Janus (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Janus is an Australia
n drama
television series screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
in 1994 and 1995. Two series were produced, with a total of 26 episodes.
Janus (known in some countries as "Criminal Justice") was a spin-off series from the earlier ABC-TV crime series Phoenix
.
Loosely based on the true story of Melbourne's Pettingill family
and the Walsh Street police shootings
, Janus follows the bitterly fought prosecutions of a notorious criminal family, The Hennesseys, from the viewpoints of the family, the police and, in particular, the lawyers, prosecutors, barristers and judges involved in all aspects of the story.
When the series begins, four members of the infamous Hennessey clan are acquitted of the shooting of two young policemen in a bungled bank heist. The city of Melbourne
is shocked as brothers Mal and Steve, along with brother-in-law Darren Mack and friend Ken Hardy, walk free.
The prosecutors, judges, magistrates and police - many modelled heavily on real-life legal figures - are determined to put the Hennessey members behind bars if they can. But corruption, legal loopholes, delays, and stretched resources combine to make the quest to jail the group far from straightforward.
The operation puts the entire Hennessey clan under observation — the matriarch, Shirl; her sons Mal and Steve; daughter Rhonda along with her new husband Darren; and Steve's girlfriend Kirsty (Belinda McClory
).
Representing the Hennessey family is the unconventional and tough defence barrister, Michael Kidd, played by Chris Haywood
. Prosecuting the family is Victoria's newly-elected Crown Prosecutor Vic Manoulis (Jeremy Kewley
) and his assistant, young lawyer Rob Griffin (Felix Nobis).
And overseeing all of this is the driven and determined cop Peter Faithfull (played by Simon Westaway
) who we first got to know in the earlier series of Phoenix
.
Like Phoenix
, this series was produced by Bill Hughes and created and written by Allison Niselle and Tony McDonald.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television series screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in 1994 and 1995. Two series were produced, with a total of 26 episodes.
Janus (known in some countries as "Criminal Justice") was a spin-off series from the earlier ABC-TV crime series Phoenix
Phoenix (TV series)
Phoenix is an Australian police drama television series. Phoenix screened as two thirteen-part series on Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1992 and 1993....
.
Loosely based on the true story of Melbourne's Pettingill family
Pettingill family
The Pettingill family is an infamous Melbourne-based criminal family, headed by matriarch Kath Pettingill. Family members have many convictions for criminal offences including drug trafficking, arms dealing and armed robberies...
and the Walsh Street police shootings
Walsh Street police shootings
The Walsh Street police shootings was the 1988 murder of two Victoria Police officers, Constables Steven Tynan, 22, and Damian Eyre, 20. The officers were responding to a report of an abandoned car when they were gunned down about 4.50am in Walsh Street, South Yarra, Australia on 12 October...
, Janus follows the bitterly fought prosecutions of a notorious criminal family, The Hennesseys, from the viewpoints of the family, the police and, in particular, the lawyers, prosecutors, barristers and judges involved in all aspects of the story.
When the series begins, four members of the infamous Hennessey clan are acquitted of the shooting of two young policemen in a bungled bank heist. The city of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
is shocked as brothers Mal and Steve, along with brother-in-law Darren Mack and friend Ken Hardy, walk free.
The prosecutors, judges, magistrates and police - many modelled heavily on real-life legal figures - are determined to put the Hennessey members behind bars if they can. But corruption, legal loopholes, delays, and stretched resources combine to make the quest to jail the group far from straightforward.
The operation puts the entire Hennessey clan under observation — the matriarch, Shirl; her sons Mal and Steve; daughter Rhonda along with her new husband Darren; and Steve's girlfriend Kirsty (Belinda McClory
Belinda McClory
Belinda McClory is an Australian film, television and stage actress.Belinda was born in Adelaide, Australia. On 30 January 1999 she married director Jon Hewitt. McClory is mainly known for her role in The Matrix...
).
Representing the Hennessey family is the unconventional and tough defence barrister, Michael Kidd, played by Chris Haywood
Chris Haywood
Chris Haywood is an English-born, Australian-based film and television actor/producer.-Early life:Haywood was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He spent his early childhood in Chelmsford before moving to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire where he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School from...
. Prosecuting the family is Victoria's newly-elected Crown Prosecutor Vic Manoulis (Jeremy Kewley
Jeremy Kewley
Jeremy Leo Kewley is an Australian actor, based in Melbourne, who made his professional acting debut at the age of 14 in the feature film The Devil's Playground .-Early life:...
) and his assistant, young lawyer Rob Griffin (Felix Nobis).
And overseeing all of this is the driven and determined cop Peter Faithfull (played by Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...
) who we first got to know in the earlier series of Phoenix
Phoenix (TV series)
Phoenix is an Australian police drama television series. Phoenix screened as two thirteen-part series on Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1992 and 1993....
.
Like Phoenix
Phoenix (TV series)
Phoenix is an Australian police drama television series. Phoenix screened as two thirteen-part series on Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1992 and 1993....
, this series was produced by Bill Hughes and created and written by Allison Niselle and Tony McDonald.
DVD release
The first season of Janus was released on DVD in Australia by ABC-DVD in September 2009. The box set, called "Janus: Volume One" contains all 13 episodes of the first season on 4 x DVDs. It was followed in May 2010 by the ABC-DVD box set release of "Janus: Volume Two" containing all 13 episodes of the second season on 4 x DVDs.Cast
- Chris HaywoodChris HaywoodChris Haywood is an English-born, Australian-based film and television actor/producer.-Early life:Haywood was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He spent his early childhood in Chelmsford before moving to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire where he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School from...
as Michael Kidd - Simon WestawaySimon WestawaySimon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...
as Peter Faithfull - Jeremy KewleyJeremy KewleyJeremy Leo Kewley is an Australian actor, based in Melbourne, who made his professional acting debut at the age of 14 in the feature film The Devil's Playground .-Early life:...
as Vic Manoulis - Tracey Mann as Tina Bertram
- Louise SiversenLouise SiversenLouise Siversen is an actress.Siversen began acting as a child after her parents sent her to dance and drama classes to help her overcome her shyness. Siversen began to enjoy acting and went on to perform with St Martins Youth Theatre, appearing in many productions...
as Magistrate Glenda de Bono - Paulene Terry-Beitz as Shirl Hennessey
- Brett Swain as Mal Hennessey
- Jonathan Kernutt as Shane Hennessey
- Leon Teague as Steve Hennessey
- Victoria Eagger as Rhonda Hennessey
- Jane MenelausJane MenelausJane Menelaus is an Australian actress who trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.-Stage:Jane Menelaus has worked a lot with both the South Australian and Melbourne Theatre Companies...
as Jenny Hanson - Felix Nobis as Rob Griffin
- Peter Hardy as Gavin Lindsay
- Alan DaleAlan DaleAlan Hugh Dale is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a rugby player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27. With work limited in New...
as Richard Issacs - Belinda McCloryBelinda McCloryBelinda McClory is an Australian film, television and stage actress.Belinda was born in Adelaide, Australia. On 30 January 1999 she married director Jon Hewitt. McClory is mainly known for her role in The Matrix...
as Kirsty Nichols - Nicholas Cantlon as Kirsty's Baby