Maurice Murphy (Director)
Encyclopedia
Maurice Brendan Murphy is an Australia
n film and television director, producer, writer and actor . He is best known for his influential work as a director of TV comedy programs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
-- most notably The Aunty Jack Show
-- and for his 1980 feature film adaptation of the Australian comic strip Fatty Finn.
After a month as a Melbourne University student, Murphy realised that his true calling was in the entertainment world. For the next three years, he financed his theatrical pursuits at The Little Theatre in South Yarra, by working at the Victorian Railways
. In 1960, Murphy joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) where he worked his way up to being a director. ‘The ABC was a great training institute at that time, and a place which allowed me much creative freedom. I learned a great deal there’ says Murphy of his years at the ABC. His first big break was in 1967 with the big budget 20-episode variety series, I'm Alright Now, with Reg Livermore
. In 1973, Murphy became Head of Entertainment at the ABC.
and Bing Crosby
road movies and comedies his favourite genres and ones that would influence his future work.
Throughout his school years Murphy would regularly escape into the wonders of radio hit parades, spending countless hours analysing pop song structures and writing down lyrics. He applied these skills to television comedies. ‘I worked out how the shows were structured. I wrote down the scenes. Sketched the sets. Analysed the placement of dialogue and the positions for its delivery. I noticed the similarity in patterning and timing between various shows. I really got to understand how TV comedy was staged’, says Murphy.
. He was mentored by Frank Muir
and worked with many British comedy stars including Ronnie Barker
, Tommy Cooper
, Harry Corbett
and Wendy Craig
. He directed Doctor in the House
, starring Robin Nedwell
, which was the first non-American comedy series to be bought by US television.
In 1968 Murphy directed the 6-episode series of Complete and Utter History of Britain starring Michael Palin
and Terry Jones
. It was a highly original look at medieval history using television techniques to satirise the events. For instance, the Battle of Hastings was broadcast as a soccer match. The series is regarded as the precursor to Monty Python’s Flying Circus and until 2004 it was believed that that no copies of the series had survived.
, starring Grahame Bond, Rory O’Donoghue, John Derum
and Sandra McGregor. He used some unorthodox methods to get the show to air. After the first episode was screened, the ABC received more than 1000 complaints and Murphy knew he had a winner.
A spin-off from The Aunty Jack Show
was The Norman Gunston Show, a comic satire featuring an unsophisticated reporter from Wollongong. The Gunston character was devised by Wendy Skelcher and played by Garry McDonald
. The series achieved considerable success and inspired several contemporary comedians. Norman Gunston has the distinction of being the only television character, rather than the actor playing the character, to win a Gold Logie
, the premier Australian television accolade. In 1975, the first colour television to appear on Australian screens was a brilliant sketch devised by Murphy and Grahame Bond, in which a black and white Aunty Jack tried in vain to stop colour slowly seeping into the scene.
Murphy believes that comedy has a very important social role to play, and is also important for us individually. One of his recurrent themes is that the children within us are able to overcome the adult world with absurdist humour.
, Christopher Atkins
and Elliot Gould. More serious was his family tale of love in wartime, 15 Amore starring Lisa Hensley
and Steve Bastoni
. 15 Amore was voted the Audience Favourite Feature at the Aspen Filmfest in 1998 and was awarded the Crystal Palm Award at the Marco Island Film Festival in 2000.
More recently, the ethereal singing of the students of New Zealand’s Toi Whakaari
inspired Murphy to create a musical feature film, Zenolith, as a vehicle for their talents. He co-wrote the song lyrics with Lee Hatherly and secured the collaboration of New Zealand composer, Gareth Farr
, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
.
Murphy’s work is characterised by variety and diversity. He continues to challenge himself with new adventures and projects. He has recently written, produced and starred in several one-man stage shows. Currently he is working on a sequence of songs about mathematics, an opera about Sir Edmund Hillary and an animation feature film, Marsupia.
Murphy has always sought out and encouraged new talent and continues to assist emerging film makers and entertainers.
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 film and television director, producer, writer and actor . He is best known for his influential work as a director of TV comedy programs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
-- most notably The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
-- and for his 1980 feature film adaptation of the Australian comic strip Fatty Finn.
After a month as a Melbourne University student, Murphy realised that his true calling was in the entertainment world. For the next three years, he financed his theatrical pursuits at The Little Theatre in South Yarra, by working at the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
. In 1960, Murphy joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) where he worked his way up to being a director. ‘The ABC was a great training institute at that time, and a place which allowed me much creative freedom. I learned a great deal there’ says Murphy of his years at the ABC. His first big break was in 1967 with the big budget 20-episode variety series, I'm Alright Now, with Reg Livermore
Reg Livermore
Reginald Dawson Livermore AO is an Australian actor, singer, theatrical performer and television presenter.-Childhood:From a young age, Livermore demonstrated an interest in the performing arts...
