Matthew and Son (film)
Matthew and Son is a 1984 Australian television film about a single parent who is a police surgeon. It was filmed May to June 1984 and is a pilot for a TV series that never eventuated.[1]
| Matthew and Son | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Gary Conway |
| Written by | Christine Schofield Marcus Cole |
| Based on | short story by Bert Deling Michael Aitkens |
| Produced by | Damien Parer |
| Starring | Paul Cronin Darius Perkins Paula Duncan |
Production company | Television House Films |
| Distributed by | Channel Ten |
Release date | 5 August 1984 |
Running time | 75 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $800,000[1] |
Cast
- Peter Kowitz as Jerry Ashton
- Paul Cronin as Matthew Caine
- Darius Perkins
- Paula Duncan as Barbara Dean
- Nicole Kidman as Bridget Elliot
- Ben Mendelsohn as cameo role
Production
The film was one of several projects Paul Cronin made when at Channel Ten, and was done for Johnny Young's company. Cronin:
It was based on the life of Dr John Birrell, the police surgeon, who was instrumental in the .05 and seatbelt legislation. A fascinating man - I met him, and he was a great character to play. Ten Brisbane, Ten Melbourne and Ten Adelaide committed to a series - they had a 7:30 timeslot allocated for it and all - and the only fly in the ointment was Ten Sydney. They would not commit. The telemovie rated well when it did go to air. It was a very, very well constructed show, but Johnny's company collapsed after that, and I left channel Ten.[2]
References
- Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p106
- "Interview Paul Cronin" TV EYE No. 7, December 1995. Classic Australian TV accessed 13 July 2013