Boney (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Boney is an Australian television series produced by Fauna Productions during 1971 and 1972, featuring James Laurenson
in the title role
of Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte
. There were two series made of twenty six episodes in total.
The series was centred on Bonaparte, a half-Australian Aboriginal
character, created by Arthur Upfield
, who wrote twenty nine novels about him from 1929 until Upfield's death in 1964.
While Bonaparte was "Bony" in the novels, the TV series was titled "Boney" - Arthur Upfield
had told the show's producer John McCallum
that a printer’s error in the first book had misspelled the name and he'd been stuck with it ever since. Tie-in reprints of the novels at the time used the title "Boney", though - as old printing plates were used - Bonaparte was still "Bony" inside.
Bony has a Masters Degree in forensic science from the fictitious "Brisbane University". His father, name unknown, was white. His Aboriginal mother was murdered while he was still an infant.
In 1992 a series entitled Bony
was transmitted in Australia. Its thirteen episodes were produced by Grundy, a company known for packaging quiz show formats and producing soap operas. Starring 26 year-old actor and singer Cameron Daddo
, the Bony
pilot film was about Inspector Bonaparte’s grandson David, himself a detective - but (reacting to complaints from Aboriginal viewers) in the resulting series Daddo’s character was a white policeman who’d been brought up by Aboriginals, and who had an elderly black mentor, his uncle (played by Burnum Burnum
). Partly-funded by the German broadcaster ZDF (who'd put money into the 1971/2 series), the producers had bought the name "Bony", but the series bore no other relation to the Upfield books nor the Fauna series .
Record producer Frank Farian
named the 1970s disco
band Boney M. after the character Bonaparte, as Farian had been watching the Boney series a great deal at that time.
James Laurenson
James Laurenson is a New Zealand actor, who has performed many classical roles on stage and television.Laurenson was born in Marton, New Zealand...
in the title role
Title role
The title role in the performing arts is the performance part that gives the title to the piece, as in Aida, Giselle, Michael Collins or Othello. The actor, singer or dancer who performs that part is also said to have the title role....
of Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte
Bony (Fictional Character)
Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte is a half Aboriginal, half-white detective character created by Arthur Upfield. Bony appeared in dozens of Upfield's novels from the late 1920s until the author's death in 1964.-Early life:...
. There were two series made of twenty six episodes in total.
The series was centred on Bonaparte, a half-Australian Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
character, created by Arthur Upfield
Arthur Upfield
Arthur William Upfield was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine....
, who wrote twenty nine novels about him from 1929 until Upfield's death in 1964.
While Bonaparte was "Bony" in the novels, the TV series was titled "Boney" - Arthur Upfield
Arthur Upfield
Arthur William Upfield was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine....
had told the show's producer John McCallum
John McCallum
John McCallum, PC, MP is a Liberal Canadian politician, economist and university professor. Following the 2006 Federal Election, he became the Liberal Finance Critic in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet...
that a printer’s error in the first book had misspelled the name and he'd been stuck with it ever since. Tie-in reprints of the novels at the time used the title "Boney", though - as old printing plates were used - Bonaparte was still "Bony" inside.
Bony has a Masters Degree in forensic science from the fictitious "Brisbane University". His father, name unknown, was white. His Aboriginal mother was murdered while he was still an infant.
In 1992 a series entitled Bony
Bony
Bony may refer to:* Adjective related to bone* Bony, a commune of the Aisne département, in France* Bőny, a village in Hungary* A nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte* The Bank of New York...
was transmitted in Australia. Its thirteen episodes were produced by Grundy, a company known for packaging quiz show formats and producing soap operas. Starring 26 year-old actor and singer Cameron Daddo
Cameron Daddo
Cameron Peter Daddo is an Australian actor, musician and presenter. He is the brother of Andrew Daddo and Lochie Daddo.-Australian television:...
, the Bony
Bony
Bony may refer to:* Adjective related to bone* Bony, a commune of the Aisne département, in France* Bőny, a village in Hungary* A nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte* The Bank of New York...
pilot film was about Inspector Bonaparte’s grandson David, himself a detective - but (reacting to complaints from Aboriginal viewers) in the resulting series Daddo’s character was a white policeman who’d been brought up by Aboriginals, and who had an elderly black mentor, his uncle (played by Burnum Burnum
Burnum Burnum
Burnum Burnum was an Australian Aboriginal activist, actor, and author. He was born a Woiworrung and Yorta Yorta man at Wallaga Lake in southern New South Wales...
). Partly-funded by the German broadcaster ZDF (who'd put money into the 1971/2 series), the producers had bought the name "Bony", but the series bore no other relation to the Upfield books nor the Fauna series .
Record producer Frank Farian
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
named the 1970s disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
band Boney M. after the character Bonaparte, as Farian had been watching the Boney series a great deal at that time.
Cast
- James LaurensonJames LaurensonJames Laurenson is a New Zealand actor, who has performed many classical roles on stage and television.Laurenson was born in Marton, New Zealand...
as Detective Inspector Bonaparte (Boney) (Series 1 and 2). - Kate FitzpatrickKate FitzpatrickKate Fitzpatrick is an Australian-based television, film and theatre actress.-Career:...
as Constable Alice McGorr (Series 2 only).
Notable guest stars
- Deryck Barnes as Sgt Colin Harvey (ep "Boney Walks With Death").
- Honor BlackmanHonor BlackmanHonor Blackman is an English actress, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in The Avengers and Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger .-Early life:...
as Mary Answorth (ep "Boney In Venom House"). - Ken Goodlet as Inspector Walters (ep "Boney And The Kelly Gang").
- David GulpililDavid GulpililDavid Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu , is an Indigenous Australian traditional dancer and actor. His first starring role was Walkabout....
as various characters in various episodes, both series - plus featured dancer in opening and closing sequences. - Max PhippsMax PhippsMax Phipps was an Australian actor, known for a number of roles in theatre, films and television during the 1960s until the end of the 1990s....
as Morris Answorth (ep "Boney In Venom House"). - Jack ThompsonJack ThompsonJack Thompson may refer to:*Jack Thompson , American boxer*Jack Thompson , Australian film and television star*Jack Thompson , disbarred Florida attorney...
as Red Kelly (ep "Boney And The Kelly Gang"). - Charles TingwellCharles TingwellIn 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
as Jeff Stanton (ep "Boney And The Powder Trail"). - Bindi Williams as Pintubi (ep "Boney And The Powder Trail").
- Googie WithersGoogie WithersGeorgette Lizette "Googie" Withers CBE, AO was an English theatre, film and television actress. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, the actor John McCallum, with whom she often appeared.-Biography:...
as Mrs Loftus (ep "Boney And The Reaper"), Diana Thompson (ep "Boney Hunts A Murderess"), also in ep "Boney And The Paroo Bikeman".
External links
- Boney Episode Guide
- Boney - a song by Rolf HarrisRolf HarrisRolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
about the character