McLeod's Daughters (film)
Encyclopedia
McLeod's Daughters is a 1996 Australian television film, it aired on the Nine Network
on 11 May 1996, which was Mother's Day. At the time it was the highest rated telemovie and still remains the highest rated telemovie of all time in Australia. The movie was the pilot for the later tv series McLeod's Daughters
.
, to reconnect with her only remaining family, her father Jack and her sister Claire, whom she has not seen in 20 years, since her mother left Jack and moved to the city, and taking Tess with her.
Tess arrives in a complex situation and finds herself meeting an adoring father but a hostile sister whom she no longer knows and who resents her sudden arrival and even quicker ability to win over Jack, something she herself has never been able to accomplish.
Tess is content with making her visit a short one and continue on to Venice
to move on with her life but the sudden death of their father forces Tess and Claire to overcome their differences and the many obstacles before them to realise their father's dream of running Drover's Run together.
had the idea for the creating the show as far back as 1992. She was reading a magazine and saw a picture of a group of Australian cowgirls leaning over a farm gate, with big hats and big white grins. Evans immediately thought of a group of women running a cattle station.
The movie went into production in 1995 and was shot over 95-96 in Adelaide
. Evans needed to find a location that was in reach of a major city, and it was hard to do outside of Sydney
and Melbourne
, she looked at doing it in Queensland
but she didn't know Queensland well and she knew South Australia. She eventually located a government farm which was empty, so the production was moved in and it was treated as a backlot. The movie aired on the Nine Network
on Mother's Day 1996 and it became the highest rated telemovie of all time in Australia. After the success of the movie, Nine decided not to pick it up for a series as they thought a female driven drama would not appeal to audiences. The property went up for sale and Evans tried to find a way to buy the property and Nine later decided to buy it. They tried to get Nine to pick up a series, but they only agreed to give them three more telemovies, the crew didn't accept, but they were later picked up for a season of 13 episodes, but the first season managed to get 22 episodes. The first season was shot in 2000-2001, and began airing in August 2001, five years after the movie.
.
(now E1 Entertainment). On 8 December 2009, E1 Entertainment released the movie separate on region 1
with extras including: the first two episodes of season one. Also released on Region 2 in Germany under the title McLeod's Töchter.
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
on 11 May 1996, which was Mother's Day. At the time it was the highest rated telemovie and still remains the highest rated telemovie of all time in Australia. The movie was the pilot for the later tv series McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm...
.
Synopsis
Following the death of her mother, Tess Silverman travels to Drover's Run, the farm where she spent the first few years of her life. Drover's is a rural cattle property in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, to reconnect with her only remaining family, her father Jack and her sister Claire, whom she has not seen in 20 years, since her mother left Jack and moved to the city, and taking Tess with her.
Tess arrives in a complex situation and finds herself meeting an adoring father but a hostile sister whom she no longer knows and who resents her sudden arrival and even quicker ability to win over Jack, something she herself has never been able to accomplish.
Tess is content with making her visit a short one and continue on to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to move on with her life but the sudden death of their father forces Tess and Claire to overcome their differences and the many obstacles before them to realise their father's dream of running Drover's Run together.
History and Production
Creator and Executive Producer Posie Graeme-EvansPosie Graeme-Evans
Posie Graeme-Evans spent her childhood travelling between Europe, Asia and Australia. Having worked extensively in the Australian film and television industries as an editor, director, writer and producer/executive producer, Posie is now a full-time novelist .-Early life:Graeme-Evans is the...
had the idea for the creating the show as far back as 1992. She was reading a magazine and saw a picture of a group of Australian cowgirls leaning over a farm gate, with big hats and big white grins. Evans immediately thought of a group of women running a cattle station.
The movie went into production in 1995 and was shot over 95-96 in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Evans needed to find a location that was in reach of a major city, and it was hard to do outside of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and 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...
, she looked at doing it in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
but she didn't know Queensland well and she knew South Australia. She eventually located a government farm which was empty, so the production was moved in and it was treated as a backlot. The movie aired on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
on Mother's Day 1996 and it became the highest rated telemovie of all time in Australia. After the success of the movie, Nine decided not to pick it up for a series as they thought a female driven drama would not appeal to audiences. The property went up for sale and Evans tried to find a way to buy the property and Nine later decided to buy it. They tried to get Nine to pick up a series, but they only agreed to give them three more telemovies, the crew didn't accept, but they were later picked up for a season of 13 episodes, but the first season managed to get 22 episodes. The first season was shot in 2000-2001, and began airing in August 2001, five years after the movie.
Cast
- Jack TompsonJack Thompson (actor)Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
as Jack McLeod - Kym WilsonKym WilsonKym Wilson is an Australian actress.Wilson was born in Brisbane, Australia. She completed her secondary education at Stella Maris College, Manly. Her first major role was in the television mini-series Brides of Christ and she remains best known for playing Darcy Hudson in A Country Practice...
as Tess Silverman McLeod - Tammy MacIntoshTammy MacIntoshTammy MacIntosh is an Australian actress. She is best known for portraying Dr. Charlotte Beaumont on the medical drama All Saints.-Career:...
as Claire McLeod - Kris McQuadeKris McQuadeKris McQuade is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles.Her film credits include: The Love Letters from Teralba Road, Kostas, Fighting Back, Lonely Hearts, Goodbye Paradise, The Coca-Cola Kid, Strictly Ballroom, Billy's Holiday and December Boys.Television credits...
as Meg Wilcox - Simone KessellSimone KessellSimone Kessell is a New Zealand actress who has starred in several films and television series.-Personal life:Kessell is married to Australian director Gregor Jordan...
as Jodi Wilcox - Maya StangeMaya StangeMaya Stange is an Australian television and film actress known for starring roles in the films "Garage Days" and "XX/XY" . She was born in Perth, Australia...
as Becky Howard - John WaltonJohn WaltonJohn Walton is the name of:* John Walton , Georgia Continental Congressman, signer of the Articles of Confederation* Sir John Lawson Walton , British MP and Attorney General of England and Wales...
as Terry Wilcox - Mercia Deane-Johns as Rosa
- Audine Leith as Dottie Prendergast
- Roger Newcombe as Clem Prendergast
- Robert MammoneRobert MammoneRobert Mammone is an Australian actor who has many television and film credits.-Filmography:* Sons and Daughters * All the Way * Embassy * The Crossing...
as Patrick - Denis Nobel as Neville Grady
- Jo Peoples as Freddy
- Grant PiroGrant PiroGrant Piro is an Australian actor. He is best known as the host of the children's television show Couch Potato on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.- Television credits :* Sons and Daughters * Captain Johnno telemovie...
as Steve Creeley - Patrick Rees as Noddy Barlow
- Kevin Smith as Rod
- Thomas Penna as Calm Operator
- Philip Keen as Auctioneer
- Gary Heath as Stockman #1
Awards
in 1997 cinematographer David Foreman won the Award of Distinction award for the best Telefeatures, TV Drama & Mini Series by the Australian Cinematographers SocietyAustralian Cinematographers Society
The Australian Cinematographers Society is an Australian organisation established in 1958 for cinematographers to meet and discuss the issues that affected them...
.
DVD Releases
The first ever release was included in the season one boxset in Australia. It was also included in the U.S. season one boxset, released by Koch EntertainmentKoch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
(now E1 Entertainment). On 8 December 2009, E1 Entertainment released the movie separate on region 1
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
with extras including: the first two episodes of season one. Also released on Region 2 in Germany under the title McLeod's Töchter.
External Links
- McLeod's Daughters at the internet movie database