. In 1973, Murphy became Head of Entertainment at the ABC.
Influences
Murphy’s show biz enthusiasm was well-developed long before his ABC years. As a young child he was enthralled by the physical comedy of the clowns at Wirth’s Circus. Later at boarding school he discovered Abbott & Costello films, delighting in their vaudevillian routines. The cinema became an integral part of Murphy’s school holidays with musicals, Bob HopeBob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
road movies and comedies his favourite genres and ones that would influence his future work.
Throughout his school years Murphy would regularly escape into the wonders of radio hit parades, spending countless hours analysing pop song structures and writing down lyrics. He applied these skills to television comedies. ‘I worked out how the shows were structured. I wrote down the scenes. Sketched the sets. Analysed the placement of dialogue and the positions for its delivery. I noticed the similarity in patterning and timing between various shows. I really got to understand how TV comedy was staged’, says Murphy.
British comedy
Murphy spent 1968-1971 in England working at the BBC and London Weekend TelevisionLondon Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
. He was mentored by Frank Muir
Frank Muir
Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...
and worked with many British comedy stars including Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
, Tommy Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
, Harry Corbett
Harry Corbett
Harry Corbett OBE was a British puppeteer, known as the creator in 1948 of the long running 'Sooty' glove puppet character.He was born in Bradford to coal miner James W...
and Wendy Craig
Wendy Craig
Wendy Craig is a BAFTA Award winning English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms Butterflies, ...And Mother Makes Three and ...And Mother Makes Five...
. He directed Doctor in the House
Doctor in the House (TV series)
Doctor in the House is the syndicated title given, by the United States, to a British television comedy series , based on a set of books and a movie of the same name by Richard Gordon about the misadventures of a group of medical students — and their later misadventures as doctors.The first...
, starring Robin Nedwell
Robin Nedwell
Robin Nedwell was an English actor. He is best remembered for his role as Duncan Waring in the television comedy series Doctor in the House and its sequels...
, which was the first non-American comedy series to be bought by US television.
In 1968 Murphy directed the 6-episode series of Complete and Utter History of Britain starring Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
and Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
. It was a highly original look at medieval history using television techniques to satirise the events. For instance, the Battle of Hastings was broadcast as a soccer match. The series is regarded as the precursor to Monty Python’s Flying Circus and until 2004 it was believed that that no copies of the series had survived.
Australian comedy
On his return to Australia in 1972, Murphy helped to create the ground-breaking anarchistic comedy, The Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
, starring Grahame Bond, Rory O’Donoghue, John Derum
John Derum
John Derum is an Australian actor for stage, film and television. He has also directed and produced for theatre companies throughout Australia and for television...
and Sandra McGregor. He used some unorthodox methods to get the show to air. After the first episode was screened, the ABC received more than 1000 complaints and Murphy knew he had a winner.
A spin-off from The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
was The Norman Gunston Show, a comic satire featuring an unsophisticated reporter from Wollongong. The Gunston character was devised by Wendy Skelcher and played by Garry McDonald
Garry McDonald
Garry George McDonald, AO is an Australian stage and screen actor.-Early life and career:McDonald was born in Sydney and was educated at Cranbrook School and National Institute of Dramatic Art....
. The series achieved considerable success and inspired several contemporary comedians. Norman Gunston has the distinction of being the only television character, rather than the actor playing the character, to win a Gold Logie
Logie
If you searched for Logie you may be looking for:*Logie, Dundee, a residential area in the City of Dundee, Scotland*Logie Coldstone, an Aberdeenshire village north of the River Dee in Scotland*The Logie Award, the Australian television industry awards...
, the premier Australian television accolade. In 1975, the first colour television to appear on Australian screens was a brilliant sketch devised by Murphy and Grahame Bond, in which a black and white Aunty Jack tried in vain to stop colour slowly seeping into the scene.
Murphy believes that comedy has a very important social role to play, and is also important for us individually. One of his recurrent themes is that the children within us are able to overcome the adult world with absurdist humour.
Films
Murphy has written, directed or produced a number of independent feature films. His first films were ones for childeren, Fatty Finn and Doctors and Nurses, stories in which children were at odds with the adult world. . Then a young adult satirical comedy with the emphasis on fun, Exchange Lifeguards (aka Wet and Wild Summer! starring Julian McMahonJulian McMahon
Julian Dana William McMahon is an Australian actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayals of Cole Turner in The WB hit series Charmed, womanizing plastic surgeon Christian Troy on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning TV show Nip/Tuck, and Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four and...
