Underbelly: Razor
Encyclopedia
Underbelly: Razor is a 13-part Australia
n television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in Sydney
between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs
" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine
and Kate Leigh
.
In contrast to the previous Underbelly
installments, which were based on books by John Silvester
and Andrew Rule, Razor is based on the Ned Kelly Award-winning book of the same name, written by Larry Writer. The first episode is titled "The Worst Woman In Sydney"; the war waged between Devine and Leigh culminates in a bloody battle depicted in the episode, "Armageddon". The first two episodes were played back-to-back on 21 August 2011.
" and 1930s, mainly between 1927 and 1936 in Sydney, when organised crime in Australia became more prominent. The series details the story of the bloody battle between the era's most feared "vice queens", Tilly Devine and her rival Kate Leigh, plus the "razor gangs" which controlled the Sydney underworld during that time. Embroiled in the violence is the country's still-young police force and a young girl called Nellie Cameron
, determined to lose her innocence and destined to become the most famous prostitute in the land.
.
The weekly Australian metropolitan ratings are listed below:
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 television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in 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...
between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs
Razor gang
Razor gangs were criminal gangs that dominated the Sydney crime scene in the 1920s. With the passage of the Pistol Licensing Act 1927, the New South Wales State Parliament imposed severe penalties for carrying concealed firearms and handguns...
" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine
Tilly Devine
Matilda 'Tilly' Devine was an English-born prominent Sydney crime syndicate gangs member figure, involved in a wide range of activities, including sly-grog and razor gangs, but most notable as a madam.-Early life:...
and Kate Leigh
Kate Leigh
Catherine Mary Josephine Leigh was an underworld figure who rose to prominence as an illegal trader of alcohol and cocaine dealer in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia during the first half of the twentieth century...
.
In contrast to the previous Underbelly
Underbelly (series)
Underbelly is an Australian television true crime-drama which originally broadcast on the Nine Network. Each series contains 13 episodes and is based on real-life events including the Melbourne gangland killings between 1995-2004, the Griffith drug trade between 1976-1987, and the Kings Cross scene...
installments, which were based on books by John Silvester
John Silvester
John Silvester is an Australian journalist and crime writer. He has written for major Melbourne based newspapers such as The Age, the Sunday Herald Sun and others. Silvester has also co-written a number of bestselling books with Andrew Rule, based on crime in Melbourne. Some of their works formed...
and Andrew Rule, Razor is based on the Ned Kelly Award-winning book of the same name, written by Larry Writer. The first episode is titled "The Worst Woman In Sydney"; the war waged between Devine and Leigh culminates in a bloody battle depicted in the episode, "Armageddon". The first two episodes were played back-to-back on 21 August 2011.
Synopsis
Razor is set during the "Roaring TwentiesRoaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
" and 1930s, mainly between 1927 and 1936 in Sydney, when organised crime in Australia became more prominent. The series details the story of the bloody battle between the era's most feared "vice queens", Tilly Devine and her rival Kate Leigh, plus the "razor gangs" which controlled the Sydney underworld during that time. Embroiled in the violence is the country's still-young police force and a young girl called Nellie Cameron
Nellie Cameron
Nellie Cameron , known as "The Kiss of Death Girl", was a notorious Sydney prostitute in the 1920s and 1930s, who was featured extensively in the 2011 Australian television mini-series Underbelly: Razor...
, determined to lose her innocence and destined to become the most famous prostitute in the land.
Main characters
- Danielle CormackDanielle CormackDanielle Cormack is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She was one of the original core cast of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in...
stars as Kate LeighKate LeighCatherine Mary Josephine Leigh was an underworld figure who rose to prominence as an illegal trader of alcohol and cocaine dealer in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia during the first half of the twentieth century...
, rival of the Devines and sly grog queen - Chelsie Preston Crayford stars as Tilly DevineTilly DevineMatilda 'Tilly' Devine was an English-born prominent Sydney crime syndicate gangs member figure, involved in a wide range of activities, including sly-grog and razor gangs, but most notable as a madam.-Early life:...
, brothel madam - Anna McGahanAnna McGahanAnna McGahan is an Australian television and film actress, who has mainly appeared in Australian television programs and short films. She is best known for playing the role of Nellie Cameron in the Australian television series, Underbelly: Razor in 2011.She is also a playwright.-Career:Anna's has...
stars as Nellie CameronNellie CameronNellie Cameron , known as "The Kiss of Death Girl", was a notorious Sydney prostitute in the 1920s and 1930s, who was featured extensively in the 2011 Australian television mini-series Underbelly: Razor...
