The Dirtwater Dynasty is an epic tale spanning 50 years in the life of Richard Eastwick who moves from industrial England in the late nineteenth century to the Australian outback and attempts to carve out a dynasty for himself and his offspring.
However it would seem that hardship and tragedy beset him at every turn, you do sometimes wonder if Eastwick could possibly have any more bad luck but yes he does. Weaving is fantastic in the central role and Victoria Longley does a good job playing three different generations of the same family and the location filming is by turns gorgeous and harsh. A major epic that takes a lot of out of you emotionally but rewards you with its fantastic story.
production details
Australia / Channel 10 – Kennedy Miller / 2×180 minute episodes 2×120 minute episodes / Broadcast 1988
Writers: Tony Morphett, Michael Jenkins, John Power, Terry Hayes, John Dunigan, Alan Seymour, John Misto / Music: Garry Hardman, Brian Beamish / Design: Owen Williams / Costume: Kristian Frederikson / Producers: Terry Hayes, George Miller, Doug Mitchell / Directors: Michael Jenkins, John Power
cast
HUGO WEAVING as Richard Eastwick
VICTORIA LONGLEY as Kate & Nancy McBride
STEVE JACOBS as Josh McCall
JUDY MORRIS as Frances Eastwick
BRUCE SPENCE as Lonely Logan
DENNIS MILLER as Hasky Tarbox
HAROLD HOPKINS as Rev McBride
JENNY LEE as Mrs McBride
KRISTINA NEHM as Esmeralda
SCOTT BURGESS as Guy Westaway
ANNE LOUISE LAMBERT as Emma Tarbox
ARNA-MARIA WINCHESTER as Mrs Tarbox
