Tusitala_(miniseries)
Tusitala (miniseries)
Australian TV series or program
Tusitala is a 1986 three-part mini series for television based on the last years in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson, when he left Great Britain for Sydney and west Samoa.[1][2]
| Tusitala | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Peter Yeldham |
| Directed by | Don Sharp |
| Starring | John McEnery Angela Punch McGregor |
| Country of origin | Australia United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ray Alchin |
| Production locations | Australia West Samoa |
| Production company | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC (Australia) Channel 4 (UK) |
| Release | 15 June 1986 (1986-06-15) |
In the Samoan language Tusitala means writer of stories and it is there that Robert Louis Stevenson spent his last four years. He was buried there at Mount Vaea.[3]
- John McEnery as Robert Louis Stevenson
- Angela Punch McGregor
- Kirk Alexander as Henley
- Dorothy Alison as Maggie
- Norman Kaye as Rev. Clarke
- Lynn Dalby as Almelia Clarke
- Joseph Fürst as Von Pilsarch
- John Hamblin as Dr. Eisler
- Olivia Hamnett as Lady Jersey
There had been plans to film this in the 1960s by Cinesound Productions.[4]
In 1983 producer Ray Alchin announced Ted Roberts would be the writer. The ABC deliberately aimed at an international co production. "We're branching out with an international figure," said Alchin.[5]
The budget was $5 million.[6]
Filming started June 1985 by which stage the writer had become Peter Yeldham.[7] It was the only production Don Sharp ever directed in his native Australia.[8]
- "Tusitala-"the Teller of Tales": Part 3". explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- "Aunty dares to be scandalous". The Canberra Times. Vol. 60, no. 18, 352. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 December 1985. p. 17. Retrieved 24 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Tusitala (1986)". nway101.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- Pike, Andrew Franklin. "The History of an Australian Film Production Company: Cinesound, 1932-70" (PDF). Australian National University. p. 216.
- "Another Big Budget ABC Series". Sydney Morning herald. 15 May 1983. p. 59.
- Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford University Press, 1996 p245
- "Million Dollar Myth". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 March 1985. p. 59.
- Vagg, Stephen (27 July 2019). "Unsung Aussie Filmmakers: Don Sharp – A Top 25". Filmink.