, a notorious prostitute embroiled in the violence of the era - Jack CampbellJack Campbell (actor)Jack Campbell is an Australian television and film actor, who has mainly appeared in several Australian television programs .-Career:...
stars as "Big Jim" Devine, Tilly Devine's husband - John BatchelorJohn Batchelor (Australian actor)John David Batchelor is an Australian television and film actor. He is most known for portraying Chief Petty Officer Marine Technical / Chief Engineer Andy 'Charge' Thorpe on the Australian drama series Sea Patrol, and Peeto in the Australian feature film Red Dog.-Career:Beside portraing Andy...
stars as Wally Tomlinson, business associate and boyfriend of Kate Leigh - Khan ChittendenKhan Chittenden-Career:Chittenden was born in New Zealand and moved at age 11 to Perth, Western Australia. He graduated from WAAPA and landed his first major part as Dean "The Edge" Edgely in the television series Blue Water High. Khan shot numerous commercials and has done much voiceover work for W.A...
stars as Frank "The Little Gunman" Green, notorious criminal and assassin - Richard BrancatisanoRichard BrancatisanoRichard Peter Brancatisano is an Australian television actor and musician, best known for his role as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force.-Career:...
stars as Guido Calletti, feared gangland figure and Nellie Cameron's first husband - Craig HallCraig Hall (actor)-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
stars as Detective Inspector Bill Mackay, part of the country's young police force - Lucy WigmoreLucy WigmoreLucy Wigmore is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She played core cast member Dr Justine Jones in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, and more recently starred as Lillian May Armfield in Underbelly: Razor, a 13 part Drama set in the 1920's - 1930's on the rough and ready...
stars as Lillian May ArmfieldLillian May ArmfieldLillian May Armfield ISM was a pioneering Sydney female police detective, one of the first women to serve in that role.-Early life:...
, one of Australia's first policewomen - Steve Le MarquandSteve Le MarquandSteve Le Marquand is an Australian-born actor, known both locally and internationally for his film and stage work.Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1967, his family moved to Sydney when he was quite young....
stars as Sergeant Tom Wickham, a member of New South Wales' first drug "squad"
Secondary characters
- Jeremy Lindsay TaylorJeremy Lindsay TaylorJeremy Lindsay Taylor is an Australian actor. He finished his education at Newington College in 1991 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in drama and sociology, from the University of Newcastle...
as Norman Bruhn, the era's most feared standover man - Justin RosniakJustin RosniakJustin Rosniak is an Australian television and film actor, best known for his appearances in the television series Packed to the Rafters, Police Rescue and Home and Away. Rosniak is currently starring in the Nine Network series, Underbelly: Razor playing the part of Squizzy Taylor.- External links...
as Leslie "Squizzy" TaylorSquizzy TaylorJoseph Leslie Theodore "Squizzy" Taylor was an Australian Melbourne-based gangster. He rose to notoriety by leading a violent gang war against a rival criminal faction in 1919, absconding from bail and successfully hiding from the police for over a year in 1921-22, and the Glenferrie robbery in...
, Bruhn's rival - Felix WilliamsonFelix Williamson-Career:He has had many roles in television, film and theatre and portrayed Paul Keating in the 2010 telemovie, Hawke opposite Richard Roxburgh's Bob Hawke....
as Phil "The Jew" Jeffs, infamous gangster - Lincoln LewisLincoln LewisLincoln Clay Lewis is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing the role of Geoff Campbell in the Australian television series, Home and Away from 2007 to 2010, and Kevin Holmes in the film Tomorrow, When the War Began....
as Bruce Higgs, an associate of Kate Leigh - Pippa GrandisonPippa GrandisonPippa Jody Grandison is an Australian musical theatre performer. She currently lives in Sydney, with husband Steve Le Marquand and daughter Charlie.-Career:...
as Mona Woods, singer at one of Kate Leigh's sly grog shops - Conrad ColebyConrad ColebyConrad Julius Coleby is an Australian actor.-Biography:Coleby is the son of actor Robert Coleby and brother of actress Anja Coleby. He attended Somerset College on the Gold Coast, graduating in 1996. In the same year, he played the role of Colonel Juan Perón in the school's production of Evita...
as Constable Wharton "Syd" Thompson, the other half of Sydney's first drug "squad" - Guy EdmondsGuy EdmondsGuy Edmonds is an Australian born stage and film actor. He is best known for his work on such programmes as Home and Away, All Saints and Double Take, and on stage in the world premiere productions of Holding the Man and Toy Symphony.-Biography:...
as Greg "The Gunman" Gaffney, an associate of vice-queen Kate Leigh - Rel HuntRel HuntHunt played Angus in Macbeth, an updated modern version of the Shakespeare play and portrayed Al Corley in the fictionalized 2005 American television movie/docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera...
as William Archer, bathhouse proprietor and part of the razor gangs - Matt BoesenbergMatt BoesenbergMatt Boesenberg is an Australian TV and film actor. Matt's career began in the theatre, with his first role in the Sydney based PACT Centre for Emerging Artists production Madagaskar Lily. He then moved onto the Australian Theatre for Young People where he developed a passion for Shakespeare...
as John "Snowy" Cutmore, standover man - Adam TuominenAdam TuominenAdam Tuominen is an Australian actor. He studied drama during high school at St. Peter's College and studied directing at Adelaide's Flinders University Drama Centre and is a 2001 graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. He is best known as Hunter Bradley/Crimson Thunder...
