Special Squad (Australian TV series)

Special Squad
GenreCrime drama
StarringAlan Cassell
Anthony Hawkins
John Diedrich
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes43
Production
Executive producersHector Crawford
Ian Crawford
Terry Stapleton
ProducersRaymond Menmuir
Ross Jennings
Production companyCrawford Productions
Original release
NetworkNetwork Ten
Release1984 (1984)

Special Squad is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten in 1984.

Overview

[edit]

The series focused on an elite division of the Victoria Police, which handled crimes either too sensitive or specialist for regular squads. The Special Squad was headed by Det. Insp. Don Anderson (Alan Cassell), with his main operatives being Det. Snr. Sgt. Greg Smith (Anthony Hawkins), and Det. Sgt. Joel Davis (John Diedrich).

Special Squad was seen by some as an Australian answer to the British series The Professionals both for its focus on action and violence, and the fact that both programs were produced by Raymond Menmuir;[1] story consultant Gerry O'Hara also worked on both shows.[2] It was suggested in the press that the show was the most expensive yet made for Australian television; John Diedrich told writer/actor Barry Dickins that the show cost A$5 million.[3] The first series was sold to Paramount Pictures for international distribution.[4]

Special Squad lasted 43 episodes in total. In 2023, Crawfords produced a box set of all episodes on DVD.

Cast

[edit]

Main

[edit]

Guests

[edit]

Episode list

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Trojan Horses"TBDTBD ()
22"The Expert"Arch NicholsonJohn Upton ()
33"Code of Silence"TBDVince Moran1984 (1984)
44"Easy Street"TBDTBD ()
55"Counterfeit Lady"Patrick EdgeworthArch Nicholson ()
66"The Long Secret"UnknownShane Brennan22 July 1984 (1984-07-22)
77"The Second Mr Swift"TBDTBD ()
88"The Wurzburg Link"TBDTBD ()
99"Same Time Friday"Chris LangmanDavid Wilks and Gerry O'Hara ()
1010"Duel"Arch NicholsonLuis Bayonas ()
1111"The Set Up"Paul MoloneyJohn Upton ()
1212"The Golden Run"Ranald GrahamCatherine Millar ()
1313"Jacko"Arch NicholsonLuis Bayonas ()
1414"Slow Attack"Paul MaloneyPhilip Dalkin ()
1515"Country Girl"Arch NicholsonCliff Green ()
1616"War"Catherine MillarEverett De Roche and Vince Moran ()
1717"Wild Man"Paul MoloneyRanald Graham ()
1818"The Chen Legacy"Chris LangmanShane Brennan ()
1919"Child Of Fortune"Tim BurstallRanald Graham ()
2020"Business As Usual"Mark JoffeShane Brennan and Kris Steele ()
2121"A Wild Oat"Brian Trenchard-SmithLeon Saunders ()
2222"Mates"Rob StewartLuis Bayonas ()
2323"Big Bad World"Howard RubieCliff Green ()
2424"Early Birds"Rob StewartMichael Harvey ()
2525"The Bribe"TBDTBD ()
2626"Farewell to a Comrade"Michael CaulfieldShane Brennan ()
2727"In The Cause Of Justice"TBDTBD ()
2828"Hot Streets"TBDMichael Aitkens ()
2929"Killer"TBDTBD ()
3030"The Patchwork"TBDDavid Phillips ()
3131"Brothers"TBDTBD ()
3232"Until Death"Rod HardyVince Moran ()
3333"Ghosts"TBDVince Gil ()
3434"The Haley Inheritance"Colin BuddsShane Brennan ()
3535"Suzie's War"Dan BurstallLuis Bayonas ()
3636"Return Of The Cat"John PowerJohn Upton ()
3737"Pigs"Ken CameronShane Brennan ()
3838"Mombasa"TBDTBD ()
3939"The Haunting"Tim BurstallLuis Bayonas ()
4040"Rotten Apple"TBDTBD ()
4141"Mad Mountain Mumma"TBDTBD ()
4242"Life After Teddy"Collin BuddsShane Brennan ()
4343"Gone For The Doctor"TBDTBD ()

Home media

[edit]

In January 2023 Crawford Productions announced that the series would be released on DVD in March 2023.

On 31 May 2023 Crawford Productions released the complete series on DVD.

Title Format Ep # Discs Region 4 (Australia) Special Features Distributors
Special Squad (Complete Series) DVD 43 09 31 May 2023 None Crawford Productions

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Garrie Hutchison, "Special Squad: Gloss Can't Hide Faults" Melbourne Age 16 August 1984 p. 35
  2. ^ Tim Cribb, 'Crawford's Cops Return' Sydney Morning Herald 'The Guide' section, 20 August 1984, p. 2
  3. ^ Barry Dickins 'Take Ten - in the Pigeon Coop' Melbourne Age 'Green Guide' section, 31 January 1985 p. 9
  4. ^ Tim Cribb, 'Crawford's Cops Return' Sydney Morning Herald 'The Guide' section, 20 August 1984, p. 2
[edit]