Police Rescue
Police Rescue is an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC.[1]
| Police Rescue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Police Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz (Germany), "Noodroep" (Afrikaans – South Africa), Polizia Squadra Soccorso (Italy) Sydney Police (France) Záchranáři (Czech Republic) |
| Written by | Christopher Lee Debra Oswald Philip Cornford |
| Directed by | Peter Fisk (1989–1993) Michael Carson (1991–1993) Scott Hartford-Davis (1995–1996) |
| Starring | Gary Sweet Sonia Todd Steve Bastoni John Clayton Tammy MacIntosh Belinda Cotterill Jeremy Callaghan Doug Scroope Steve Bisley Frank Holden Marshall Napier Tim McKenzie Peter Browne Ada Nicodemou Salvatore Coco Leah Purcell |
| Composers | Martin Armiger Garry Hardman |
| Country of origin | Australia United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 61 + pilot |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Penny Chapman Kim Williams Errol Sullivan |
| Producers | John Edwards Sandra Levy |
| Production locations | New South Wales, Australia |
| Cinematography | Steve Arnold Russell Bacon Stephen Windon |
| Editor | Various |
| Running time | 50 minutes 90 minutes (pilot) |
| Production companies | Australian Broadcasting Corporation British Broadcasting Corporation Southern Star Xanadu |
| Distributor | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) |
| Audio format | Stereophonic |
| First shown in | Australia |
| Original release | 15 March 1989 – 22 November 1996 |
Apart from the 61 episodes, there was a 90-minute pilot episode (first screened in 1989) as well as a feature film in 1994, starring Zoe Carides.
The series dealt with the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad based in Sydney and their work attending to various incidents from road accidents to train crashes. The show was very well received for the first four series, however a decline in ratings by the commencement of the 1996 series saw the cancellation of the show, following an almost epitaph in the final three episodes.
Police Rescue was shown in the United Kingdom first on BBC1 and later on Sky One, in the Czech Republic as Záchranáři on TV Nova, in South Africa as "Noodroep" (dubbed in Afrikaans), in parts of Italy as Polizia Squadra Soccorso on T9, in France on TF1 as Sydney Police, in Germany on VOX as Police Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz, in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark on the United Kingdom-based TV3, and in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ.
Cast
Main
| Actor/actress | Character | Rank | Tenure | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Sweet | Steve "Mickey" McClintock | Sergeant | 1989–1996 | 01–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film |
| Sonia Todd | Georgia Rattray | Senior Constable/Sergeant | 1989-1996 | 01–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film |
| Tim McKenzie | Peter "Ridgy" Ridgeway | Senior Sergeant | 1989-1990 | 01-13 + Pilot Episode |
| John Clayton | Bill Adams | Inspector | 1989–1996 | 01–61 + Pilot Episode & Feature Film |
| Marshall Napier | Fred "Frog" Catteau | Sergeant | 1989–1992 | 01-19 + Pilot Episode |
| Peter Browne | Trevor "Sootie" Coledale | Constable | 1989–1990 | 01-14 + Pilot Episode |
| Doug Scroope | Percy "Ptomaine" Warren | Constable | 1989-1993 | 01-32 + Pilot Episode |
| Steve Bastoni | Yiannis "Angel" Angelopoulos | Constable/Senior Constable | 1990-1996 | 01-61 + Feature Film |
| Steve Bisley | Kevin "Nipper" Harris | Senior Sergeant | 1992-1995 | 14-42 |
| Belinda Cotterill | Sharyn Elliott | 1992–1994, 1996 | 14-39, 53-61 + Feature Film | |
| Tammy MacIntosh | Kathy Orland | Constable | 1992-1995 | 14-52 + Feature Film |
| Jeremy Callaghan | Brian Morley | Constable | 1992-1995 | 19-52 + Feature Film |
| Ada Nicodemou | Anastasia Skouras | 1994-1995 | 40-52 | |
