Police Rescue

Last updated

Police Rescue
Titles.Pr.jpg
Also known asPolice Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz (Germany), "Noodroep" (Afrikaans – South Africa),
Polizia Squadra Soccorso (Italy)
Sydney Police (France)
Záchranáři (Czech Republic)
Written by Christopher Lee
Debra Oswald
Philip Cornford
Directed byPeter Fisk (1989–1993)
Michael Carson (1991–1993)
Scott Hartford-Davis (1995–1996)
Starring Gary Sweet
Sonia Todd
Steve Bastoni
John Clayton
Tammy MacIntosh
Belinda Cotterill
Jeremy Callaghan
Doug Scroope
Steve Bisley
Frank Holden
Marshall Napier
Tim McKenzie
Peter Browne
Ada Nicodemou
Salvatore Coco
Leah Purcell
Composers Martin Armiger
Garry Hardman
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes61 + pilot
Production
Executive producersPenny Chapman
Kim Williams
Errol Sullivan
Producers John Edwards
Sandra Levy
Production locations New South Wales, Australia
CinematographySteve Arnold
Russell Bacon
Stephen Windon
EditorVarious
Running time50 minutes
90 minutes (pilot)
Production companies Australian Broadcasting Corporation
British Broadcasting Corporation
Southern Star Xanadu
Original release
Network ABC
Release15 March 1989 (1989-03-15) 
22 November 1996 (1996-11-22)

Police Rescue is an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC. [1]

Contents

Apart from the 61 episodes, there was a 90-minute pilot episode (first screened in 1989) as well as a feature film in 1994, starring Zoe Carides.

The series dealt with the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad based in Sydney and their work attending to various incidents from road accidents to train crashes. The show was very well received for the first four series, however a decline in ratings by the commencement of the 1996 series saw the cancellation of the show, following an almost epitaph in the final three episodes.

Police Rescue was shown in the United Kingdom first on BBC1 and later on Sky One, in the Czech Republic as Záchranáři on TV Nova, in South Africa as "Noodroep" (dubbed in Afrikaans), in parts of Italy as Polizia Squadra Soccorso on T9, in France on TF1 as Sydney Police, in Germany on VOX as Police Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz, in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark on the United Kingdom-based TV3, and in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ.

Cast

Main

Actor/actressCharacterRankTenureEpisodes
Gary Sweet Steve "Mickey" McClintockSergeant1989–199601–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film
Sonia Todd Georgia RattrayConstable/Senior Constable/Sergeant1989-199601–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film
Tim McKenziePeter "Ridgy" RidgewaySergeant1989-199001-13 + Pilot Episode
John Clayton Bill AdamsInspector1989–199601–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film
Marshall Napier Fred "Frog" CatteauSergeant1989–199201-19 + Pilot Episode
Peter BrowneTrevor "Sootie" ColedaleConstable1989–199001-14 + Pilot Episode
Doug ScroopePercy "Ptomaine" WarrenConstable1989-199301-32 + Pilot Episode
Steve Bastoni Yiannis "Angel" AngelopoulosConstable/Senior Constable1990-199601-61 + Feature Film
Steve Bisley Kevin "Nipper" HarrisSenior Sergeant1992-199514-42
Belinda Cotterill Sharyn Elliott1992–1994, 199614-39, 53-61 + Feature Film
Tammy MacIntosh Kathy OrlandConstable1992-199514-52 + Feature Film
Jeremy Callaghan Brian MorleyConstable1992-199519-52 + Feature Film
Ada Nicodemou Anastasia Skouras1994-199540-52
Frank Holden Glenn "Spider" WebbSenior Sergeant1994-199643-61
Zoe Carides Lorrie "Flash" GordonConstable1994Feature Film Only
Salvatore Coco Joe CardilloConstable199653-61
Leah Purcell Tracy DavisConstable199653-61

Recurring minor cast

Actor/actressCharacterRankTenureEpisodes
Kerry Armstrong Des McClintockMickey Ex-Wife1990-1991
Deborah Kennedy Bronwyn Catteau1990-19923 episodes
Harold Hopkins Tony FullerNARC Detective1990-1992
Gia Carides Helena Angelopoulos1992-19937 episodes
Justin Rosniak Sam1993-1996Seasons 3–5, 4 episodes
Lani John Tupu David Goldberg1992Season 2
Daniel Rigney Constable LohmeierConstable1993Season 3

