'Ben Hall' premiered just months after colour television officially started in Australia, and was a revelation about what Australian TV was capable of doing. (We got our own colour TV about that time!) The BBC and 20th Century Fox had a hand in the production along with the ABC, which must have given it a bigger budget. Jon Finch (playing Ben Hall) had starred in Polanski's 'Macbeth' (1971) and Hitchcock's 'Frenzy' (1972), and had turned down the role of James Bond in 'Live and Let Die' (1973) - he brings great pathos to the role of a man who felt driven to outlawry. (Unlike the more famous bushranger Ned Kelly, Hall never killed anyone!) Brian Blain is also very good as the 'remittance man' (black sheep of a rich family, paid a 'remittance' to stay out of England) Sir Frederick Pottinger, who was completely out of his depth as the police inspector sent to catch Hall.
4 Reviews
A "coming of age" for Australian historical drama on television.
danburke11 November 2006
This series represents both the coming of age of historical drama on Australian television and the serious presentation of known facts, as opposed to supposition and guesswork, in a TV series. At the time of it's release the Ben Hall series was a landmark in quality television drama and brought together a cast of players well known for the integrity of their work. Ben Hall and Ned Kelly were the most significant figures in Australian Bushranging ("bushranger" is the Australian equivalent term to the American "Outlaw"). This Australian bushranging period parallels the outlawry of America's Billy The Kid, the James Gang and others, both in cheek and in time.
Many Australian historians will point out the similarities and more importantly the significant differences between the Australian experience and the American experience. The American outlaws were after money or fame or both, and were often disaffected misfits in a short, wild and almost lawless period in the "wild west". Many were murderers without any respect for their victims or the law. Their reign was often short, bloody and callous. The Australian experience was, on the other hand bolder and longer, and irrevocably tied to the convict era and emancipation, and the emergence of the first true white Australian generations who, like the American patriots, believed in their right as native-born Australians to live without the harshness of British rule and influence.
The series spans the late 1850s to 1863, the year of Halls appalling death at the hands of friends and foe. It was said he never shot a man despite leading a gang that held up entire towns for days at a time, robbing the banks and gold escorts, the wealthy and the police themselves. Dialogue for the series no doubt borrowed heavily from a 1950s account (a popular novel more or less, ridiculed by many despite it's clever use of historical documents) by one Frank Clune. He was a writer of popular material but in my mind provided the basis for almost all accounts that followed and certainly filled in the gaps without which a series of this nature would never have been possible.
The Ben Hall story is factual to life at the times, I have covered this territory and can vouch for the background and events. The acting, led by Finch (see Hitchcock's "Frantic" is solid and plausible for its time, the sets were true to photographic records from the1850s and 60s and the strongest point that should be made here is that the life of this man and his gang was far more emotive and interesting (and is factual) than that of most of America's so-called outlaws. Local historians tend to take sides - either the police or the bushrangers - but the series sets what I consider a fair balance.
Hall was certainly unfortunate in that the police treated him unfairly, but in later years by Ned Kelly mimicked some of Halls exploits. Kelly was also treated badly by the police but, it seems, there may well have been a stronger argument for the police side in his case.
If you get the chance to see this series it is certainly worth the time, despite being a peculiarly Australian product. If you don't get the chance and you are interested in outlawry from this period anywhere in the world Australian Bushranging makes a great subject for further exploration.
Many Australian historians will point out the similarities and more importantly the significant differences between the Australian experience and the American experience. The American outlaws were after money or fame or both, and were often disaffected misfits in a short, wild and almost lawless period in the "wild west". Many were murderers without any respect for their victims or the law. Their reign was often short, bloody and callous. The Australian experience was, on the other hand bolder and longer, and irrevocably tied to the convict era and emancipation, and the emergence of the first true white Australian generations who, like the American patriots, believed in their right as native-born Australians to live without the harshness of British rule and influence.
The series spans the late 1850s to 1863, the year of Halls appalling death at the hands of friends and foe. It was said he never shot a man despite leading a gang that held up entire towns for days at a time, robbing the banks and gold escorts, the wealthy and the police themselves. Dialogue for the series no doubt borrowed heavily from a 1950s account (a popular novel more or less, ridiculed by many despite it's clever use of historical documents) by one Frank Clune. He was a writer of popular material but in my mind provided the basis for almost all accounts that followed and certainly filled in the gaps without which a series of this nature would never have been possible.
The Ben Hall story is factual to life at the times, I have covered this territory and can vouch for the background and events. The acting, led by Finch (see Hitchcock's "Frantic" is solid and plausible for its time, the sets were true to photographic records from the1850s and 60s and the strongest point that should be made here is that the life of this man and his gang was far more emotive and interesting (and is factual) than that of most of America's so-called outlaws. Local historians tend to take sides - either the police or the bushrangers - but the series sets what I consider a fair balance.
Hall was certainly unfortunate in that the police treated him unfairly, but in later years by Ned Kelly mimicked some of Halls exploits. Kelly was also treated badly by the police but, it seems, there may well have been a stronger argument for the police side in his case.
