Armchair Cinema: Tully (ITV 26 Nov 1975, Anthony Valentine, Kevin Miles)

Armchair Cinema entry Tully which was a UK-Australian co-production sees insurance investigator Tully (Anthony Valentine) tracking a cache of stolen art and antiques worth two million pounds and the man behind their theft from London to Sydney. Tully quickly finds that he’s not the only one interesting in recovering them.

Completely American style opening titles and strident theme music that unfortunately is carried over into the production itself. There is also lots of stereotypical Australian action going on when Tully is in Sydney and some overdone direction. There are some positive points though, Anthony Valentine is excellent as Tully and Jack Thompson is always worth watching, good to see Noeline Brown acting against type here too as a landlady Valerie who blackmails Eastman’s wife. The production was 98% filmed in Sydney with a few opening linking shots of London at the start.

Armchair Cinema was a short lived offshoot of Armchair Theatre featuring six productions all shot on film. One of them Regan, had led to The Sweeney and whilst Tully does have some similar aspects to that show going for it a series never emerged.

Cast: ANTHONY VALENTINE as Tully; HENRY SZEPS as Ted Eastman; KEVIN MILES as Brandon; JACK THOMPSON as Vic; BARBARA NIELSON as Silvia; JOHN STANTON as Helier; WILLIAM REDMOND as Sharples; MARTIN PHELAN as Foxy; LYN JAMES as Doris; LES FOXCROFT as Mr Fenner; MICHAEL AITKENS as Barman; NOELINE BROWN as Valerie; KENNETH GOODLET as Inspector; PHILLIP ROSS as Inspector Young; EDWARD HEPPLE as Skimp; RICHARD GILBERT as Swagman; BOB HALLETT as Roy; FRANKIE DAVIDSON as Bruce; RAY MARSHALL as Mr Minter; TONY BARRY as Mack; BRUNO LAWRENCE as Bert; REBECCA GILLING as Secretary; BELINDA CROSSE as Sally; RUTH OSBORNE as Nurse; ZOE SALMON as Travel Clerk; PETER BERG as Fence; ROBERT HUGHES as Tully’s Lookout; NATALIE MOSCO as Kitty; RUTH ARDLER as Aboriginal Lady

Writer: Ian Stuart Black / Action Sequences: Peter Armstrong / Music: Patrick Aulton played by The ABC Sydney Showband conducted by Eric Cook / Executive Producers: Lloyd Shirley, George Taylor / Producer and Director: James Gatward

UK – Australia / ITV – Thames – Euston Films – ABC – Deutscher Filmdienst / 1×80 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 26 November 1975 @ 8.30pm