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''I Can Jump Puddles'' is a 1981 Australian television mini-series based on the 1955 autobiographical series of the same name by author Alan Marshall. Adapted for television by screenwriters
Cliff Green Clifford Green OAM (6 December 1934 – 4 December 2020), born in Melbourne, Australia, was an Australian screen writer, whose best-known work is the script for the film '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975). Career Green spent his early workin ...
and Roger Simpson, the series starred
Lewis Fitz-Gerald Lewis Fitz-Gerald (born 15 November 1958) is an Australian actor, screenwriter and television director, who lectures in Screen and Media Studies at Australia's University of New England. Filmography As actor * '' Breaker Morant'' (1980) ...
, Adam Garnett,
Tony Barry Tony Barry (28 August 1941 – 21 December 2022) was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles. Personal life Barry was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 28 August 1941. He had one son. Barry was an environme ...
, Julie Hamilton, Ann Henderson,
Lesley Baker Lesley Baker (born 20 January 1944) is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She was well known for her early appearances on In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy. After which she went on to play several roles for Crawford Pr ...
,
Olivia Brown Olivia Margarette Brown (born April 10, 1960) is an American actress, best-known for her role as detective Trudy Joplin in the NBC crime drama series ''Miami Vice'' (1984–1989). Life and career Brown was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, and ra ...
,
Debra Lawrance Debra Lawrance (born 1 January 1957) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role on '' Home and Away'', as Pippa Ross, which she played from 1990 to 1998, and has made a number of return appearances as the character, the most re ...
and Darren MacDonald.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p205 Several prominent television actors also had supporting roles including Lisa Aldenhoven (''
The Young Doctors ''The Young Doctors'' is an Australian early-evening soap opera originally broadcast on the Nine Network and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation, it aired from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March 1983. The series is prima ...
''),
Kaarin Fairfax Kaarin Louise Fairfax (born 30 September 1959) is an Australian actress, director and singer who played the role of 'Dolour Darcy' in two TV miniseries '' The Harp in the South'' (1986) and its sequel ''Poor Man's Orange'' (1987) based on books ...
(''
Bed of Roses A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax. Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many b ...
''), Maurie Fields (''
Skyways Skyways may refer to: *Skyway A skyway, skybridge, skywalk, or sky walkway is an elevated type of pedway connecting two or more buildings in an urban area, or connecting elevated points within mountainous recreational zones. Urban skyways very ...
''),
Terry Gill Terry Gill (25 October 1939 – 25 February 2015) was an English Australian actor, theatre owner, producer, director and writer. A character actor, he carved a niche in Australian television playing police officers. He appeared in over 26 Austra ...
('' Bluey''),
Reg Gorman Reg Gorman (2 August 1932 – 5 August 2021) was an Australian television and film actor, and comedian, he was known best for his role in TV serial ''The Sullivans'', as Jack Fletcher. and children's series ''Fergus McPhail'' as Harry Patters ...
(''
Fergus McPhail Fergus McPhail is an Australian children's comedy series that was released on Network Ten in 2004. Plot summary Fergus McPhail stumbles from crisis to crisis, mostly of his own making. His irrationally optimistic alter-ego acts as his conscien ...
''), Matthew King ('' Dogstar''),
Julie Nihill Julie Nihill (born 1957 in Melbourne) is an Australian actress, best known for her 13-year role as Chris Riley on the police drama ''Blue Heelers'' (1994–2006). Biography Nihill made her television debut in ''I Can Jump Puddles'' (1981) an ...
(''
Blue Heelers ''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian Police procedural, police drama series that was produced by Endemol Australia, Southern Star Group and ran for 12 years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, ...
''),
Maureen Edwards Maureen Elizabeth Edwards (born 17 April 1944) is a New Zealand-born actress, notable for her TV roles both locally and in Australia. Her best known soap opera roles include '' A Country Practice'', '' Neighbours'' (in 3 regular roles) and '' ...
and
Dennis Miller Dennis Michael Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American talk show host, political commentator, sports commentator, actor, and comedian. He was a cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1985 to 1991, and he subsequently hosted a stri ...
('' A Country Practice'') and Jason Donovan and Cliff Ellen ('' Neighbours''). A large part of supporting and minor roles also featured
cameo appearances A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly eit ...
by cast members of ''
Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...
'' such as
Esme Melville Esme Melville (born Esme Grace Mount-Melville, 23 July 1918 – 14 September 2006) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. At the Tropfest awards for 2003 she won Best Actor – Female for her role of Granma in the short film, '' ...
('' Beryl Hudson''),
Peter Curtin Peter Julian Curtin (31 January 1944 – 18 May 2014) was an Australian television and stage actor, whose career began when he joined the Melbourne Theatre Company, appearing in ''The Plough and the Stars'' with Wendy Hughes. Personal life ...
('' Ian Mahoney''),
Ian Smith Ian Douglas Smith (8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007) was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (known as Southern Rhodesia until October 1964 and now known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1 ...
('' Ted Douglas''),
Christine Amor Christine Debra Amor (born 1952) is an Australian actress of stage, television and film. Career Amor was born in Brisbane, Queensland. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). She has acted extensively in television gu ...
('' Jean Vernon''), Fiona Spence ('' Vera Bennett''),
Edward Hepple Edward Hepple (4 June 1914 – 3 September 2005) billed variously as Eddie Hepple and Ted Hepple, was an Australian actor, voice artist, producer, director, playwright and television scriptwriter, known for his roles in theatre, television seri ...
('' Sid Humphrey''),
Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes '' Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018 ...
('' Roslyn Coulson''),
Leila Hayes Leila Hayes is an Australians, Australian actress, actors agent, radio presenter, playwright, theatre producer, producer, singer and drama teacher, she featured in the hit 1980s soap opera ''Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series), Sons and ...
('' Jeannie Baxter''),
Sandy Gore Sandy Gore (born 28 June 1950) is an Australian film, stage and television actress. She has had an extensive stage career in Australia with the Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company including playing Vivian in ''Wit'' (2000) and M ...
('' Kay White''),
Mary Ward Mary Ward may refer to: Scientists and academics * Mary Ward (nurse) (1884–1972) English nurse to the boat people on the waterways * Mary Ward (scientist) (née King, 1827–1869) Irish amateur scientist, was killed by an experimental steam car ...
('' Mum Brooks''),
Anne Phelan Anne Mary Phelan (2 August 1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over. Her television soap opera roles included '' ...
(''
Myra Desmond Myra ( grc, Μύρα, ''Mýra'') was a Lycian, then ancient Greek, then Greco-Roman, then Byzantine Greek, then Ottoman town in Lycia, which became the small Turkish town of Kale, renamed Demre in 2005, in the present-day Antalya Province ...
''). Future cast members included
Billie Hammerberg Billie Lorraine Hammerberg (24 March 1936 – 8 February 1995) was an Australian actress, best known for roles on television and film. Biography Hammerberg was an Australian actress best known for her role in the television series ''Prisoner ...
(''
May Collins May Collins (May 26, 1903 – May 6, 1955) was an American actress on stage and in silent films, was the star in several of the first of the modern romantic comedies to reach the movie screen. Biography The daughter of Benjamin Collins and Li ...
'') and Pepe Trevor ('' Lexie Patterson'').


