''Serpent in the Rainbow'' is an Australian mini series which first screened on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

in 1973. It was set in the late 19th century.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford University Press, 1996 p233 The ''Bulletin'' called it "a classical allegory about two squatting families who play out their own version of the

Trojan War In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and has ...

Premise

In outback Australia toward the end of the 19th century, two families that down sheep stations have different views - the austere and religious Quiggs, of "Sinai" station and the more liberal Lovetts, of "Woolumbra". Helen Quigg leaves her husband, falls for Phillip Lovett and seeks refuge with the Lovetts. The Quiggs want her back but the Lovetts refuse. The head of the families, Pryor Lovett and Simeon Quigg, do not want violence but the younger members are harder to contain.

Cast

Kate Fitzpatrick Kerry Kathleen Fitzpatrick (born 1 October 1947) known as Kate Fitzpatrick, is an Australian television, film, and theatre actress. Early years Kate grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Dover Gardens, and it was in Adelaide that her love for cl ...

as Helen Quigg *

John McCallum John McCallum (born 9 April 1950) is a Canadian politician, economist, diplomat and former university professor. A former Liberal Member of Parliament ( MP), McCallum was the Canadian Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2019. He was asked for h ...

as Pryor Lovett * Alfred Sandor as Simeon Quigg *

Shane Porteous John Shane Porteous (born 17 August 1942) (known as Shane Porteous) is an Australian actor, screenwriter, animation layout artist and animation voice artist. As a screenwriter, he is sometimes credited as "John Hanlon". He remains best known fo ...

as Phillip Lovett *

Lionel Long Lionel Joaquin Paul Long OAM (1939 – 1 January 1998) was an Australian country and folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and artist. Long became one of Australia's most successful and popular country and folk artists in the 1960s, relea ...

as Paul Lovett *

Ken Wayne Ken Wayne (1925–1993) was an Australian actor of radio, theatre, film and television. He made his film debut in '' Sons of Matthew'' (1949) and appeared in a number of movies including ''Dust in the Sun'' (1958). He was also well known for hi ...

Diana Perryman Diana Perryman (9 November 1924 - 10 January 1979) credited also as Diane Perryman, was an Australian actress, who appeared in stage, film and television. Perryman was notable for her roles in early TV soap operas and appeared in miniseries a ...

as Mrs Quigg *

Cornelia Frances Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her ...

Aileen Britton Aileen Britton (18 February 1916 in Sydney – 19 April 1986) credited also as Aileen Britain, was an Australian character actress of theatre, radio, television, and film (TV movie and theatrical), with a career in the industry spanning nearly 5 ...

as Sarah Lovett *Noel Brophy *Keith Lee * Walter Pym *Alister Smart

Production

The title refers to an Aboriginal legend of a snake that controls the destiny of humans.

Episodes

#22 August 1973 - Helen Quigg leaves her husband, falls for Phillip Lovett and seeks refuge with the Lovetts. #29 August 1973 #5 September 1973 #12 September 1973 (The above air dates are for Sydney. It aired in Melbourne starting 1 November 1973.)

Reception

The ''Sun Herald'' called it "another drama beauty... all perform beautifully... don't miss this one." The ''Bulletin'' gave it a negative review stating:

It is difficult to imagine any viewer not familiar with the stately languor of the Russian dramatists staying more than five minutes with the first episode. The whole 50 minutes were so soporific and inconclusively brooding that I stayed the distance only because a cast of gifted Australians wrought small miracles with the script... ''Serpent in the Rainbow'' is like a radio play with pictures. The pictures are superb... episode 1 was so slow-moving and uninformative as almost to be incomprehensible... the most earnestly solemn play I can remember the ABC ever producing... awkward, unreal and unnaturally sombre. The characters they have created are potentially interesting but spoilt because they are all developed in monochrome... The performances, though, were excellent.

''The Age'' said the series "requires a little concentration but the rewards in terms of worthwhile viewing is quantum."

References

External links

1970s Australian television miniseries 1973 Australian television series debuts 1973 Australian television series endings 1973 television films 1973 films Films directed by Douglas Sharp {{Australia-tv-prog-stub