| Frank Holden | Glenn "Spider" Webb | Senior Sergeant | 1994-1996 | 43-61 |
| Zoe Carides | Lorrie "Flash" Gordon | Constable | 1994 | Feature Film Only |
| Salvatore Coco | Joe Cardillo | Constable | 1996 | 53-61 |
| Leah Purcell | Tracy Davis | Constable | 1996 | 53-61 |
Recurring minor cast
| Actor/actress | Character | Rank | Tenure | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerry Armstrong | Des McClintock | Mickey Ex-Wife | 1990-1991 | |
| Deborah Kennedy | Bronwyn Catteau | 1990-1992 | ||
| Debbie Byrne | Maria Mellick | 1990-1992 | ||
| Harold Hopkins | Tony Fuller (NARC detective) | 1990-1992 | ||
| Gia Carides | Helena Angelopoulos | 1992-1993 | ||
| Lani John Tupu | David Goldberg | 1992 | ||
| Daniel Rigney | Constable Lohmeier | Constable | 1993 |
Episodes
Pilot movie
In mid-1989, Southern Star Xanadu broadcast the pilot episode of Police Rescue via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The 90-minute telemovie established the background of the protagonist of the series, Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock. Several issues were raised in the pilot, such as women's discrimination, sexism and street violence. The plot evolved around the entrance of the first woman member to the Police Rescue Squad, Constable Georgia Rattray and then the search for a missing boy in Sydney's sewer system.[2]
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Pilot | "Rescue" | 15 March 1989 | |
| The 90-minute telemovie established the background of the protagonist of the series, Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock. Several issues were raised in the pilot, such as women's discrimination, sexism and street violence. The plot evolved around the entrance of the first woman member to the Police Rescue Squad, Constable Georgia Rattray and then the search for a missing boy in Sydney's sewer system. | ||||
Season 1 (1991)
The telemovie was well received and spawned the series of Police Rescue, which carried on shortly after the pilot.
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Mates" | 14 February 1991 | |
| A highly successful businessman who threatens suicide, makes Mickey realize how lucky he really is. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Angel After Hours" | 21 February 1991 | |
| A visiting psychologist learns to respect the RESCUE team when he joins them for a rugged night shift and angel is forced to share his family crisis with Mickey. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "LPG" | 28 February 1991 | |
| LPG A liquid petroleum gas tanker crashes with another vehicle trapping one driver and his young son, as the tankers are parted for rescue to begin its noticed that there are chlorine pellets on the floor which if they get wet will have cause a thermal explosion. To make matters worse a LPG plant is just down the road the whole area is cordoned of as rescue set about extracting the driver and his son. Meanwhile back at base, one of the team struggles with past addictions due to the death of his beloved pet dog. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Cosmic Lightbeam" | 7 March 1991 | |
| A lock-out, a break-in, and a police trainee spell trouble for 'Mickey'. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Mad Dog" | 14 March 1991 | |
| A prison guard strike leads to the male members of the squad being sent to substitute and an escape. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Saturday Night" | 21 March 1991 | |
| On a fishing trip Ridgy gets washed ashore while trying to rescue another man from drowning. | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "Reunion with Snake" | 28 March 1991 | |
| Two boys gets chemical burns after playing in a tunnel. | ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Raid" | 11 April 1991 | |