Plot

Based on Alan Marshall's three-part autobiography ''I Can Jump Puddles'' (1955), ''This is the Grass'' (1962) and ''In Mine Own Heart'' (1963), the film tells of Marshall's childhood growing up in rural
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 ...
around the turn of the century. Contracting
polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...
soon after attending school, the story retells the obstacles he faced as a child in trying to overcome his disability. Later as an adult, he encounters prejudice due to his debilitating disease while looking for work in
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
.


Cast and characters


Main characters

*
Lewis Fitz-Gerald Lewis Fitz-Gerald (born 15 November 1958) is an Australian actor, screenwriter and television director, who lectures in Screen and Media Studies at Australia's University of New England. Filmography As actor * '' Breaker Morant'' (1980) ...
as Alan Marshall *
Tony Barry Tony Barry (28 August 1941 – 21 December 2022) was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles. Personal life Barry was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 28 August 1941. He had one son. Barry was an environme ...
as Alan's Father *
Julie Hamilton Julie may refer to: * Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name Film and television * ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day * ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhava ...
as Alan's Mother *
Adam Garnett Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...
as Alan (Aged 11) * Ann Henderson as Mary *
Lesley Baker Lesley Baker (born 20 January 1944) is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She was well known for her early appearances on In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy. After which she went on to play several roles for Crawford Pr ...
as Matron * Bruce Kerr as Dr. Robertson *
Brian Hannan Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world. It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word m ...
as Alec *
Olivia Brown Olivia Margarette Brown (born April 10, 1960) is an American actress, best-known for her role as detective Trudy Joplin in the NBC crime drama series ''Miami Vice'' (1984–1989). Life and career Brown was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, and ra ...
as Prostitute Maisie * Clare Binney as Prostitute Filsy * Earl Francis as George *
Debra Lawrance Debra Lawrance (born 1 January 1957) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role on '' Home and Away'', as Pippa Ross, which she played from 1990 to 1998, and has made a number of return appearances as the character, the most re ...
as Nurse Conrad * Darren MacDonald as Steve


