Onedin Line, The (BBC 1971-1980, Peter Gilmore, Anne Stallybrass)

Period drama series The Onedin Line took us back to the 19th Century where James Onedin starts his own shipping line based in Liverpool. He is determined to make it a success and will let nothing stand in his way to make it so.

The series had begun with James winning command of his own three masted schooner The Charlotte Rhodes from the penniless Captain Webster, however in return he has to marry Webster’s daughter Anne. Of course Anne has some very strong ideas on how James should run his business.

Season two saw a major new shareholder in The Onedin Line in the shape of Emma Callon, neice of Albert who had initially given James his start in the business; Whilst James is away in the West Indies Emma finds herself relying on James’ chief rival Daniel Fogarty who is also out to thwart James’ plans to build a steamship.

The Onedin Line grew out of a Drama Playhouse entry of 1970 and over the years there were many cast changes as Onedin’s empire grew but the show remained a popular Sunday evening staple throughout its run. There was a two and a half year gap between the third and fourth seasons, and from that fourth season onward the seasons consisted of fewer episodes.

The broadcast dates for each season were as follows :- (15-Oct-1971 to 28-Jan-1972 / 17-Sep-1972 to 31-Dec-1972 / 21-Oct-1973 to 27-Jan-1974 / 25-Apr-1976 to 27-Jun-1976 / 26-Jun-1977 to 28-Aug-1977/ 16-Jul-1978 to 17-Sep-1978 / 22-Jul-1979 to 23-Sep-1979 / 31-Aug-1980 to 25-Oct-1980) Peter Gilmore, Jill Gascoine and Howard Lang.

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 91×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 15 October 1971 – 25 October 1980

Creator: Cyril Abraham / Music: Khachaturian

cast
PETER GILMORE as Capt James Onedin
BRIAN RAWLINSON as Robert Onedin(1)
ANNE STALLYBRASS as Anne Onedin
HOWARD LANG as Capt Baines
MARY WEBSTER as Sarah Onedin
JAMES HAYTER as Capt Webster
PHILIP BOND as Albert Frazer
EDWARD CHAPMAN as Callon
JANE SEYMOUR as Emma Callon
JILL GASCOINE as Letty Gaunt
JAMES GARBUTT as Robert Onedin(2)
JESSICA BENTON as Elizabeth Onedin
MICHAEL BILLINGTON as Daniel Fogarty(1)
TOM ADAMS as Daniel Fogarty(2)
WARREN CLARKE as Josaih Beaumont
KEITH JAYNE as Tom Arnold
KATE NELLIGAN as Leonora Biddulph

THE EPISODES
PILOT 7 December 1970
Drama Playhouse: The Wind Blows Free

SEASON ONE 15 October 1971 – 28 January 1972
1. THE WIND BLOWS FREE (15 Oct 1971)
2. PLAIN SAILING (22 Oct 1971)
3. OTHER POINTS OF THE COMPASS (29 Oct 1971)
4. THE HIGH PRICE (5 Nov 1971)
5. CATCH AS CAN (12 Nov 1971)
6. SALVAGE (19 Nov 1971)
7. PASSAGE TO PERNAMBUCO (26 Nov 1971)
8. HOMECOMING (3 Dec 1971)
9. WHEN MY SHIP COMES HOME (10 Dec 1971)
10. A VERY IMPORTANT PASSENGER (17 Dec 1971)
11. MUTINY (24 Dec 1971)
12. CRY OF THE BLACKBIRD (7 Jan 1972)
13. SHADOW OF DOUBT (14 Jan 1972)
14. BLOCKADE (21 Jan 1972)
15. WINNER TAKE ALL (28 Jan 1972)

SEASON TWO 17 September – 31 December 1972
1. THE HARD CASE (17 Sep 72)
2. POUND AND PINT (24 Sep 72)
3. A WOMAN ALONE (1 Oct 72)
4. FETCH AND CARRY (8 Oct 72)
5. YELLOW JACK (15 Oct 72)
6. SURVIVOR (22 Oct 72)
7. COFFIN SHIP (29 Oct 72)
8. ‘FRISCO BOUND (12 Nov 72)
9. BEYOND THE UPPER SEA (19 Nov 72)
10. AN INCH OF CANDLE (26 Nov 72)
11. GOODBYE, GOODBYE (3 Dec 72)
12. BLOODY WEEK (10 Dec 72)
13. THE CHALLENGE (17 Dec 72)
14. RACE FOR POWER (31 Dec 72)

SEASON THREE 21 October 1973 – 27 January 1974
1. THE SHIP DEVILS
2. THE STRANGER
3. ECHOES FROM AFAR
4. AMAZON CARGO
5. DANGER LEVEL
6. BLACK GOLD
7. LAW OF THE FIST
8. ICE AND FIRE
9. A PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE
10.OVER THE HORIZON
11. THE SILVER CADDY
12. PORT OUT, STARBOARD HOME
13. THE PASSENGER

SEASON FOUR 25 April – 27 June 1976
1. THE LOSS OF THE HELEN MAY
2. A COLD WIND BLOWING
3. NOT WANTED ON VOYAGE
4. UNDERCURRENT
5. QUARANTINE
6. UNCHARTED ISLAND
7. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
8. SHIPWRECK
9. THE GAMBLE
10. MONTH OF THE ALBATROSS

SEASON FIVE 26 June – 28 August 1977
1. WHEN TROUBLES COME
2. RESCUE
3. COFFIN SHIPS
4. THE TRADE WINDS
5. THE STOWAWAY
6. DEAD MAN’S CARGO
7. A HARD LIFE
8. THE HOSTAGE
9. UNCHARTED WATERS
10. A CLOSE RUN THING

SEASON SIX 16 July – 17 September 1978
1. NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
2. COLLISION COURSE
3. DOUBLE DEALERS
4. STAND BY TO GO ABOUT
5. THE UPRIGHT MAN
6. THE REVEREND’S DAUGHTER
7. HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
8. A SEA OF TROUBLES
9. MEN OF HONOUR
10. THE FORTUNE HUNTERS

SEASON SEVEN 22 July – 23 September 1979
1. LIVERPOOL BOUND
2. THE HOMECOMING
3. THE PADDY WESTERS
4. DIRTY CARGO
5. TO HONOUR AND OBEY
6. RUNNING FREE
7. THE SUITOR
8. STORM CLOUDS
9. OUTWARD BOUND
10. HOMEWARD BOUND

SEASON EIGHT 31 August – 26 October 1980
1. A ROYAL RETURN
2. REVENGE
3. BLOOD TIES
4. THE HONEYMOON
5. JONAH’S LUCK
6. THE PRICE OF PRIDE
7. VENGEANCE
8. GUILTY – IN ALL INNOCENCE
9. A LONG WAY HOME