The Stranger (Australian TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Stranger was an Australian science fiction television series made for children and produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(then known as the Australian Broadcasting Commission). It is notable as Australia's first locally produced science fiction television series and one of the first Australian TV series to be sold overseas.
, produced by Storry Walton and directed by Gil Brealey
, with production design by Geoffrey Wedlock. Two series of six episodes each were produced in 1964 and 1965. It was a major hit in Australia and was sold to the BBC
.
The series starred leading stage and radio actor Ron Haddrick
as "The Stranger", Adam Suisse; the children were played by Janice Dinnen and Bill Levis as Jean and Bernard Walsh and Michael Thomas as their friend Peter Cannon. The supporting cast included Jessica Noad as Mrs Walsh, John Fraser as Mr Walsh, Owen Weingott as Professor Mayer, Chips Rafferty
as the Prime Minister and Reg Livermore
as Varossa, with Henry Gilbert, John Faasen, Bill Levey and British actor Grant Taylor
-- who, coincidentally, had a recurring role as Gen. Henderson in the Gerry Anderson
science fiction series UFO
.
The series was also notable for the fact that Saunders devised a special language that the aliens spoke amongst themselves and, like later science fiction series such as Babylon 5
, they spoke English with a 'foreign' accent; in the story this leads to the children's initial assumption that the alien character, "Adam", is from Switzerland (hence his surname).
The alien saucer was designed with cooperation from the CSIRO; in the climactic scene it descended from the sky and landed on the steps of the Sydney Town Hall, where the aliens were greeted by the Prime Minister, played by veteran Australian screen star Chips Rafferty
.
It is not known whether the original broadcast tapes of the series still exist. Regrettably, the master tapes of many ABC TV series from this period were subsequently erased. No listing for it currently appears in either the ABC's TARA online TV content sales database or in the collection database of the National Film & Sound Archive in Canberra.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(then known as the Australian Broadcasting Commission). It is notable as Australia's first locally produced science fiction television series and one of the first Australian TV series to be sold overseas.
Synopsis
A schoolmaster finds an unconscious young man on his doorstep, takes him in and looks after him. A firm friendship develops between the stranger and the headmaster's children, Bernard and Jean and their friend Peter, and this leads to them discovering the stranger’s secret –- that he is from another planet and has been sent to find a new home on Earth for his people. The stranger, Adam, is joined by fellow alien, Varossa. They live in a society without books where they memorise everything. In the second series the children have to enlist the help of the Australian Prime Minister when Peter is kidnapped by the alien, and a procession of intrigues eventually leads them to the aliens' home planet of Soshuniss.Production
The Stranger was written by New Zealand-born author G.K. SaundersG K Saunders
George Kenneth "Ken" Saunders was a New Zealand writer, born in England, who had a substantial career in Australia.After leaving Canterbury University, he secured a job writing scripts for radio 3ZD Christchurch....
, produced by Storry Walton and directed by Gil Brealey
Gil Brealey
Gil Brealey is an Australian television and film director, producer and writer.Brealey studied at Melbourne University, where he made his first amateur films around the age of 20. He was a member of the Melbourne University Film society and was a speaker at the Eisenstein Weekend organised by the...
, with production design by Geoffrey Wedlock. Two series of six episodes each were produced in 1964 and 1965. It was a major hit in Australia and was sold to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
The series starred leading stage and radio actor Ron Haddrick
Ron Haddrick
Ronald Norman Haddrick MBE is an Australian theatre, film and voice actor.-Early life:Haddrick was born in Adelaide, Australia, the only son of Olive May and Alexander Norman Haddrick.-Cricket:...
as "The Stranger", Adam Suisse; the children were played by Janice Dinnen and Bill Levis as Jean and Bernard Walsh and Michael Thomas as their friend Peter Cannon. The supporting cast included Jessica Noad as Mrs Walsh, John Fraser as Mr Walsh, Owen Weingott as Professor Mayer, Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
as the Prime Minister and 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...
as Varossa, with Henry Gilbert, John Faasen, Bill Levey and British actor Grant Taylor
Grant taylor
Grant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
-- who, coincidentally, had a recurring role as Gen. Henderson in the Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson MBE is a British publisher, producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called "Supermarionation"....
science fiction series UFO
UFO (TV series)
UFO is a 1970-1971 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth, created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.UFO first aired in the UK and Canada...
.
The series was also notable for the fact that Saunders devised a special language that the aliens spoke amongst themselves and, like later science fiction series such as Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, they spoke English with a 'foreign' accent; in the story this leads to the children's initial assumption that the alien character, "Adam", is from Switzerland (hence his surname).
The alien saucer was designed with cooperation from the CSIRO; in the climactic scene it descended from the sky and landed on the steps of the Sydney Town Hall, where the aliens were greeted by the Prime Minister, played by veteran Australian screen star Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
.
It is not known whether the original broadcast tapes of the series still exist. Regrettably, the master tapes of many ABC TV series from this period were subsequently erased. No listing for it currently appears in either the ABC's TARA online TV content sales database or in the collection database of the National Film & Sound Archive in Canberra.