| While 'Mickey' and 'Angel' are in competition for the new hire's attention, the squad is tasked to work with Special Operations to go after a gangster for murder. | ||||
| 9 | 9 | "One for Dad" | 18 April 1991 | |
| Mickey and Frog spends a long night in a swamp while looking for a missing girl. | ||||
| 10 | 10 | "Hostage" | 25 April 1991 | |
| Mickey and Georgia get caught up in a shoot out by a bank robber who has taken a hostage. | ||||
| 11 | 11 | "Up a Tree" | 2 May 1991 | |
| Animal rescue to riot control – a typical day for the Police Rescue Squad,,,or is it? | ||||
| 12 | 12 | "Saving the Princess" | 16 May 1991 | |
| Mickey stands by Georgia when she makes an unpopular decision on an MVA call. | ||||
| 13 | 13 | "By the Book" | 13 June 1991 | |
| The squad gets called out to free a man trapped during a building demolition but end up finding Romeo and Juliet. | ||||
Season 2 (1992)
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | "The Right Stuff" | 3 September 1992 | |
| Constable Tom 'Bomber' Young (Russell Crowe), a footy hero, joins the squad with disastrous results. | ||||
| 2 | 15 | "Off the Track" | 10 September 1992 | |
| When a car and commuter train collide, it's an emotionally and physically draining shift for the entire squad. | ||||
| 3 | 16 | "The Hard Way" | 17 September 1992 | |
| Georgia finds a car crash involving a couple suspicious and wonder if the woman tried to kill her husband. | ||||
| 4 | 17 | "The Big Canary" | 24 September 1992 | |
| Fraud Squad Head Superintendent Tony Daniels, ask Bill Adams if Rescue can guard a Dr Baldwin - in a secret operation. Mickey's the man for the job. | ||||
| 5 | 18 | "Judgement Day" | 1 October 1992 | |
| Frog seems to be running out of luck: first while trying to save a girl in a demolished building, then when a man wipe out his whole family and finally climbing down a cliff to rescue a boy. | ||||
| 6 | 19 | "Stakeout" | 15 October 1992 | |
| When on an assignment with a crashed truck, Mickey and Georgia unintentionally disturb a drug squad shakeout. | ||||
| 7 | 20 | "Sugar" | 22 October 1992 | |
| After the death of Kathy's brother, she is maybe to quickly back at work and struggles to deal with handling a car crash and an accident at a sugar refinery. | ||||
| 8 | 21 | "With a Vengeance" | 29 October 1992 | |
| The team is searching for a small missing airplane and finds it hanging on a ledge with two young men trapped inside. | ||||
| 9 | 22 | "Reasons to Live" | 8 November 1992 | |
| Mickey and Angel rescue prominent artist, Lew Campbell, who has been trapped in his studio by a gas explosion. His wife, Holly, and their two young daughters have escaped unhurt. | ||||
| 10 | 23 | "From This Day Forward" | 15 November 1992 | |
| At the pub where Angel is having his bucks night, Nipper runs into an old contact, Johnny Blackett, who's just been released from a six-year jail sentence. There's obviously bad blood between them. | ||||
| 11 | 24 | "Angel's Devils" | 22 November 1992 | |
| Angel is having martial problems. When he sees Helena getting out of a sportscar outside her office then kissing the driver goodbye, Angel suspects that she is having an affair. | ||||
| 12 | 25 | "The Real Meaning" | 26 November 1992 | |
| Mickey baulks when Paramedic Tricia Mellick, tells him she is going to abseil down a skyscraper to help him rescue an unconscious man caught on a gantry between the 34th and 33rd floor. | ||||
| 13 | 26 | "Heartbeat" | 3 December 1992 | |
| Georgina is struggling with wedding planning. When the team is sent into a cave to rescue archaeologists caught in a flood, Mickey suddenly vanishes. | ||||
Season 3 (1993)
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | "Lifeline" | 10 June 1993 | |
| A girl calls the rescue team telling she is locked up in a room but she don't know where. A race against time begins for the team to find the girl before her father does. | ||||
