This Australian miniseries from ABC TV – based on the novels The River Kings (1966) and Conquest of the River (1970) by Max Fatchen – told the powerful and emotional tale of a young boy growing to manhood along the banks of South Australia’s great Murray River.
The river provides the backdrop to the lives of the Hofner family, young Shawn (Tamblyn Lord) in particular, who – in his young adult years – struggles to save the family from poverty and further misfortune.
The series begins in 1921. Young Shawn, realising his mother refuses to believe his father will not be coming home from the Great War, leaves the family farm and goes looking for work on the paddle steamers.
Over four episodes on consecutive Sunday nights, Shawn deals with floods and droughts, falls in love – with young Mary Thompson (Kate Mulcahy) – and discovers that his father is not dead after all.
Bill Kerr landed the role of Captain Elijah after the part had been offered to Burt Lancaster, whose requested fee was too high for the production.
The paddle vessel PV Amphibious starred in the series as the Lazy Jane.
Shawn Hofner
Tamblyn Lord Mary Thompson
Kate Mulcahy Captain Elijah
Bill Kerr Praying Jack
Willie Fennell Angus
Edward Hepple Fred Thompson
Edmund Pegge Jean Hofner
Caroline Winnall Michael Hofner
Hamish Fletcher Lottie Hofner
Jacki Kerin Charlee
Cecil Parkee Gwen Thompson
Diana Chamberlain Flossie
Maureen Sherlock Captain Snane
David Bradshaw Spud
Grant Piro Rasheen
John Cousins Mallee Ned
Reg Evans Major Dudley
Henry Salter Geoff
John Crouch Nellie Lillywhite
Bridget Walters Violet Lillywhite
Myfanwy James Karl
Allan Lyne Karen Hofner
Miranda Elliot Picker
John Doherty Pastor Beckman
Don Barker Pastor Patterson
Francis Greenslade Thomas
Damon Sanders Gerry
Richard Margetson Rose
Sally Haswell Frank
Nigel Bell Jim
Adrian Shirley Sister
Brigitte Baden-Rennie Mrs Santini
Maria Donato Cliff Harris
Patrick Frost Eric
Jamie Black Terry
Dave Flannagan
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Shawn Hofner
Praying Jack
Michael Hofner
Captain Snane
Mallee Ned