, Christopher Atkins
Christopher Atkins
Christopher Atkins is an American actor, who became famous with his costarring debut role in the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon.-Early life:...
and Elliot Gould. More serious was his family tale of love in wartime, 15 Amore starring Lisa Hensley
Lisa Hensley
Lisa Hensley is an Australian actress who first came to prominence with a leading role in the television mini-series Brides of Christ. She went to high school at Brigidine College, St Ives, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni is an Italian Australian actor. He is best known for his role in Police Rescue as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos and as Steve Parker in Neighbours.-Television:...
. 15 Amore was voted the Audience Favourite Feature at the Aspen Filmfest in 1998 and was awarded the Crystal Palm Award at the Marco Island Film Festival in 2000.
More recently, the ethereal singing of the students of New Zealand’s Toi Whakaari
Toi Whakaari
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is New Zealand's National Drama School. It is located in Wellington, New Zealand Toi Whakaari offers training in Acting, Directing, Costume Construction, Entertainment Technology, Performing Arts Management and Design for Stage & Screen.The School offers the following...
inspired Murphy to create a musical feature film, Zenolith, as a vehicle for their talents. He co-wrote the song lyrics with Lee Hatherly and secured the collaboration of New Zealand composer, Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr
Gareth Vincent Farr ONZM is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet...
, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is the smallest of the six orchestras established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .-Activities:...
.
Ethos
Murphy has always enjoyed having fun with technology and pushing it to the limits, often with budgetary constraints. He believes such limitations inspire innovation. In 1965 he invented a way of reversing video tape to enable images to be run backwards. In 1990, Murphy made Let’s Do Lunch, the first television series in the world to be filmed on Handicam.Murphy’s work is characterised by variety and diversity. He continues to challenge himself with new adventures and projects. He has recently written, produced and starred in several one-man stage shows. Currently he is working on a sequence of songs about mathematics, an opera about Sir Edmund Hillary and an animation feature film, Marsupia.
Murphy has always sought out and encouraged new talent and continues to assist emerging film makers and entertainers.
Television shows
- The Whole Show (2000) TV special
- Let’s Do Lunch (1990) TV series (6 episodes)
- News Free Zone (1985) TV series (50 episodes)
- The Tea Ladies (1978) TV series (9 episodes)
- Freddy Starr Special (1978) TV special
- The Little Big Show (1978) TV special
- The Off Show (1977) TV series aka The Of Show (Australia) (9 episodes)
- Alvin PurpleAlvin PurpleAlvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
(1976) TV series (13 episodes) - Flash Nick from Jindavick (1974-75) TV series (6 episodes)
- The Very Best of The Aunty Jack Show (1973) TV special
- Aunty Jack Rox On (1972) TV special
- Doctor in ChargeDoctor in ChargeDoctor in Charge is a British television comedy series based on a set of books by Richard Gordon about the misadventures of a group of Doctors...
(1972) TV series (6 episodes) - A Nice Day at the Office (1972) (6 episodes)
- The Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
(1971-72) TV series (13 episodes) - The Comedy Game (1971-73) TV series (14 episodes)
- Not Only… But Also (1971) TV special
- The Dudley MooreDudley MooreDudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
Trio (1971) TV special - Six Dates with BarkerSix Dates With BarkerSix Dates with Barker is a series of six one-off, half hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by London Weekend Television early in 1971.Writers on the series included John Cleese and Spike Milligan...
(1970) TV series (6 episodes) - Hark at BarkerHark at BarkerHark at Barker was a 1969 British comedy series combining elements of sitcom and sketch show, which starred Ronnie Barker. It was made for the ITV network by LWT.Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as a continuity announcer...
(1970) TV series (6 episodes) - Doctor in the HouseDoctor in the HouseDoctor in the House is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box. The screenplay, by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon and Ronald Wilkinson, is based on the novel by Gordon, and follows a group of students through medical school.It was the most popular box office...
(1969) TV series (9 episodes) - Complete and Utter History of Britain (1969) TV series (6 episodes)
- I'm Alright Now (1967) TV series (20 episodes)
Feature films
- Zenolith (2008)
- 15 Amore (1998)
- Wet and Wild Summer! (1992) aka "Exchange Lifeguards" (Australia)
- Doctors & Nurses (1981)
- Fatty Finn (1980)
Stage shows
- My Imaginary Family (2011)
- Maurice (2007)
- Aunty Jack Show and Tell (2006)
- Good Story (2003)
- Screenplay (2003)
- Razzle Dazzle (1975)
- Hamlet on Ice (1974)
- Aunty Jack and the Gong in Bloody Concert (1973)
Television shows
- The Whole Show (2000) TV special
- I Do! I Do!I Do! I Do!I Do! I Do! is a musical with a book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt which is based on the Jan de Hartog play The Fourposter. The two-character story spans fifty years, from 1895 to 1945, as it focuses on the ups and downs experienced by Agnes and Michael Snow throughout their...