| 2 | 28 | "Wild Goose Chase" | 17 June 1993 | |
| Georgina has cancelled her wedding. The team is searching for a missing man but it feels like a wild goose chase. | ||||
| 3 | 29 | "On a Roll" | 24 June 1993 | |
| Angel's getting hooked on horse race gambling. | ||||
| 4 | 30 | "Prodigal Daughter" | 4 July 1993 | |
| ... | ||||
| 5 | 31 | "The Loaded Boy" | 8 July 1993 | |
| A truck with chemical waste crashes and a can with the possible deadly material goes missing. | ||||
| 6 | 32 | "Good Buddy" | 15 July 1993 | |
| Brian becomes friends with one of Nippers old mates, private investigater Temple, who isn't who he seems to be. | ||||
| 7 | 33 | "Rush Hour" | 22 July 1993 | |
| Brian gets challenged with his phobia, when the rescue squad has to search for missing persons in the subway tunnels. | ||||
| 8 | 34 | "Speeding" | 29 July 1993 | |
| Mickey gets worried about his son after a car with drugged teenagers crashes. | ||||
| 9 | 35 | "Lift Sixteen" | 5 August 1993 | |
| Nipper gets stuck in an elevator that breaks down due to an earthquake. | ||||
| 10 | 36 | "Whirlwind" | 19 August 1993 | |
| Kathy gets a little too involved with an adrenalin junkie. | ||||
| 11 | 37 | "Cold Snap" | 26 August 1993 | |
| Angel's had enough of the rivalry between Mickey and him. After a big row with Mickey, he leaves Police Rescue. He is transferred to Special Operations. 2 Youngsters are stuck on a cliff. One of them is rescued by Georgia by helicopter. Mickey stays with the other one till the chopper returns for them to pick them up. They wait for hours and hours. The weather conditions get worse. The helicopter cannot fly anymore because there is too much fog. It is impossible for Mickey to climb down, because the other guy is too badly injured. The only way to get out of there is ... | ||||
| 12 | 38 | "Double Illusion" | 2 September 1993 | |
| A man lying at the base of a cliff leads Mickey to pursue two crooked detectives. | ||||
| 13 | 39 | "The Last to Know" | 8 September 1993 | |
| Mickey has anger management issues after his father has a heart attack. | ||||
Feature Film and TV Special
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Police Rescue: In Action" | 9 March 1994 | |
| special hosted by John Edwards and Sandra Levy that aired to promote the series and 1994 Feature Film. It featured interviews with cast members, Gary Sweet, Sonia Todd, Steve Bastoni and Zoe Carides | ||||
| Movie | Movie | "Rescue" | 17 March 1994 (Cinema Release) | |
| Constable Laurie Gordon transfers from the Drugs Squad to Sydney's elite Police Rescue squad after her partner and lover is killed when a raid goes wrong. When allegations of corruption follow her to Rescue, Gordon must fight to regain the vital trust of the squad and Sgt. 'Mickey' McClintock. This trust is tested when a gunman takes a teacher and kids hostage at a child care centre, and the Rescue Squad is called in to assist. | ||||
Season 4 (1995)
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | "On the Outer" | 27 April 1995 | |
| Brian is struggling with fitting in and ends up in a couple of dangerous situations. | ||||
| 2 | 41 | "Conduct Endangering Life" | 4 May 1995 | |
| A bank robbery goes wrong and Nippers wife ends up as a hostage. | ||||
| 3 | 42 | "Wrong Side of the Road" | 11 May 1995 | |
| By chance Mickey and Nipper are first on site when a bus is found crashed on the side of a mountain road which makes the rescue of the passengers more difficult. | ||||
| 4 | 43 | "Something's Got to Give" | 18 May 1995 | |
| Senior sergeant Webb's first day on the job isn't without difficulties. Nor for Georgia who hoped for the promotion after Nipper left. | ||||
| 5 | 44 | "Guardian Angel" | 25 May 1995 | |
| While having problems with his love life, Angel finds relief in taking a young boy under his wing. | ||||
| 6 | 45 | "Double Jeopardy" | 1 June 1995 | |
