson
Kris Bidenko	...	Joy Rogerson (as Kristina Bidenko)
Jim Holt	...	Brian Alexander
Jeffrey Rhoe	...	Detective on boat 1
Jack Mayers	...	Detective on boat 2
John Jarratt	...	Jack Richardson
Graham Rouse	...	Frank Avery
Laurie Foell	...	Pam Drury (as Laurie Foel)
Robert Morgan	...	Brian Hansen
Frank Violi	...	David Mennie
Peter Sommerfeld	...	Assistant Commissioner
Brendan Higgins	...	John Weel
Tom Appleton	...	Victorian Patrolman
David Baldwin	...	Phil Dunn
Warwick Moss	...	Jim Brazel
Paul Sonkkila	...	Noel Morey
Terrie Bowie	...	Stripper
Skye Wansey	...	Kath Flannery
Aaron Jeffery	...	Bobby Williams
Marshall Napier	...	Tony Eustace
Erin Smith	...	Belinda Drury
Jake Blundell	...	Constable
John McNeill	...	Ron Daly
Vincent Ball	...	Dr. Cumberland
Michael O'Neill	...	Bruce Lyons
John Sheerin	...	Dave Perrin
Stephen O'Rourke	...	Jim Wallis
Geoff Morrell	...	Les Knox
Kristoffer Greaves	...	Ken Bowditch
Sascha Huckstepp	...	Nurse
Stephen Leeder	...	Ron Stephenson
Ron Graham	...	Senior Officer
Les Dayman	...	Commissioner Avery
John Walton	...	Jim Loomes
Dennis Miller	...	Bruce Kerrison
Bryan Marshall	...	Task Force Officer
Neil Moora	...	Detective
Mervyn Drake	...	Jack Hiatt QC
Barry Donnelly	...	Judge Staunton
Ricky Noble	...	Huckstepp's Advisor (as Richard Noble)
Damian Monk	...	Warren Richards
David Franklin	...	Glen Flack
Ken Radley	...	Doug Kelly

Directed by
Michael Jenkins

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ian David		written by

Produced by
Rod Allan	....	producer
Wayne Barry	....	associate producer
Penny Chapman	....	executive producer
Errol Sullivan	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Peter Best

Cinematography by
Martin McGrath

Film Editing by
Bill Russo

Casting by
Alison Barrett

Production Design by
Murray Picknett

Art Direction by
Karen Land

Costume Design by
David Rowe

Makeup Department
Ian Loughnan	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Campbell	....	second assistant director
P.J. Voeten	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Andrew Belletty	....	boom operator (as Andrew Biletty)
Catherine Gross	....	boom operator
Nicholas Wood	....	sound recordist (as Nick Wood)

Stunts
Danny Baldwin	....	stunts
Nash Edgerton	....	stunts
Tony Lynch	....	stunt performer
Glenn Suter	....	stunts
Peter West	....	stunt driver
Peter West	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Zoe Bunton	....	clapper loader
Steve Byron	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera
Adam Hunter	....	electrician
David Parkinson	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Trish McAskill	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Craze	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Simon Klaebe	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Hans Engstrom	....	composer: additional music (2005)

Other crew
Royce Dunn	....	continuity
John Haas	....	police advisor
Susanne Pearce	....	production secretary
Phillip Roope	....	location manager

Distributors

• Subversive Cinema (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Subversive Cinema (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Audioloc Sound Design  sound post-production
• Film Finances  completion guarantor

Also Known As:

Runtime:

198 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

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

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 "Top Gear Australia: Episode #2.7" (2009)

An incredible TV movie that the US will not make

I¡¦m quite surprised to find out that I seem to be the only non-Australian user who ever commented on this incredibly good TV movie. I clicked the hyperlinks around and found the leading actor Richard Roxburgh is the Duke in Moulin Rouge. I ran across this TV movie several years ago when I was just looking for some interesting show, and there it was. I never had a chance to see the complete show, and our local channel split it into two parts. I was quite shocked by the authentic but acerbic delineation of the police as well as some extremely violent shots that would be refused by American TV producers. Actually I could believe that it actually happened in the 80¡¦s in Australia, which is supposed to be a highly democratic and peaceful in every way. The incredulous scenes of the police looting civilians and murder, and the most ironic medal awarded to our hero.

Of course all these elements do not constitute this film as a masterpiece; what make this flick worth recommendations are the actors¡¦ impeccable performance and the director¡¦s ability to withhold too much personal comment that would ruin the cold style throughout the film. The police gangs¡¦ drinking binge and their obsession with interests and power appall the audience, and their ambivalent sentiments toward each other bewilder me. Their many-faceted acts make them more solid and close to real persons, and we all have a better understanding of the time and that part of Australia. This is definitely the best TV movie of the genre, and I feel really lucky to have seen this film.