(1997) TV series (13 episodes) - Just Kidding (1994-95) TV series (75 episodes)
- Let’s Do Lunch (1990) TV series (6 episodes)
- News Free Zone (1985) TV series (50 episodes)
- Freddy Starr Special (1978) TV special
- The Little Big Show (1978) TV special
- The Off Show (1977) TV series aka The Of Show (Australia) (9 episodes)
- Alvin PurpleAlvin PurpleAlvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
(1976) TV series (13 episodes) - Wollongong the BraveWollongong the BraveAunty Jack's Wollongong the Brave is a collection of four comedy specials derived from the Australian television series, The Aunty Jack Show. The fourth and final episode was the precursor to The Norman Gunston Show. The episodes were filmed in 1974 and were aired during 1975...
(1975) TV series (4 episodes) - Flash Nick from Jindavick (1974-75) TV series (6 episodes)
- The Very Best of The Aunty Jack Show (1973) TV special
- Our Man in the Company (1973) TV series (10 episodes)
- The Comedy Game (1971-73) TV series (14 episodes)
- Aunty Jack Rox On (1972) TV special
- A Nice Day at the Office (1972) (6 episodes)
- The Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
(1971-72) TV series (13 episodes) - Not Only… But Also (1971) TV special
- The Dudley Moore Trio (1971) TV special
Feature films
- Zenolith (2008)
- 15 Amore (1998)
- Doctors & NursesDoctors & NursesDoctors and Nurses is a British television sitcom written by Nigel Smith and Dr. Phil Hammond, focusing on the fraught relationship between two orthopaedic surgeons, set in a hospital on the Isle of Wight....
(1981)
Stage shows
- Maurice (2007)
- Aunty Jack Show and Tell (2006)
- Good Story (2003)
- Screenplay (2003)
- Razzle Dazzle (1975)
- Hamlet on Ice (1974)
- Aunty Jack and the Gong in Bloody Concert (1973)
Television shows
- The Whole Show (2000) TV special
- Let’s Do Lunch (1990) TV series (6 episodes)
- News Free Zone (1985) TV series (50 episodes)
- The Tea Ladies (1978) TV series (9 episodes)
- The Little Big Show (1978) TV special
- The Off Show (1977) TV series aka The Of Show (Australia) (9 episodes)
- Alvin PurpleAlvin PurpleAlvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
(1976) TV series (13 episodes) - Scattergood: Friend of All (1975) TV series
- Wollongong the Brave (1975) TV series (4 episodes)
- Flash Nick from Jindavick (1974-75) TV series (6 episodes)
- The Very Best of The Aunty Jack Show (1973) TV special
- The Comedy Game (1971-73) TV series (14 episodes)
- Aunty Jack Rox On (1972) TV special
- A Nice Day at the Office (1972) (6 episodes)
- The Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack ShowThe Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
(1971-72) TV series (13 episodes) - Six Dates with BarkerSix Dates With BarkerSix Dates with Barker is a series of six one-off, half hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by London Weekend Television early in 1971.Writers on the series included John Cleese and Spike Milligan...
(1970) TV series (6 episodes) - Hark at BarkerHark at BarkerHark at Barker was a 1969 British comedy series combining elements of sitcom and sketch show, which starred Ronnie Barker. It was made for the ITV network by LWT.Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as a continuity announcer...
(1970) TV series (6 episodes) - I'm Alright Now (1967) TV series (20 episodes)
Feature films
- Zenolith (2008)
- 15 Amore (1998)
- Channel Chaos (1984)
- Doctors & Nurses (1981)
Stage shows
- Maurice (2007)
- Aunty Jack Show and Tell (2006)
- Good Story (2003)
- Screenplay (2003)
- Aunty Jack and the Gong in Bloody Concert (1973)
Television shows
- Benny Hill Down Under (1977) TV series - various roles
- Consider Your VerdictConsider Your VerdictConsider Your Verdict is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in Melbourne from 1958 to 1960.The television series was...
(1962) one episode Queen Versus Brooks (1962)
Stage shows
- Maurice (2007)
- Aunty Jack Show and Tell (2006)
- Good Story (2003)
- Screenplay (2003)