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The True Believers

The True Believers

★ 7.0/10•1988•1h 0m•War & Politics•Drama
Similars

Award winning mini-series about the men and events that shaped Australia's post war history from 1945 1955. The series focuses on three men: Ben Chifley, Robert Menzies and H. V. "Doc" Evatt, and shows how the fabric of Australian democracy was almost wrecked by the idealism of good but troubled men.

John Lonie · Writer

Matt Carroll · Writer

Peter Fisk · Director

Bob Ellis · Writer

StatusEnded
Runtime1h 0m
LanguageEN
First Air DateJun 28, 1988

Episodes

E160m

Episode 1

Just before the end of WWII, John Curtin lays on his deathbed. Who will fill the position? Brilliant legal mind, "Doc" Evatt or unschooled train driver Ben Chifley? With an election to face in 1946, the Labor Party needs to choose wisely.

Jun 28, 1988

E260m

Episode 2

With a supposed Communist uprising in the coal industry moves are afoot to abolish the party from the Liberal side, but also to nationalise the banks from Labor. The High Court finds that nationalising the banks is not constitutional.

Jul 5, 1988

E360m

Episode 3

After Chifley wins the election, Evatt spends much time overseas and is elected third President of the United Nations. The Miners' Union gets more concessions, but wants even more. Evatt argues to the Privy Council for bank nationalisation.

Jul 12, 1988

E460m

Episode 4

Communist demands become so great even the ALP feels the need to oppose them leading to the coal miners' strike of 1949, gaoling of some union members and sending in the army to work the mines.

Jul 19, 1988

E560m

Episode 5

Menzies is now Prime Minister and starts naming alleged Communists in parliament, subjecting them to gaol and sackings. Chifley's heart is giving up the ghost, and Doc Evatt becomes acting Opposition Leader.

Jul 26, 1988

E660m

Episode 6

Menzies calls a double-dissolution over his Communist Party prohibition bill in April 1951, which he wins, but loses five seats. On 13 June 1951, Chifley dies following a heart attack in his Canberra hotel room.

Aug 2, 1988

E760m

Episode 7

Doc Evatt is elected Opposition Leader after Chifley's tragic death, but the odds are stacked against him. Menzies uses the Communist menace as a stick to beat him and milks the Petrov affair for all it's worth.

Aug 9, 1988

E860m

Episode 8

Following the Petov Affair, Evatt promises pension rises, the abolition of means tests and tax cuts. Noone believes him (even in his own party) and Menzies wins again. Disaffected Victorian ALP members split the party to form the DLP.

Aug 16, 1988

Actors

Ed Devereaux

Ed Devereaux

Ben Chifley

John Bonney

John Bonney

Robert Menzies

Simon Chilvers

Simon Chilvers

H.V. Evatt

John Derum

B.A. Santamaria

Graham Rouse

Graham Rouse

Arthur Fadden

Nick Tate

Nick Tate

Les Hayden

Gary Files

Gary Files

Fred Daly

Stuart McCreery

Allan Dalziel

Mary-Lou Stewart

Joanna Malcolm

Dorothy St. Heaps

Elizabeth Chifley

Leonie-Martin Smith

Ethel Casey

Hec Macmillan

Sir William McKell

Peter Corbett

John Dedman

Michelle Marzo

Rosalind Evatt

Paul Hunt

John Burton

Harold Hopkins

Harold Hopkins

Edgar Ross

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