When American TV networks of the early ‘80s kept the viewers chilled and thrilled with action, sci-fi, and adventure shows (The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, V, etc), TV in Australia rekindled the nostalgic craving for Victorian courtship and culture. The mini-series sparking this nostalgia to flame is remembered well to the day: All the Rivers Run (1983).
Directed by George Miller and Pino Amenta, the show featured the romance and resilience in the life of a young Philadelphia Gordon – aka Delie – who survives a shipwreck and arrives in Australia to live with her Aunt Hester. Determined to make something of her life instead of pursuing early marriage, Delie can’t help fall in love with riverboat skipper Brenton Edwards. Between the adventurous boat business and misadventures of life in a new place, Delie fearlessly embraces her romantic bond with Brenton, making the audience’s heartbeat flutter.
Sigrid Thornton (Delie) and John Waters (Brenton) both secured permanent spots in the memories of ‘80s TV fans who watched the show. The countryside view along the river, the whistle of Brenton’s steam paddle boat, and the endless rows of trees banking the river channel – all created an artistic sense of place for the couple’s romance that was observant of the morals and values of the time.
Recently, as reported in New Idea, Sigrid Thornton was asked about the possibility of a reboot of the series. And she said she wouldn’t be opposed to it. For fans of the show, this may sound like a remote possibility and near impossibility to successfully recreate the chemistry the two stars enjoyed on the screen back then with today’s young actors. But if attempted, it will certainly come as acknowledgment of the show’s timeless charm and an invitation to young audiences to watch the original series for some real Australian TV magic.
About the Author
Screenwriter, editor, blogger, and reviewer Ernest Dempsey (pen name of Karim Khan), is the author of ScreenScope with Ernie, a critique of 50 movies in the sci-fi, horror, mystery, and thriller genres. He runs the movie review site Filmospheric and puts together the newsletter Filmphernalia.
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