Introduction

Sword of Honour is an Australian miniseries made in 1986 and aired on Channel Seven. The series starred Andrew Clarke, Tracy Mann and Alan Fletcher.

The series was about two young men who are trying to get over the horrors of the Vietnam War.

Refer to Sword of Honour (1939) and Sword of Honour (2001).

Outline

Capturing the spirit of the age and the turmoil of the times, Sword of Honour tells the heartbreaking story of a nation at war, the soldiers who left their families to fight, the social upheaval and the emotionally perilous journey back home. At 21, Tony Lawrence (Andrew Clarke) won the Military College’s Sword of Honour. At 22 he was fighting in the Vietnam War with his best friend and brother in law, Frank Vittorio (Alan Fletcher), just as the conflict began to escalate. The horrors and carnage of the war leave an indelible impression on the two young men – ripping them apart from their families, girlfriends and country. Back home after the devastation of the battlefields, both men try to cope with life in their own way.

Cast

• Andrew Clarke … Tony Lawrence.
• Tracy Mann … Esse Rogers.
• Nikki Coghill … Vivienne.
• Andrew Sharp … Joe.
• Linda Newton … Marg.
• Wyn Roberts … Arthur Lawrence.
• Margaret Ford … Grandma Lawrence.
• Paul Hampton … Rod Lawrence.
• Julia Blake … Jean Rogers.
• Alan Hopgood … Stuart Rogers.
• Peter Browne … Mo Wiley.
• Doug Bowles … Slatts.
• Mark Mitchell … Sgt. Olsen.
• Geoff Parry … Major Sincock.
• Alan Fletcher … Frank Vittorio.
• Alan Knoepfler … Jimmy.
• Nique Needles … Santa.
• Pauline Chan … Tam.
• George Mallaby … Colonel Curtis.

Trivia

• Andrew Clarke won best actor in a miniseries, and Tracy Mann won best actress in a miniseries in the Logies.
• It had a budget of A$5 million.
• Principal photography was completed on 18 October 1985 with second unit shot after that in Port Macquarie and Thailand.
• Sword of Honour was released by Umbrella Entertainment on DVD in March 2012 and online on 02 August 2017.

Sword of Honour Series

• Episode 01.
• Episode 02.
• Episode 03.
• Episode 04.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Pino Amenta … (2 episodes, 1986).
  • Catherine Millar … (1 episode, 1986).
• Producer(s):
  • Brian Burgess … associate producer (3 episodes, 1986).
  • Roger Le Mesurier … producer (3 episodes, 1986).
• Writer(s):
  • Tom Hegarty … (2 episodes, 1986).
  • Peter A. Kinloch … (written by) (2 episodes, 1986).
  • Kathy Mueller … (3 episodes, 1986).
  • Agi Schreck … (additional material) (4 episodes, 1986).
  • Peter Schreck … (additional material) (4 episodes, 1986).
  • Roger Simpson … (3 episodes, 1986).
• Music:
  • Greg Sneddon … (unknown episodes).
• Cinematography:
  • David Connell … (unknown episodes).
• Editor(s):
  • Philip Reid … (4 episodes, 1986).
• Production:
  • Simpson Le Mesurier Films.
  • Film Victoria (produced with the assistance of).
  • The Australian Film Commission (produced with the assistance of).
• Distributor(s):
  • 7 Network (1986) (Australia) (TV).
  • Roadshow Home Video (1988) (Australia) (video) (under the “Premiere Home Entertainment” label).
  • Star Video (1987) (Greece) (VHS).
  • Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (all media).
• Release Date: 26 October 1986.
• Running time: 4 x 100 minutes (120 minutes with adverts).
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: Australia.
• Language: English.

Video Link