If you get the chance to see this series it is certainly worth the time, despite being a peculiarly Australian product. If you don't get the chance and you are interested in outlawry from this period anywhere in the world Australian Bushranging makes a great subject for further exploration.
One of the Best Series ever to come out of Australia.
sanmigman23 March 2004
This is a magnificent series that was a collaboration between the BBC and an Australian Company, unfortunately this is also the reason it has not gone to video which is a great pity as it is undoubtedly one of the best works concerning Australian Bush Rangers, the Aussie equivalent of American Outlaws that has ever been made, As far as I know it only ran once but it completely hooked me and I watched all 13 parts. I have also read the biography on Ben Hall and the series is fairly true to what is known about Ben. Jon Finch plays the title role very convincingly as does Evin Crowley as his long suffering wife. The story follows Ben, a small time horse farmer, down the path he took as bushranger. The sets are excellent examples of how Australia looked at the time and all the characters develop well during the 13 hours of screen play. It is shown from both sides points of view and although most will remain feeling sorry for Ben there are many occasions when you also feel sorry for the police. It will be a great shame if this is never re-released.
A great TV series that would still be popular today as a re-run.
qridley3 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Across the Lachlan plains, into the Weddin Mountains, around the shores of Lake Cowell and through the streets of Forbes, Grenfell, Cowra and even Bathurst rode Ben Hall and his gang. Loved, hated; pursued, sheltered; robbed, donated: loyal to his family and friends but hounded to the bitter end.
This is the amazing character brought to you in this series who is realistically represented by actor John Finch. Script, story, costumes and early colonial life are brought to the screen with exciting clarity. The story is based on and keeps to the facts from police and other government records, newspaper reports, personal recounts, poetry and tradition.
I have a personal bias as my home country borders the Forbes district and we lived only 15 miles from the eastern boundaries of Ben's territory. Ben played an important part in local history and folklore and was considered to be a gentleman wrongly treated by the law and supported by the poor settlers.
As a young child my grandmother would tell stories and recite poetry about Ben and his gang and he developed into my childhood hero. As youngsters we dreamed how we would find Ben's share of the Eugowra stage coach robbery which was supposed to be over 1400 pounds worth of gold dust from the gold diggings and hidden in one of his hideouts in the Weddin mountains. Recounts of the unjust treatment handed out by police and the prejudiced 'squatocracy' and the daring exploits of Ben, Frank Gardener and the rest of the gang are true to the era.
The inadequacies of the NSW troopers and the colonial government to deal with crime in small settlements that are many miles apart are realistically portrayed and historically true. The police efficiency and unfair treatment of the poorer settlers whether miners, farmers or labourers follows a similar pattern in other bushrangers' activities throughout the colonies from settlement in 1788 to Federation in 1901. A major reason for the success of bushrangers was the mistrust of the government and the police by the poor settlers and the willingness to support anyone prepared to stand against an unfair system.
What made Ben special to me was the fact that he never killed anyone and that his friend Billy,an indigenous policeman worked for the troopers as a tracker.
Brian Blain as Sir Frederick Pottinger, an untrained 'remittance' man forced into a job that couldn't be achieved and a victim of the English class system, acted very well giving the unhappy flipside of the story.
You will love this mini-series if it is ever put on DVD. I do have a colour booklet that was released with the series and can only hope for more, Thanks,hope it's helpful, q ridley.
This is the amazing character brought to you in this series who is realistically represented by actor John Finch. Script, story, costumes and early colonial life are brought to the screen with exciting clarity. The story is based on and keeps to the facts from police and other government records, newspaper reports, personal recounts, poetry and tradition.
I have a personal bias as my home country borders the Forbes district and we lived only 15 miles from the eastern boundaries of Ben's territory. Ben played an important part in local history and folklore and was considered to be a gentleman wrongly treated by the law and supported by the poor settlers.
As a young child my grandmother would tell stories and recite poetry about Ben and his gang and he developed into my childhood hero. As youngsters we dreamed how we would find Ben's share of the Eugowra stage coach robbery which was supposed to be over 1400 pounds worth of gold dust from the gold diggings and hidden in one of his hideouts in the Weddin mountains. Recounts of the unjust treatment handed out by police and the prejudiced 'squatocracy' and the daring exploits of Ben, Frank Gardener and the rest of the gang are true to the era.
The inadequacies of the NSW troopers and the colonial government to deal with crime in small settlements that are many miles apart are realistically portrayed and historically true. The police efficiency and unfair treatment of the poorer settlers whether miners, farmers or labourers follows a similar pattern in other bushrangers' activities throughout the colonies from settlement in 1788 to Federation in 1901. A major reason for the success of bushrangers was the mistrust of the government and the police by the poor settlers and the willingness to support anyone prepared to stand against an unfair system.
What made Ben special to me was the fact that he never killed anyone and that his friend Billy,an indigenous policeman worked for the troopers as a tracker.
Brian Blain as Sir Frederick Pottinger, an untrained 'remittance' man forced into a job that couldn't be achieved and a victim of the English class system, acted very well giving the unhappy flipside of the story.
You will love this mini-series if it is ever put on DVD. I do have a colour booklet that was released with the series and can only hope for more, Thanks,hope it's helpful, q ridley.
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