Butterfly Island

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Butterfly Island
Written byDavid Phillips
Directed by Howard Rubie
Starring Grigor Taylor
Mouche Phillips
Penne Hackforth-Jones
Country of origin Australia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8 (season one)
22 (season two)
16 (season three)
Production
Producer Stanley Walsh
Running time30 mins
Original release
Network ABC (series one)
Seven (series two)
Release1985 (1985) 
1987 (1987)

Butterfly Island is an Australian children's drama television series. The first season cost $1.6 million, the second $3.2 million. [1] This was the first mainstream Australian TV show where an Asian actor, David Phu An Chiem was given a lead role. [2]

Contents

The first eight part season aired on the ABC in 1985. It followed the Wilson family who run a holiday resort. Also featured are a Vietnamese refugee and a crooked property developer. [3] [4] The second 22-part season moved to Channel 7 in 1987. [5] A planned third season was axed in 1987 after a casting dispute with the Actors’ Equity over the use of an American actress. [6] The series was revived in 1991. [7]

Cast

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References

  1. Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 96
  2. Alexis Carey (4 March 2019). "Incredible rags-to-riches story behind Aussie entrepreneur's success". news.com.au.
  3. Watson, Bronwyn (15 July 1985), "Island family drama", The Sydney Morning Herald
  4. Voumard, Sonya (11 July 1985), "Drama in the Tropics", The Age
  5. Bellamy, Louise (26 March 1987), "Tropical warmth will help ease those winter chills", The Age
  6. Hooks, Barbara (24 June 1987), "No Butterfly Island thanks to actors' union", The Age
  7. "New film studio", The Canberra Times, 28 October 1991