Captain James Cook (ABC 1987 with Keith Michell and John Gregg)

Australia / ABC – Revcom / 4×120 minute episodes / Broadcast 6-9 October 1987

Writer: Peter Yeldham / Camera: Peter Hendry / Design: Laurie Johnson / Costume: Jim Murray / Producer: Ray Alchin / Executive Producer: Geoffrey Daniels / Director: Lawrence Gordon Clark

Period drama serial. The life story of explorer Captain James Cook from his beginnings in Yorkshire, England to his mapping of of New Zealand and the East Coast of Australia, ending up with his death in Hawaii.

The serial, several years in the making began with Cook’s death and then went into flashback mode and focused on his three big voyages.

cast
KEITH MICHELL as Captain James Cook
JOHN GREGG as Joseph Banks
ERICH HALLHUBER as Lt Gore
PETER CARROLL as Solander
JACQUES PENOT as Clerke
BARRY QUINN as Lt Hicks
CAROL DRINKWATER as Elizabeth
FERNANDO REY as Hawke
STEVEN GRIVES as Gibson
EMIL MINLY as Young Nick
CHRIS CUMMINS
NOEL TREVARTHEN
LES FOXCROFT
JIM HOLT
RHYS McCONNOCHIE
DAVID WHITNEY

Head of film reviews at The Viewers Guide with an erudite, insightful, slightly sardonic, deep appreciation for classic cinema. Has a habit of quoting obscure lines from old films in everyday conversation. He keeps a meticulously organized film logbook. He's a bit of a tea snob.