Spyforce
Spyforce is an Australian television series that aired from 1971 to 1973 on Nine Network. The series was based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced by Nine Network in conjunction with Paramount Pictures.
| Spyforce | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama Military Action Espionage Serial |
| Created by | Roger Mirams Ron McLean Brian Wright |
| Starring | Jack Thompson Peter Sumner Redmond Phillips Katy Wild Stuart Finch Bill Hunter Anna-Maria Winchester Chips Rafferty Marty Morton |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 42 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Roger Mirams associate Ron McLean Paramount Production Executive Bruce Gordon |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 8 August 1971 – 1973 |
The series centres on the action and adventures of lead actor Jack Thompson's character Erskine, and his main support character, Peter Sumner's Gunthar Haber. It was the first lead role for Jack Thompson. The two are part of an elite unit of special operatives, the Special Intelligence Unit, and their adventures are loosely based upon those of the real Services Reconnaissance Department who often operated behind Japanese-held lines during the war.
Unlike most previous war films, Spyforce deliberately steered away from the notion that the United States was solely responsible for Japan's defeat, and highlights the important role Australian forces played in the defeat of the Imperial Japanese Army. Producer Roger Mirams was also careful to avoid stereotypes of the genre, and tired formulas for the battle scenes.