as Frank "Razor Jack" Hayes, part of Bruhn's gang, which included "Snowy" and "The Midnight Raper" - Pacharo MzembePacharo MzembePacharo Mzembe is a Malawian actor who specializes in short films, television, animation voice overs, theater, and film. He lived in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Australia. In 2010 he was noted as one of the top ten actors in Australia in theater...
as "Nigger", a gangster - Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
as the Fifty Fifty Club singer - Rob MillsRob MillsRob Mills is an Australian singer best known as one of the finalists from Australian Idol 2003. He was a co-host on the late-night quiz show The Mint as well as a regular singer on the game show The Singing Bee both on the Nine Network...
as Eric Connolly, a jazz club singer - Saskia BurmeisterSaskia BurmeisterSaskia Burmeister is anAustralian actress. She is most known for her roles in Hating Alison Ashley and Sea Patrol....
as Ida Maddocks, the main rape victim and primary witness in "the Darlinghurst Outrage" case - Gigi EdgleyGigi EdgleyGigi Edgley is an Australian actress and recording artist. She is best known for her roles as Chiana on the series Farscape and Lara Knight in Rescue: Special Ops.-Early life:...
as TBA - Emily Rose Brennan as "Black" Aggie, one of Tilly Devine's prostitutes. Begins a relationship with Greg "The Gunman" Gaffney
- Rick Donald as Barney DaltonBarney DaltonBernard Hugh Dalton was a rugby league player In the Australian competition – the New South Wales Rugby League. He was born in 1891 in Sydney.A winger, Dalton played for the Eastern Suburbs club side in the years and...
,employed by Kate Leigh and murdered by Frank Green. - Guy Spence as Sid "Kicker" Kelly, the Kelly brothers were a part of the razor gangs
- Clint Foster as Tom Kelly, the other half of the Kelly brothers
- Caleb Alloway as Constable Keith Sullivan, one of the times' crime fighters
- T.J. Power as Len Jones, involved in the violence of the times
- Anna Lawrence as Irene Bruhn, wife of Norman Bruhn
- Tasman and Rex Palazzi as Noel and Keith Bruhn, toddler sons of Norman Bruhn
- Grant Garland as Charles Connors, gangster and 'razor-man'
- Izzy Stevens as Eileen Leigh, daughter of Kate Leigh and of 'RazorhurstDarlinghurst, New South WalesDarlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
' - Troy Planet as George "The Midnight Raper" Wallace, violent gangster
- Jake Ryan as Ray "The Blizzard" Blissett, policeman amongst the violence of the Roaring TwentiesRoaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
- Felix Jozeps as Ernest Wilson, a gangster involved in the violence
- Kim Knuckey as Fred Moffitt, taxi driver of the times
- Rachel Rowlatt as Phyllis, housekeeper of the Devines
- Maha Wilson as TBA, a prostitute living amongst the danger
- Mitchell Wright as TBA, a part of the wars of razor-filled DarlinghurstDarlinghurst, New South WalesDarlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
- Larry Writer cameos as TBA, a wealthy businessman who frequents Kate Leigh's nightclubs
- Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood as Dolly Green, wife of Frank "The Little Gunman" Green
- Lizzie Schebesta as the famous gangster's moll Dulcie MarkhamDulcie MarkhamDulcie May Markham was a prominent Sydney prostitute and associate of gangland figures in Sydney during the 1930s, 1940's and 1950s, when she was closely involved with the razor gang milieu of that era of organised crime within that city...
Weekly ratings
The premiere episode made Razor the highest rating drama in Australian history, surpassing the record set by Underbelly: A Tale of Two CitiesUnderbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
.
The weekly Australian metropolitan ratings are listed below:
| # | Episode | Air Date (AU) | Timeslot | Viewers (m) | Timeslot Rank (#) | Nightly Rank (#) | Weekly Rank (#) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Worst Woman in Sydney" | 21 August 2011 | 8:30pm Sunday | 2.794 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | "Whips and Scorpions" | 9:30pm Sunday | 2.089 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
| 3 | "Cat Amongst the Pigeons" | 28 August 2011 | 8:30pm Sunday | 1.766 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | "The Damage Done" | 4 September 2011 | 1.564 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | "The Darlinghurst Outrage" | 11 September 2011 | 1.461 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 6 | "Blood Alley" | 18 September 2011 | 1.408 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| 7 | "Tripe and Brains" | 25 September 2011 | 1.397 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 8 | "A Big Shivoo" | 2 October 2011 | 1.29 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| 9 | "The Crash" | 9 October 2011 | 1.282 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 10 | "The Sentimental Bloke" | 16 October 2011 | 1.336 | 1 | 3 | 10 | |
| 11 | "Jerusalem Revisited" | 23 October 2011 | 1.237 | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| 12 | "Big Moves" | 30 October 2011 | 1.293 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |
| 13 | "Armageddon" | 6 November 2011 | 1.449 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1–13 | DVD Release | 7 November 2011 | Series Averages | ||||
| 1–13 | Blu-ray Release | 15 December 2011 | |||||