"Poor Man's Orange" (1987) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

George Whaley

Writers:

Ruth Park (novel)
George Whaley (writer)

Release Date:

14 September 1987 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series | Based On Novel

Cast

Anne Phelan	...	Mumma Darcy
Martyn Sanderson	...	Hughie Darcy
Kaarin Fairfax	...	Dolour Darcy
Anna Hruby	...	Roie Rothe
Shane Connor	...	Charlie Rothe
Syd Conabere	...	Pat Diamond
Lois Ramsey	...	Mrs. Campion
Ron Shand	...	Bumper Reilly
Emily Nicol	...	Matty Rothe
Cecil Parkee	...	Lick Jimmy
Carole Skinner	...	Delie Stock
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Father Cooley
Kerry Walker	...	Miss Moon
Brandon Burke	...	Tommy Mendel
Susan Leith	...	Francie

Runtime:

Australia:120 min (2 parts)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Anthony Buckley Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows "The Harp in the South" (1987)

Extension of HARP IN THE SOUTH

I was actually fortunate enough to see both miniseries back-to-back - I'd hired them from the local library at the same time. They were shot simultaneously (same actors, same sets, etc...) and released in the same year (1987) - which is one way to keep costs down, and the main barrier to making miniseries seems to be the cost factor. POOR MAN'S ORANGE, adapted from Ruth Park's sequel to THE HARP IN THE SOUTH, is an extension of the trials and tribulations of the Darcy family, to whom we were introduced in the first miniseries. Like THE HARP IN THE SOUTH, it's nothing overly special, but the characters are loveable, in their own unique ways, and this certainly won't disappoint the masses. 7/10.