Oh! Another Bony reader! I have that very book you mentioned about Upfeild's 'attempt' at detective work, it was more a series of really bad coincidences. If it what I am thinking it is (The Murchison Murders?) I have the book and it is now a rare collectors item.
My copy of 'Bushranger of the Skies' is called 'No Footprints in the Bush', but that must have been a very exciting find to make, and a 1st edition one at that. Hang on to that puppy, it's priceless.
As for the series, I never saw the original, but I thought it highly ironic, and amusing, that James Laurenson became known to me through the Sharpe series. He played a Major General Ross. The picture I made isn't the greatest but I tried... I still have to laugh though, why on earth would they paint the guy brown? What were they thinking!!??
Tell me about it. If ever there's a fire, I'm going to be in trouble working out what to save - cats, husband or books!
As for why they painted the poor guy brown - well, I gather they just couldn't find an Australian actor who would play the part. There were a lot of full-blood Aboriginal/First Australian actors but they needed someone who would look half-European and there just wasn't anyone available. Hence the body make-up. (Quick pause while I contemplate the onerous task of painting James Laurenson.) Apparently it used to run in the heat - not surprising! You're talking about what, the 1970s; here in the UK we were still making "The Black and White Minstrel Show" and white guys were still playing 'Othello'. It just didn't occur to anyone that there was anything insensitive about it.
Some of the books I have are actually TV tie-in editions; I think they did six of those - 'Madman's Bend', 'Cake in the Hat Box', 'Venom House', 'Boney and the Kelly gang' etc. From what I can remember, 'Venom House' was the most atmospheric and strangest episode and Honor Blackman was in that. Also Nick Tate played a local police officer in two episodes; he was brilliant and there was a real chemistry between the characters. Oh, one other thing I should mention; Boney's wife was never referred to, as far as I know. They tried to give the impression that he was romantically interested in Policewoman Alice McGorr (not sure if that's the right spelling) who turned up in a couple of episodes.
I wouldn't say the TV episodes were all that faithful to the books but you could recognise which book they were based on - much like the 'Poirot' adaptations. There is quite a good Australian website which features the Boney TV series; I don't have it bookmarked but if you aren't familiar with it I'm sure I can find it again.
Ooooh, that picture of JL. I happen to think he's still gorgeous, but he was really something when he was younger!
If only domestic video recorders had been around in those days!
My copy of 'Bushranger of the Skies' is called 'No Footprints in the Bush', but that must have been a very exciting find to make, and a 1st edition one at that. Hang on to that puppy, it's priceless.
As for the series, I never saw the original, but I thought it highly ironic, and amusing, that James Laurenson became known to me through the Sharpe series. He played a Major General Ross. The picture I made isn't the greatest but I tried... I still have to laugh though, why on earth would they paint the guy brown? What were they thinking!!??
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Tell me about it. If ever there's a fire, I'm going to be in trouble working out what to save - cats, husband or books!
As for why they painted the poor guy brown - well, I gather they just couldn't find an Australian actor who would play the part. There were a lot of full-blood Aboriginal/First Australian actors but they needed someone who would look half-European and there just wasn't anyone available. Hence the body make-up. (Quick pause while I contemplate the onerous task of painting James Laurenson.) Apparently it used to run in the heat - not surprising! You're talking about what, the 1970s; here in the UK we were still making "The Black and White Minstrel Show" and white guys were still playing 'Othello'. It just didn't occur to anyone that there was anything insensitive about it.
Some of the books I have are actually TV tie-in editions; I think they did six of those - 'Madman's Bend', 'Cake in the Hat Box', 'Venom House', 'Boney and the Kelly gang' etc. From what I can remember, 'Venom House' was the most atmospheric and strangest episode and Honor Blackman was in that. Also Nick Tate played a local police officer in two episodes; he was brilliant and there was a real chemistry between the characters. Oh, one other thing I should mention; Boney's wife was never referred to, as far as I know. They tried to give the impression that he was romantically interested in Policewoman Alice McGorr (not sure if that's the right spelling) who turned up in a couple of episodes.
I wouldn't say the TV episodes were all that faithful to the books but you could recognise which book they were based on - much like the 'Poirot' adaptations. There is quite a good Australian website which features the Boney TV series; I don't have it bookmarked but if you aren't familiar with it I'm sure I can find it again.
Ooooh, that picture of JL. I happen to think he's still gorgeous, but he was really something when he was younger!
If only domestic video recorders had been around in those days!
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