The Paper Man (1990– )

Phillip Cromwell, a young Australian with a head full of ideals and a bag full of borrowed money, makes a bid for a run-down Sydney afternoon newspaper. Starting in 1962, the series charts ... See full summary »

Stars:

John Bach, Oliver Tobias, Rebecca Gilling

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Bach	...	Philip Cromwell
Oliver Tobias	...	Ian Harris
Rebecca Gilling	...	Virginia Morgan
Peta Toppano	...	Kate Cromwell
Pat Bishop	...	Marjorie Stack
Barry Otto	...	Elliot Calder
Paul Chubb	...	Clarrie Bullock
Gennie Nevinson	...	Alice Drummond
Charles Gray	...	Prime Minister
Rob Steele	...	Frank Coates
Bob Baines	...	Barry Slater
Freddie Jones	...	Sir Charles Llewellyn
Richard Roxburgh	...	'Gracie' Fields
Ray Barrett	...	Maurice Grimm
Olivia Hamnett	...	Irene Hampden

Storyline

Phillip Cromwell, a young Australian with a head full of ideals and a bag full of borrowed money, makes a bid for a run-down Sydney afternoon newspaper. Starting in 1962, the series charts this determined and charismatic man's rise to power in the turbulent world of the international media from the heady early days of the 'Sydney Globe' to the final battle with printers and journalists which brings Fleet Street to its knees.

---

Plot Keywords:

tv mini series

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 1990 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Newspaper Man

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min (3 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A matter of power and ideals

The storyline sounds familiar: an Australian begins with a small newspaper and winds up taking over the world, acquiring newspapers and eventually creating a global media empire. It is fictional, even if there are parallels with one real-life media mogul that give the mini-series more verisimilitude than one might expect from turn-of-the-decade Australian dramas. John Bach's performance is unforgettable, even if the make-up artists have a bit of trouble making him younger in the 1962 sequences. The Paper Man distinguishes itself on strong performances from seasoned performers such as Bach and Oliver Tobias, exploring the relationships of and the effects of power on Bach's Philip Cromwell character – and the changes in his ideals – as he moves from Sydney to the world stage.