| A gas explosion leaves people trapped in the basement of a building. The rescue squad attempt gets even more difficult and dangerous with poisonous fumes and the risk of another explosion. | ||||
| 7 | 46 | "Crossing the Line" | 8 June 1995 | |
| Georgina tries to help a woman with drug problems and her two young children. | ||||
| 8 | 47 | "Damage Control" | 15 June 1995 | |
| Kathy has a hard time dealing with a drying man's last words spoken to her in belief she is his wife. | ||||
| 9 | 48 | "Public Mischief" | 22 June 1995 | |
| Mickey gets hooked up with a couple living life dangerous as base jumpers, while Georgia looks into a factory with a little too many work accidents. | ||||
| 10 | 49 | "Breaking Strain" | 29 June 1995 | |
| Angel tries to help his old friend, a tow truck driver. | ||||
| 11 | 50 | "The Sharp End" | 6 July 1995 | |
| When a demolition team gets ready to take down a building, something goes wrong and they get trapped in a really dangerous situation. | ||||
| 12 | 51 | "Rescue Me" | 13 July 1995 | |
| Angel has difficulties coping with his hated father's death. Meanwhile Georgia tries to help a friend and her daughter after they were hurt in a gas explosion. | ||||
| 13 | 52 | "Wild Card" | 20 July 1995 | |
| A cold blooded killer blames Mickey for the death of his brother and wants revenge. | ||||
Season 5 (1996)
| Number in series |
Number in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 53 | "The Ultimate" | 20 September 1996 | |
| The rescue squads three new recruits gets tested to the limit while performing a rescue on a skyscraper. | ||||
| 2 | 54 | "Nobby's Place" | 27 September 1996 | |
| An old man keeps fishing in a dangerous place and Mickey soon loses his patience. | ||||
| 3 | 55 | "The Getting of Wisdom" | 4 October 1996 | |
| Joe, the new guy, rescues a woman with psychological problems and gets a little too involved with her. | ||||
| 4 | 56 | "The River" | 11 October 1996 | |
| Errol and his son Robbie, both big fans of flying, crash into the wilderness. During the search for the victims, Angel falls down into the ravine. The rest of the squad immediately start looking for him. But when it gets too dark, they have to go back to base camp and wait till the next day. They have no other choice than to leave him behind. | ||||
| 5 | 57 | "The Ship" | 18 October 1996 | |
| An apparent accidental explosion on a ship turns to an act of terrorism putting Police Rescue in grave danger. | ||||
| 6 | 58 | "Flash the Descent" | 25 October 1996 | |
| The team is sent out to rescue a couple of climbers stuck on a mountain wall. | ||||
| 7 | 59 | "The Holliman Kid" | 1 November 1996 | |
| When a little girl disappear every one wonders what happened to her. Meanwhile Georgia learn she's pregnant. | ||||
| 8 | 60 | "Tomorrow Never Knows" | 8 November 1996 | |
| When Angels younger brother gets killed in a car accident, Angel takes his anger out on the drunk driver, who caused the crash. | ||||
| 9 | 61 | "The Only Constant" | 22 November 1996 | |
| The team race against time to rescue two little girls trapped in a storm drain which is quickly filling up with water. Meanwhile Angel's taking his leave and Georgia is pondering to do the same. | ||||
Home Media
Between 1993-1994 Village Roadshow Released Selected Episodes on VHS.
In 1994 CIC-TAFT Video Released Police Rescue (The Movie) on VHS.
The First Police Rescue DVD Release was in November 2006 With Season One Released. The Following year Warner Vision Released Seasons 2 and 2 in April 2007 and In July 2007 the Final Seasons 4 and 5 were Released.
The Second Police Rescue DVD Release was in November 2017 with Via Vision Entertainment Re-Releasing Police Rescue as a Complete Boxset (Seasons 1-5 + Pilot Movie)
As Of 27 May 2019 - Police Rescue: The Movie (1994) is still not available on DVD.
As Of 21 July 2019 - Police Rescue: In Action is still not available on DVD.
