DIVISION -4 - "The Puritan" – 1969
The enormous success of the long running (1964-77) Australian Police series, Homicide, caused the same production company to try a second Police series. This one was also set in Melbourne, and followed the Detectives and uniformed police of a local station. The Detectives were played by Gerard Kennedy, Chuck Faulkner and Terence Donovan while the uniform bunch included, Frank Taylor, Ted Hamilton and Patricia Smith. The series was a hit and ran for 300 episodes between 1969 and 1976. This is episode 9.
In this one, the Police are looking out for an escapee from Sydney who might be hiding out in Melbourne. The man, Guy Le Claire, is a right villain with a habit of beating women. Le Claire figures he can hide out with a former girlfriend and her 14 year old daughter.
The woman, Bettina Welch, runs an after-hours drinking establishment. She makes a nice bit of change over charging for drinks etc. There is also the odd "working girl" hanging around the place. Being a bit of the greedy side, Welch is not adverse to a bit of blackmail on some of her "over served" customers.
This draws the attention of the Police who pay a visit over the matter. Adding to her problems is that her ex-boyfriend, Le Claire, has now showed up and wants some cash. He is also interested in the budding daughter, Jacki Weaver.
Welsh, decides that Le Claire must go, and offers him a job pulling a liquor warehouse robbery. Le Claire, needing the money, bites. Welch lets the Police in on the time and day of the robbery hoping to have the Police take care of Le Claire.
This idea does not come off as planned, and Le Claire returns with murder in mind. The Police do the old, nick of time rescue, and save Welch and daughter Weaver from Le Claire.
Interesting to see future two-time Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver in an early role. She was nominated for, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK -2012 and ANIMAL KINGDOM - 2010.
The enormous success of the long running (1964-77) Australian Police series, Homicide, caused the same production company to try a second Police series. This one was also set in Melbourne, and followed the Detectives and uniformed police of a local station. The Detectives were played by Gerard Kennedy, Chuck Faulkner and Terence Donovan while the uniform bunch included, Frank Taylor, Ted Hamilton and Patricia Smith. The series was a hit and ran for 300 episodes between 1969 and 1976. This is episode 9.
In this one, the Police are looking out for an escapee from Sydney who might be hiding out in Melbourne. The man, Guy Le Claire, is a right villain with a habit of beating women. Le Claire figures he can hide out with a former girlfriend and her 14 year old daughter.
The woman, Bettina Welch, runs an after-hours drinking establishment. She makes a nice bit of change over charging for drinks etc. There is also the odd "working girl" hanging around the place. Being a bit of the greedy side, Welch is not adverse to a bit of blackmail on some of her "over served" customers.
This draws the attention of the Police who pay a visit over the matter. Adding to her problems is that her ex-boyfriend, Le Claire, has now showed up and wants some cash. He is also interested in the budding daughter, Jacki Weaver.
Welsh, decides that Le Claire must go, and offers him a job pulling a liquor warehouse robbery. Le Claire, needing the money, bites. Welch lets the Police in on the time and day of the robbery hoping to have the Police take care of Le Claire.
This idea does not come off as planned, and Le Claire returns with murder in mind. The Police do the old, nick of time rescue, and save Welch and daughter Weaver from Le Claire.
Interesting to see future two-time Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver in an early role. She was nominated for, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK -2012 and ANIMAL KINGDOM - 2010.