Seven Little Australians (TV series)

Seven Little Australians was a 10-part TV series that aired on ABC Television in 1973.[1] The mini-series was based on Ethel Turner's best-selling novel, Seven Little Australians.[2][3][4]

Seven Little Australians
Genrechildren's drama
Based onnovel by Ethel Turner
Written byEleanor Witcombe
Directed byRon Way
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producerCharles Russell
Running time30 min
Production companiesABC
Ethel Turner Productions
Australian Film Development Corporation
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseAugust 26 (1973-08-26) –
October 28, 1973 (1973-10-28)

The series was largely faithful to the book; differences include the fact that Judy was thin and waiflike in the book, she is more solidly built in the series. Meg's hair was long and dark, but in the book her hair is long and blonde.

Premise

Captain Woolcot is a widower with seven children. He marries again and his new wife takes on all the trials of bringing up seven spirited children.[5][6]

Cast
CharacterActor
Captain John WoolcotLeonard Teale
Judy WoolcotJennifer Cluff
Esther WoolcotElizabeth Alexander
The GeneralChristian Robinson
Meg WoolcotBarbara Llewellyn
Pip WoolcotMark Clark
Nell WoolcotAnna Hruby
Baby WoolcotTania Falla
Bunty WoolcotMark Shields-Brown
MarthaRuth Cracknell
AldithJudy McBurney
Mr HassalPeter Gwynne
Nigel Lovell

Production

The project had been in development at the ABC for a number of years. Head of television drama, John Cameron, praised the contribution of American Charles Russell in working on the script. Cameron wrote, "For the adaptation to work, Charles insisted that the story had to be built around the father and his inability to express his deep love for his children, particularly his eldest daughter."[7]

Cameron says investment funds came in part from Global Television and Twentieth Century Fox.[7][8]

Filming started 2 January 1973. It was filmed in Sydney and on location near Bowral and Canberra.[9] Cameron also recalled "Although it [the mini series] turned out very well, there were difficulties at every turn, and at some time during the production every member of the production team,... came to me to report that we could not do it, and should abandon the project."[7]

Reception

The Sun Herald called it "the most moving, beautifully produced, senstiviely acted piece of children's drama we have done on television yet."[10] The Bulletin called it "a joy to watch".[11]

Overseas broadcast

The series was broadcast on US television as Seven Little Woolcotts.[7] It rated highly in Sweden.[12]

Awards

It won the Gold Logie in 1974 for Best New Drama.[13] It also won several Penguin Awards[14] and AFI Awards.[15]

The series has been released on a 2-disc region 4 DVD set in Australia.

Select episodes
  1. "Fowl for Dinner" - 26 August (Sydney air date)
  2. "What Are Fathers For Anyway?" 2 September
  3. "Consequences" - 9 September
  4. "All for the Worst" - 16 September
  5. "Secrets" - 23 September
  6. "Tomorrow Do Thy Worst" - 30 September
  7. "Into the Sun" - 7 October
  8. "Yarrahappini" - 14 October
  9. "The Picnic" - 21 October
  10. "Going Home" (final) - 28 October

References
  1. "Seven Little Australians (1973)". Australian Screen: An NFSA Website. National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  2. "Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner" (pdf of booklet (8.93MB)). Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  3. "SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 41, no. 15. Australia, Australia. 12 September 1973. p. 57. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS PART 2". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 41, no. 16. Australia, Australia. 19 September 1973. p. 63. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Seven Little Australians, retrieved 23 May 2019
  6. ""Seven Little Australians"". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 40, no. 48. Australia, Australia. 2 May 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Cameron, John. "Autobiography of John Cameron".
  8. "DRAMA The biggest make-believe factory", 105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm., The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 95 (4840), 3 February 1973 [1880], ISSN 0007-4039, nla.obj-1628114640, retrieved 15 June 2023 – via Trove
  9. "Teletopics". The Age TV Guide. 21 December 1972. p. 2.
  10. "Hankies out for a slice of nostalgia". The Sunday Sydney Morning Herald. 19 August 1973. p. 78.
  11. "TELEVISION Multidimensional delight", 105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm., The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 95 (4870–1), 15 September 1973 [1880], ISSN 0007-4039, nla.obj-1635222644, retrieved 15 June 2023 – via Trove
  12. "AUSTRALIAN TV SERIES 'TOPS'". The Canberra Times. Vol. 48, no. 13, 649. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 January 1974. p. 15. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. Logie Awards, retrieved 17 April 2021
  14. "'Penguin' television awards". The Canberra Times. Vol. 48, no. 13, 608. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 December 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "FILM, TV AWARDS". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. XL, no. 11. Victoria, Australia. 14 December 1973. p. 14. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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