Spyforce was an Australian TV series produced from 1971 to 1973, based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced by the Nine Network in conjunction with Paramount Pictures. 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. The idea appealed to American producers Paramount Pictures, who backed creator Roger Mirams to begin production without having seen a script. He made the pilot episode, "Spy Catcher", which impressed Paramount, and the Nine Network immediately bought the local rights. The first episode aired in Sydney on 8 August 1971, and the rest of Australia on 26 August 1971. It was originally intended to produce 26 episodes, but following the success of the first series, Mirams held talks with both Nine Network and Paramount Pictures, who backed him for a second series. In all 42 episodes were produced. The series was last aired on Australian television in Adelaide on 21 September 1976, but has been re-run several times since.
Title | Air Date | Duration | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Season 1 | Episode 1 | The General | 1971-08-02 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 2 | Death Railway | 1971-09-02 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 3 | Portuguese Man Of War | 1971-08-16 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 4 | The Prisoner | 1971-08-23 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 5 | The Bridge | 1971-09-30 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 6 | The Trader | 1971-09-06 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 7 | The Escape | 1971-09-13 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 8 | 27 Hours | 1971-09-20 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 9 | The Volunteers (1) | 1971-09-27 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 10 | The Volunteers (2) | 1971-10-04 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 11 | The Countess | 1971-08-30 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 12 | The Cripple | 1971-10-18 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 13 | The Assassin | 1971-11-13 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 14 | The Tunku | 1971-12-11 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 15 | The Gunner | 1971-11-08 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 16 | The Saviour (1) | 1971-11-22 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 17 | The Saviour (2) | 1971-11-29 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 18 | The Samurai | 1972-01-12 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 19 | The Bunker | 1972-01-01 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 20 | Reilley's Army | 1971-09-23 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 21 | The Courier | 1972-03-08 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 22 | The Doctor | 1972-01-26 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 23 | The Major | 1972-01-05 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 24 | The Lovers | 1971-08-31 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 25 | The Chase | 1972-03-01 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 26 | The Diplomat | 1972-02-09 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 27 | The District Commissioner | 1972-02-23 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 28 | The Troupers | 1972-03-15 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 29 | The Encounter | 1972-03-13 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 30 | The Breakout | 1972-11-13 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 31 | The Interrogator | 1972-01-19 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 32 | The Raiders | 1972-04-19 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 33 | The Forger | 1972-04-17 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 34 | The Correspondent | 1972-03-27 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 35 | The Double Agent | 1972-12-04 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 36 | The Misfits | 1973-01-29 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 37 | The Mission | 1972-12-02 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 38 | The Journey | 1972-12-09 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 39 | The Decoy | 1973-01-15 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 40 | The Murder | 1973-01-20 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 41 | The Trail | 1973-11-19 | 60 min |
Season 1 | Episode 42 | The Rolls That Went To War | 1973-02-02 | 60 min |
Writing | Ralph W. Peterson | Writer |