''Dangerous Remedy'' is an Australian historical drama and crime thriller telemovie, which was broadcast on

ABC1 ABC TV, formerly known as ABC1, is an Australian national public television network. It is owned and operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is the flagship ABC Television network. The headquarters of the ABC TV channel an ...

on 4 November 2012. It depicts real life Scottish-born doctor, Bertram Wainer (

Jeremy Sims Jeremy Hartley Sims (born 10 January 1966) is an Australian actor and director. Career Jeremy Sims was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1966, and was educated at Wesley College 1977–83. His first appearance on the big screen was as 'boy on ...

) as he strives for abortion law reform in the state of

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Also appearing are

Susie Porter Susie Porter (born 1970 or 1971) is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She made her debut in the 1996 film '' Idiot Box'', before rising to prominence in films including '' Paradise Road'' (1997), ''Welcome to Woop Woop'' (1997) ...

William McInnes Daryl William Mathew Gabriel McInnes (born 10 September 1963) is an Australian film and television actor and writer. He portrayed the role of Matt Tivolli in '' The Time of Our Lives''. He is best known for his roles as Senior Constable Nick S ...

Maeve Dermody Maeve Dermody ( ; born 2 November 1985) is a UK-based Australian actress. After a film appearance at 5 years old, her adult acting career has included work in Australian and British television, theatre, short films, and movies. She characterises ...

and

Mark Leonard Winter Mark Leonard Winter is an Australian actor, known for performances in film, television and on stage. Early life Winter's family moved from Australia to Washington DC, United States, when he was in grade ten. It was the freedom of his American ...

. The script was written by Kris Wyld and is loosely based on Wainer's account, ''It Isn't Nice'' (1972). ''Dangerous Remedy'' was directed by

Ken Cameron Ken Cameron (born 1946) is an Australian film and television director and writer. Cameron was born in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia and graduated from Sydney University with BA in 1968. He has won two AFI Awards for directing. Filmo ...

and produced for the ABC by

Ned Lander Ned Lander is an Australian film producer, director and former head of SBS Independent from Adelaide, South Australia. He has produced or commissioned many culturally significant programs, including the animated children's series ''Little J and ...

with filming in Melbourne commencing in March 2012. At the

2nd AACTA Awards The 2nd Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (generally known as AACTA Awards) are a series of awards which includes the 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, the 2nd AACTA Awards ceremony and the 2nd AACTA International Awards. The former ...

, held in January 2013, Porter was nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for her role of Peggy Berman.

Plot

In 1967 Bertram attends a young woman who is

haemorrhaging Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vagi ...

severely after having a "backyard" abortion – she later dies in hospital. By 1969 Bertram is campaigning for abortion law reform and is assisted by Jo and Peggy. Peggy is having an affair with John, who is a physically abusive police inspector. Bertram, Jo and Lionel investigate a police protection racket, with doctors bribing police to "look the other way" by not investigating their illegal abortions. The corrupt police are from the homicide squad with John appointed as their head and his boss, Jack. Bertram and his family are targeted with arson, serious assault and murder attempts. Lionel dies in suspicious circumstances, which police attribute to suicide. John threatens Bertram to drop his crusade, while Arthur ignores Bertram's calls for an independent investigation into police corruption. Despite these setbacks Bertram uses the press to raise public awareness of the corruption and forces the state government into holding an independent inquiry in January 1970. This results in three police officers, including John and Jack, being jailed.

Cast

Credits: *

as Bertram Wainer – general practitioner, campaigns for abortion law reform *

as Peggy Berman – medical clinic receptionist, John's mistress, becomes a women's rights activist *

as John Ford – Victorian police detective inspector, becomes head of Homicide department *

as Joanne Bertram – women's rights activist, became Bertram's second wife *

as Lionel Pugh –

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...

investigative journalist, Bertram's public relations officer *

Gary Sweet Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957) is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in '' Alexandra's Project'' (as Steve), ''Police Rescue'' (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), ''Cody'' (as Cody), '' Big Sky'' (as Chris Manning), ''Bod ...

as Jack Matthews – police detective superintendent, Ford's boss *

Caroline Craig Caroline Craig (born 30 April 1975 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian actress, based in New York City. Caroline completed a BA at Melbourne University before graduating from NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in 1999. ...

as Barbara Wainer – Bertran's first wife *

Nicholas Bell Nicholas Bell (born 15 August 1958) is an English actor who has worked in Australia for more than 20 years. He works regularly with the Melbourne Theatre Company as well as with all the major television broadcasters in Australia, most notably th ...

as Troup – medical doctor, has his patients' files confiscated during a police raid * Peter O'Brien as Barry Smith – medical doctor, performs abortions, fakes his own death to escape investigation by press and Wainer *

Chris Haywood Chris Haywood (born ) is an English-born Australian actor, writer and producer, with close to 500 screen performances to his name. Haywood has also worked as a casting director, art director, sound recordist, camera operator, gaffer, grip, l ...

as Sir Arthur Rylah – state deputy premier, justice minister, refuses to acknowledge Bertran's claims of police corruption

Critical reception

David Knox of ''TV Tonight'' provided a mixed review of ''Dangerous Remedy''. He felt that Sims "carried the weight of almost every scene" and "gives is roleeverything he has." While Porter's "Berman plays a central role in this saga" and Winter provided "an impressive performance." Nevertheless, "whilst it's fair to say some of the shocking dramatics that befall Wainer did take place, here they stray close to adventures befitting a Saturday matinee on the silver screen." ''Hoopla''s Lucy Clark found it had a "deep and everlasting value" in that it "highlights complexity in a debate too often characterised by polar extremes, by black and white."

References

External links

* {{Authority control Australian television films Australian biographical films Cultural depictions of Australian men Films shot in Australia 2012 drama films 2012 films 2012 television films 2010s English-language films