Catspaw (TV series) - Misplaced Pages

1978 Australian TV series or program

Catspaw
Written by	Ted Roberts
Directed by	David Zweck John Gauci Michael Ludbrook
Starring	Michael Duffield Tim Robertson Rowena Wallace
Composer	Brian May
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of episodes	7
Production
Producer	Oscar Whitbread
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	8 June (1978-06-08) – 20 July 1978 (1978-07-20)

Catspaw was an Australian serial drama-action TV series about an airforce officer who becomes involved with mercenaries.

It aired on the ABC on 8 June 1978 and ended on 20 July of the same year running for only one season and a total of seven episodes. The story line was told in serialised form.

Cast

Peter Sumner as Harry Sawtell
Gus Mercurio as The Colonel
Rowena Wallace as Kate Keppel
Michael Duffield as Barton
Tim Robertson as Instructor
Ken James
John Stanton
Peter Aanensen
Warwick Sims as Tim Keppel

Production

It was filmed on location around Melbourne and in the ABC Ripponlea Studios.

Reception

The Age criticised it for "comic strip depth". The Sun Herald called it "no more than routine."

Episodes

(2 June 1978 - Melbourne) Sawtell investigates the disappearance of a hospital gunship piloted by his best friend, Keppel.
(9 June 1978) Sawtell discovers Keppel owed a lot of money. Corrigan keeps watch on Kate's flat.
(16 June 1978) Sawtell discovers Kate and Corrigan are missing.
(23 June 1978)
(30 June 1978) Sawtell, Kate and Keppel try to escape but Kate is recaptured. Sawtell and Keppel find an injured Corrigan.
(7 July 1978) The Colonel orders the evacuation of the camp. Sawtell and Keppel begin an attack
(14 July 1978) Sawtell is wounded. He leaves Kate to get help for Keppel. He wakes up in a strange hospital room.

References

Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 107
"Catspaw: new series is not up to scratch". The Age. 1 June 1978. p. 30.
Groves, Don (4 June 1978). "Role 89 as a hood". The Sunday Sydney Morning Herald. p. 49.

External links

Catspaw at IMDb
Catspaw at AustLit

v t e TV productions of Oscar Whitbread
TV plays	On Approval (1964) Corruption in the Palace of Justice (1964) The Winds of Green Monday (1965) Otherwise Engaged (1965) Duet on Wednesday (1965) Photo Finish (1965) Plain Jane (1966) A Phoenix Too Frequent (1966) The Decision (1966) Course for Collision (1967) Slow Poison (1967) Romeo and Juliet (1967) Salome (1968) The Shifting Heart (1968) The Torrents (1969) I'm Damned if I Know (1972) The Man Who Shot the Albatross (1972) The Professional Touch (1976) Trial of Ned Kelly (1977) Burn the Butterflies (1979) A Wild Ass of a Man (1980) The Balanced Particle Freeway (1997)
TV series	Australian Plays (1969) Delta (Australian TV series) (1969) Dynasty (1969) Bellbird (1970–77) A Family at War (1970) Frank and Francesca (1973) And the Big Men Fly (1974) Rush (1975) Catspaw (1978) The Truckies (1978) I Can Jump Puddles (1980) Locusts and Wild Honey (1980) The Flying Doctors (1986) Studio 86 (1986) Acropolis Now (1989) The Power, The Passion (1989) Cluedo (1990–92) Bush Patrol (1996)
Miniseries	Marion (1974) Power Without Glory (1976) Lucinda Brayford (1980) All the Green Year (1981) Outbreak of Love (1981) The Young Wife (1984) Golden Pennies (1985) The Flying Doctors (1985) Ratbag Hero (1991)

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