Against The Wind
1 9 7 8 (Australia)
1 x 180 minute episodes
5 x 120 minute episodes
A million-dollar historical drama series that took six months
to produce, Against The Wind was the first Australian
Mini-Series.
The series was largely shot at the reconstructed colonial
settlement at Old Sydney Town in NSW, and covered the period from
1798 to 1812. Sets and furniture for the series were built to
designs made from old sketches and drawings, and the costumes were
superb.
Against The Wind told the tale of Mary Mulvane, a young girl
from Ireland who is tried for her involvement in rebellious
activities against the British and sentenced to transportation to
the penal colony of New South Wales.
Following a terrible 6 month voyage across two oceans, she
falls in love with another convict, Jonathan Garrett (played by
seventies pop star, Jon English).
The couple survive much injustice and violence and eventually
marry and become free and prosperous settlers. If the series has
any faults, it is that it is too long.
There are too many episodes after Jonathan and Mary have met
and been drawn to each other that concern themselves with
injustice and corruption, without advancing the storyline. The
story could have been well told in 6 -8 hours.
Jon English and old pal Mario Milo also wrote all the
incidental music for the series, while Jon wrote the theme song
Six Ribbons which went on to become a No.1 hit in more than six
countries. The album for the series sold more than a million
copies world wide.
Jon English became one of the few performers to win a Logie
(Australian TV award) for Best Actor and a TV Week/ Countdown
Music Award for Best Male Vocalist in the one year.
Against the wind was transmitted in Australia on successive
Tuesdays, initially in a three hour block and then in two hour
blocks. It was a critical and popular success and found outlets
around the world, particularly in Britain.
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