Supporting characters

* Lisa Aldenhoven as Mamie *
Christine Amor Christine Debra Amor (born 1952) is an Australian actress of stage, television and film. Career Amor was born in Brisbane, Queensland. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). She has acted extensively in television gu ...
as Rose *
Peter Curtin Peter Julian Curtin (31 January 1944 – 18 May 2014) was an Australian television and stage actor, whose career began when he joined the Melbourne Theatre Company, appearing in ''The Plough and the Stars'' with Wendy Hughes. Personal life ...
as Flagger * Jason Donovan as Freddy *
Maureen Edwards Maureen Elizabeth Edwards (born 17 April 1944) is a New Zealand-born actress, notable for her TV roles both locally and in Australia. Her best known soap opera roles include '' A Country Practice'', '' Neighbours'' (in 3 regular roles) and '' ...
as Mrs. Carmichael * Cliff Ellen as Drunk *
Kaarin Fairfax Kaarin Louise Fairfax (born 30 September 1959) is an Australian actress, director and singer who played the role of 'Dolour Darcy' in two TV miniseries '' The Harp in the South'' (1986) and its sequel ''Poor Man's Orange'' (1987) based on books ...
as Rene * Maurie Fields as Spruiker *
Terry Gill Terry Gill (25 October 1939 – 25 February 2015) was an English Australian actor, theatre owner, producer, director and writer. A character actor, he carved a niche in Australian television playing police officers. He appeared in over 26 Austra ...
as Arthur *
Sandy Gore Sandy Gore (born 28 June 1950) is an Australian film, stage and television actress. She has had an extensive stage career in Australia with the Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company including playing Vivian in ''Wit'' (2000) and M ...
as Miss. Claws *
Reg Gorman Reg Gorman (2 August 1932 – 5 August 2021) was an Australian television and film actor, and comedian, he was known best for his role in TV serial ''The Sullivans'', as Jack Fletcher. and children's series ''Fergus McPhail'' as Harry Patters ...
as Arthur *
Billie Hammerberg Billie Lorraine Hammerberg (24 March 1936 – 8 February 1995) was an Australian actress, best known for roles on television and film. Biography Hammerberg was an Australian actress best known for her role in the television series ''Prisoner ...
as Mrs. Hale *
Leila Hayes Leila Hayes is an Australians, Australian actress, actors agent, radio presenter, playwright, theatre producer, producer, singer and drama teacher, she featured in the hit 1980s soap opera ''Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series), Sons and ...
as Miss. Bryce *
Edward Hepple Edward Hepple (4 June 1914 – 3 September 2005) billed variously as Eddie Hepple and Ted Hepple, was an Australian actor, voice artist, producer, director, playwright and television scriptwriter, known for his roles in theatre, television seri ...
as Tom * Matthew King as Urger *
Esme Melville Esme Melville (born Esme Grace Mount-Melville, 23 July 1918 – 14 September 2006) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. At the Tropfest awards for 2003 she won Best Actor – Female for her role of Granma in the short film, '' ...
as Miss. Forbes *
Dennis Miller Dennis Michael Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American talk show host, political commentator, sports commentator, actor, and comedian. He was a cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1985 to 1991, and he subsequently hosted a stri ...
as Gunner *
Julie Nihill Julie Nihill (born 1957 in Melbourne) is an Australian actress, best known for her 13-year role as Chris Riley on the police drama ''Blue Heelers'' (1994–2006). Biography Nihill made her television debut in ''I Can Jump Puddles'' (1981) an ...
as Young woman *
Anne Phelan Anne Mary Phelan (2 August 1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over. Her television soap opera roles included '' ...
as Lay preacher *
Ian Smith Ian Douglas Smith (8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007) was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (known as Southern Rhodesia until October 1964 and now known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1 ...
as Mr. Slade * Fiona Spence as Mrs. Wilson * Elizabeth Stevenson as Night sister * Peter Thompson as Businessman *
Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes '' Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018 ...
as Mabel * Pepe Trevor as Pretty girl *
Mary Ward Mary Ward may refer to: Scientists and academics * Mary Ward (nurse) (1884–1972) English nurse to the boat people on the waterways * Mary Ward (scientist) (née King, 1827–1869) Irish amateur scientist, was killed by an experimental steam car ...
as Mrs. Birdsworth


Reception

The series was first aired on 7 June 1981 and ran for nine episodes. It was shown again two years later before being released on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
by Roadshow Home Entertainment in August 2005. The series ran in the UK on BBC 2 in 1983.


Awards

Adam Garnett, who played the 11-year-old Alan Marshall, won a
Logie Award The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
for Best Performance by a Juvenile in 1981.


References


External links


''I Can Jump Puddles''
at
Screen Australia Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government's key funding body for the Australian screen production industry, created under the ''Screen Australia Act 2008''. From 1 July 2008 Screen Australia took over the functions of its predecess ...
*
''I Can Jump Puddles''
at
Australian Screen Online The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national c ...
{{Oscar Whitbread 1981 Australian television series debuts 1981 Australian television series endings Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming 1980s Australian television miniseries Television shows set in Australia Television shows based on Australian novels Australian drama television series