In July 2019, the Seven Network released the complete first season and second season of Police Rescue via video on demand on 7plus.[3]
VHS Releases
| Title | Format | Ep # | Tapes | Region (Australia) | Special Features | Distributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mates and Hostages | VHS | Series 1,
Episode 1&10 |
01 | 1993 | None | Village Roadshow |
| Mad Dog and By The Book | VHS | Series 1,
Episode 5&13 |
01 | - | None | Village Roadshow |
| Judgement Day and Reasons to Live | VHS | Series 2,
Episodes 5&9 |
01 | - | None | Village Roadshow |
| Police Rescue: The Movie | VHS | Film | 01 | 1994 | None | CIC-TAFT Home Video |
DVD Releases
| Title | Format | Ep # | Discs/Tapes | Region 4 (Australia) | Special Features | Distributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Rescue: Season One | DVD | 13 | 4 | 26 November 2006 | 90-minute pilot episode | Warner Vision |
| Police Rescue: Season Two | DVD | 13 | 4 | 9 April 2007 | None | Warner Vision |
| Police Rescue: Season Three | DVD | 13 | 4 | 9 April 2007 | None | Warner Vision |
| Police Rescue: Season Four (Part 1) | DVD | 11 | 3 | 9 July 2007 | None | Warner Vision |
| Police Rescue: Season Four (Part 2) | DVD | 11 | 3 | 9 July 2007 | None | Warner Vision |
| Police Rescue: The Complete Collection | DVD | 61 | 18 | 22 November 2017 | 90-minute pilot episode | Via Vision Entertainment |
Online Streaming
Police Rescue is currently streaming on multiple streaming around the world.
7 plus Australia - Streaming Police Rescue Seasons 01-05.
10 play Australia - Streaming Police Rescue Season 01-05.
Amazon Prime - Streaming Police Rescue Seasons 01-05.
| Title | Format | Episodes # | Broadcast | Streaming Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature Length Pilot | Streaming | Pilot | N/A | Not Available |
| Police Rescue (Season 01) | Streaming | Episodes 13 | 7 plus (Australia)
10 play (Australia) Amazon prime (Worldwide) |
Currently Streaming |
| Police Rescue (Season 02) | Streaming | Episodes 13 | 7 plus (Australia)
10 play (Australia) Amazon prime (Worldwide) |
Currently Streaming |
| Police Rescue (Season 03) | Streaming | Episodes 13 | 7 plus (Australia)
10 play (Australia) Amazon prime (Worldwide) |
Currently Streaming |
| Police Rescue (Season 04) | Streaming | Episodes 22 | 7 plus (Australia)
10 play (Australia) |
Currently Streaming |
| Police Rescue: The Movie | Streaming | Film | N/A | Not Available |
| Police Rescue: In Action | Streaming | Special | N/A | Not Available |
Police Rescue Collectables
| Title | Format | Content # | Australia Release | Bonus Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Rescue 1 | Book | Based On Series 1, Episodes 1,4 &5 | 1992 | None |
| Police Rescue 2 | Book | 1993 | TBA | |
| Police Rescue: Omnibus- Edition | Book | 1993 | Cast Photo | |
| Police Rescue: Souvenir Special | Book | Behind the Scenes | 1993 | Cast Posters and Cast Photos. |
| Police Rescue: The Movie | Book | Based on the Feature Film | 1994 | TBA |
| Police Rescue: Trading Card | Trading Card | Featuring Gary Sweet | N/A | None |
References
- "Police Rescue – By the Book". AustralianScreen.com.au.
- Ed. Scott Murray, "Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995", Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p130.
- "Police Rescue". 7plus. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
External links
- Police Rescue at IMDb
- Police Rescue at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Police Rescue – "By the Book" at Australian Screen Online
- Police Rescue – "Mates" at Australian Screen Online
- Police Rescue: The Film at Oz Movies
- Rescue Bahawalpur – "By urdu Wikipedia" at Pakistan Screen Online
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.