Nancy Wake (miniseries)

Nancy Wake is a 1987 Australian mini-series on the exploits of New Zealand born Australian Nancy Wake (Wellington, NZ, 30 August 1912 – London, UK, 7 August 2011) during World War II as a female British Special Operations Executive agent based on Russell Braddon's 1956 book Nancy Wake: The Story of a Very Brave Woman.[1][2] It was released as True Colors in the United States.

Nancy Wake
Based onNancy Wake: The Story of a Very Brave Woman
by Russell Braddon
Written byRoger Simpson
Directed byPino Amenta
StarringNoni Hazlehurst
John Waters
Shane Briant
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2 x 2 hours
Production
ProducersRoger Le Mesurier
Roger Simpson
Budget$3 million[1]
Release
Original networkNetwork Seven
Original release4 November 1987 (1987-11-04)

Production

In 1985, Australian television Seven Network purchased the rights to Russell Braddon's book Nancy Wake: The Story of a Very Brave Woman and engaged a producer, but due to differences over what approach to take, including budget, the project was called off.[3] The production company, and director Pino Amenta, had planned to produce a definitive resistance story over eight hours.[4][5] Five months later, in April 1986, Seven Network approached Simpson Le Mesurier Films, Roger Le Mesurier the producer and Roger Simpson the writer-producer, who came up with a four-hour love story.[3][5] In October 1986, Nancy Wake was asked to be a consultant, after the script had been prepared. She criticized parts of Simpson's script which were not acceptable to her.[6]

At the launch of the film by Network Seven, Nancy spoke candidly of her views of the production, stating she was disappointed it was not made as originally planned as an eight-hour resistance story but instead a four-hour love story, and criticized aspects of the mini-series.[4] She said "There are certain little things I don't agree with, but in the main I think it's wonderful."[4] She continued to criticize the script throughout her life that certain scenes were not a true depiction.[7][8]

She appears in the film as Madame Fouret.[3]

Filming was completed within 11 weeks around Melbourne and involved the construction of two French towns. The forest battle scenes were shot near Harcourt in an oak forest and included a two-week shoot in Marseilles and Paris. Nancy was not sent to France to consult.[3][4]

The mini-series was pre-sold to British Thames Television.[5]

Cast

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald described it as "... compelling with its humour and tears. The whole cast puts on a brilliant display of talent. This show is not to be missed".[9]

The mini-series screened in July 1988 in Britain taking the title as the highest rating program on London Weekend Television so far that year.[10]

Home media

Nancy Wake was released on DVD and Online Streaming by Umbrella Entertainment in November 2012. The DVD is compatible with all region codes.[11]

Title Format Ep # Discs Region 4 (Australia) Special Features Distributors
Sword Of Honour DVD 2 2 11 November 2012 None Umbrella Entertainment
Sword Of Honour Streaming 2 - 11 November 2012 None Umbrella Entertainment

References
  1. Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p216
  2. Simmonds, Diana (16 February 1987). "Nancy's war in Melbourne". No. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. Speelman, Paul (29 October 1987). "In War's Wake". The Age.
  4. Oliver, Robin (2 November 1987). "The last word on Nancy Wake". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. Lee Lewis, Jacqueline (30 November 1986). "Noni's off to war as the White Mouse". Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. Murdoch, Anna (11 December 1986). "The mouse that roared". The Age.
  7. Lichfield, John (9 August 2011). "Resistance heroine who led 7,000 men against the Nazis". Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  8. Joffe, Mick (1995). Endangered characters of Australia: their yarns & caricatures. Berowra Heights, N.S.W.: Sandstone Press. ISBN 0646246143. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  9. Clark, Lucy (1 November 1987). "A true tale of courage and resistance". No. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. Lee Lewes, Jacqueline. "Gossip. The Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. No. 1 August 1988.
  11. "Umbrella Entertainment". Retrieved 5 August 2013.
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