A Town Like Alice (miniseries)

A Town Like Alice is a five-hour 1981 Australian television adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel of the same name. Produced by the Seven Network, and directed by David Stevens, it was the second major adaptation of the book.

In the United States it was shown on PBS under the Masterpiece Theatre banner, a rare non-British production to be so aired.

Cast

 * Helen Morse as Jean Paget
 * Bryan Brown as Joe Harman
 * Gordon Jackson as Noel Strachan
 * Peter Kowitz as TAA pilot
 * Arkie Whiteley as Annie
 * Maurie Fields as Al Burns
 * Lorna Lesley as Rose Sawyer
 * Lois Ramsey as Mrs Driver
 * Cecily Polson as Eileen Holland

Changes from the book
While generally faithful to the original book, there are several notable differences, the most significant right at the end.
 * In Malaya, Jean learns of the Japanese invasion while at a party, rather than while working in her Kuala Lumpur office, and evacuates by truck from there, not from a friend's house.
 * There are noticably fewer women and children who make, and survive, the walk, than the 30 and 17 respectively in the book.
 * In Kuantan, Joe is nailed to a outbuilding door, not to a tree.
 * In Willstown, after Jean dresses down the bank manager for his fly-ridden office, Joe does not tell her that the manager has ordered gallons of DDT; rather he tells Jean she is stirring up resentment in the town, and shouldn't be trying to teach the locals how to live; they argue, and each declares they no longer want to marry.
 * Receiving a letter from Jean about the apparent break-up, Noel is knocked down in the street by a taxi, but then decides to fly out to Willstown himself, taking Jean's iceskeates with him, in the hope she'll now come back to England with him.
 * Joe and Jean are married in a church (in the book, the town had no church until after Jean's several businesses), with Noel giving Jean away. At the reception, Noel toasts the bride and groom, and reads out two congratulatory telegrams from Malaya: from Sally and Derek Wilson-Hayes, and from Mrs Renee Frith. There is no explanation as to who told them of the wedding (presumably Jean has maintained contact with them both by letter).

Production
It was the most expensive Australian television series at the time. It was filmed on location in England, Malaysia and western New South Wales.

Reception
The series was a huge ratings success in Australia, getting a 49% viewing share.

Awards
The series won an International Emmy Award for drama in 1981 and won a Logie Award in the Best Single Drama or Mini Series category at the 1982 awards with Morse, Brown and Jackson winning Logies for their performances.