Guests

Actor/actressCharacterTenureEpisodes
Anne Tenney Katie McCarthy1991Season 1, episode 9 :"One for Dad"
Bec Cartwright Emma1992Season 2, episode 9: "Reasons to Live"
Ben Mendelsohn Dean Forman1995Season 4, episode 13: "Wild Card"
Cate Blanchett Mrs Haines / Vivian1993Season 3. episode 5: "The Loaded Boy" & TV movie: "Police Rescue In Action"
Celia Ireland Lachlan's mother1992Season 2, episode 2: "Sugar"
Claudia Black Julia1993Season 3, episode: "Double Illusion"
Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick Fay McClintock1992-93Season 2-3, 2 episodes
Colin Friels Lew Campbell1992Season 2, 1 episode
Damian de Montemas Greg1995Season 4, 1 episode
Darren Gilshenan Nick1993Season 3, episode: "Wild Goose Chase"
David Field Paul1992Season 2, 1 episode
Debra Byrne Maria Mellick / Tricia Mellick1991; 1992Season 1-2, 2 episodes
Joel Edgerton Andy1995Season 4, episode 13: "Wild Card"
John Jarratt Dave1994Season 4, episode 9: "Public Mischief"
John Noble Sergeant1991Season 1, episode 10: "Hostage"
Judith McGrath Hazel1995Season 4, 1 episode
Justin Rosniak Sam1993-96Season 3-5, 4 episodes
Melissa Jaffer Gwen1995Season 4, 1 episode
Melissa Tkautz Helen Catteau1991Season 1, 1 episode
Michael Denkha First Mate1996Season 5, 1 episode
Miranda Otto Amanda1995Season 4, episode: "On the Outer"
Nash Edgerton Alex's mate1994TV movie: "Police Rescue in Action"
Richard Carter Vic Wilson1991Season 1, 1 episode
Ritchie Singer Daryl1989Pilot
Rob Carlton Young Prisoner1992Season 1, 1 episode
Robert Mammone Truck Driver1992Season 2, 1 episode
Roy Billing Myer1991Season 1, 1 episode
Russell Crowe Constable Tom 'Bomber' Young1992Season 2, episode 1: "The Right Stuff"
Sharyn Hodgson Kerry19981 episode
Simon Lyndon Matt1996Season 5, 1 episode
Steve Le Marquand Youth1993Season 3, 1 episode
Tara Morice Jenny1991Season 1, 1 episode
Tim Campbell Hugo1996Season 5 , 1 episode
Tony Bonner Paul1992Season 2, 1 episode
Wynn Roberts Anthony Mason1991Season 1, 1 episode
Zoe Carides Constable Lorrie 'Flash' Gordon1994TV movie: "Police Rescue in Action"

Episodes

Pilot movie

In mid-1989, Southern Star Xanadu broadcast the pilot episode of Police Rescue via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The 90-minute telemovie established the background of the protagonist of the series, Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock (Gary Sweet). Several issues were raised in the pilot, such as women's discrimination, sexism and street violence. The plot evolved around the entrance of the first woman member to the Police Rescue Squad, Constable Georgia Rattray (Sonia Todd) and then the search for a missing boy in Sydney's sewer system. [2]

Number
in series
Number
in season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
PilotPilot"Rescue"Peter FiskEverett De Roche15 March 1989 (1989-03-15)
The 90-minute telemovie established the background of the protagonist of the series, Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock. Several issues were raised in the pilot, such as women's discrimination, sexism and street violence. The plot evolved around the entrance of the first woman member to the Police Rescue Squad, Constable Georgia Rattray and then the search for a missing boy in Sydney's sewer system.

Season 1 (1991)

The telemovie was well received and spawned the series of Police Rescue, which carried on shortly after the pilot.

  1. "Police Rescue – By the Book". AustralianScreen.com.au.
  2. Ed. Scott Murray, "Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995", Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p130.
  3. "Police Rescue". 7plus. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
Number
in series
Number
in season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Mates"Michael CarsonPeter Schreck14 February 1991 (1991-02-14)
A highly successful businessman who threatens suicide, makes Mickey realize how lucky he really is.