Last Bastion, The

1 9 8 4 (Australia)
3 x 120 minute episodes)

In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, Australia’s then Prime Minister Robert Menzies (John Wood) was still looking traditionally to Britain for advice and assistance, dealing with Winston Churchill (Timothy West), who regarded Australian troops as being there to help Britain, rather than the other way round.

Little more than three years later, when Australian and American troops stopped the flow of Japanese invaders along the Kokoda Trail, the axis had shifted. This miniseries from Channel 10 (Australia) – subtitled “Australia Under Siege” – told the story of those three years.

Where Menzies regarded Australia as being a sort of offshore British Isle, John Curtin (Michael Blakemore) took a more realistic view when it came to enlisting aid. Curtin, the leader of the Labor Party, succeeded to the Prime Ministership on 3 October 1941, following Menzies who was forced to stand down, and the brief tenure of Arthur Fadden (John Clayton).

It was Curtin who realised it was no good relying on British support when Britain herself had enough problems. It was also Curtin who finally succeeded in bringing America to Australia’s aid, as he said in his 1942 broadcast to the US: “We are the last bastion between the Japanese and the west coast of America. If you let us fail, America itself is in danger”.

Finally, Franklin D Roosevelt (Warren Mitchell) sent General Douglas MacArthur (Robert Vaughn), whom Curtin appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Pacific. Despite their mutual antagonism, MacArthur and the Australian commander, General Thomas Blamey (Ray Barrett), finally halted the Japanese advance in New Guinea.

The action of The Last Bastion is divided mainly between Canberra, Washington and London: each place providing its own particular share of tension: In Canberra, there is Curtin facing not only the Japanese threat but opposition from within his own party on such matters as conscription; In Washington, there is Roosevelt wondering whether or not to commit troops so far out of America’s defence perimeter; and in London, the cigar-chomping Churchill – falsely believing Australia is protected by Singapore – does not take Australia’s plight as seriously or as responsibly as he should – until Singapore falls to the Japanese.

David Williamson spent two years writing and producing The Last Bastion. As a piece of television, the miniseries offered the sort of viewing rarely seen. It is history without frills, tautly directed by Chris Thompson, and its cast is strong and effective.

Robert Menzies
John Wood
Winston Churchill
Timothy West
John Curtin
Michael Blakemore
Franklin D Roosevelt
Warren Mitchell
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Robert Vaughn
Ben Chifley
Bill Hunter
Frank Forde
Colin McEwan
Arthur Caldwell
Ron Blanchard
Arthur Fadden
John Clayton
Gen. Tom Blamey
Ray Barrett
Richard Casey
Tim Elliott
Earle Page
Simon Chilvers
Percy Spender
David Downer
Harold Holt
Harold Hopkins
Gen. Sturdee
Vincent Ball
Gen. Rowell
Tony Barry
Gen. Vasey
Richard Meikle
Maj. Carlyon
Richard Moir
Stanley Bruce
Leslie Wright
Arthur Coles
Don Crosby
Mary Alice Evatt
Julie Hamilton
Elvie
Julie Godfrey
Herbert Evatt
Peter Whitford
Eddie Ward MP
Max Cullen
Billy Hughes
Jon Ewing
Elsie Curtin
Nancye Hayes
Frederick Shedden
Neil Fitzpatrick
Anthony Eden
John Hamblin
David Lloyd George
Ralph Cotterill
Gen. Haining
Peter Collingwood
Air Chief Marshal Portal
Rhys McConnochie
Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Popham
Paul Mason
Gen. Wavell
Gordon Poole
Lord Beaverbrook
Robin Cuming
Adm. Ernest King
Tim Robertson
Gen. George C. Marshall
Reg Gillam
Gen. Sutherland
Graham Rouse
Col. Willoughby
John McTernan
Gen. Eichelberger
Brian McDermott
Gen. Jonathan Wainwright
Arthur Sherman
Gen. Harding
Waverney Ford
Jean MacArthur
Susan Kramer
Arthur MacArthur
Erik Szaks
Eleanor Roosevelt
June Salter
Anna Roosevelt
Natalie Mosco
Saburo Kurusu
Michael Kozuki
Gen. Eichelberger
Brian McDermott