Paul Hogan the ANZAC
13 August 2007 by danielbowendid pual hogan star in a mini series on the bbc in the 80s about the first world war anzacs if so what was it called — Brian
Some of us Aussies recall Paul Hogan before he peaked doing with the Croc Dundee films, sold out to Hollywood, dumped the missus and ran off with a blonde. The Paul Hogan show in the early-80s (or was it the late-70s, or both?) was a total kak-fest. I have particular fondness for the Rod Stewart impersonations and for dare-devil Leo Wanker.
Since then his career has gone a bit downhill, culminating in the 2004 film with Michael Caton, Stange Bedfellows, a movie so bad that it’s not linked from Hogan’s Wikipedia page. I only saw it because they filmed it in my girlfriend’s grandparents’ house. Mind you, the gaggle of old ladies sitting behind us seemed to enjoy it.
But you were asking about the mini-series about the ANZACs. Funnily enough, it was called Anzacs, and was released in 1985, released as Anzacs: The War Down Under in some areas, which is a pretty odd title given that none of the fighting took place on Australian soil. I bet it was given that title for American sales, back when Australia was “flavour of the month”.
If you want to catch it again, apparently it was put out on VHS in the US (available via Amazon.com), though reviewers on IMDB caution against this truncated movie version, which apparently chopped five movie-length episodes of material down to only about two hours. The original is available on DVD from the ABC Shop for A$79.95, or the DVDPlaza price comparison shows prices from A$68.30. (You’ll need a DVD setup that can play Region 4 PAL discs).
(With assistance from Josh Parris)
August 14th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I would have never guessed you as someone that was fond of Leo Wanker. My partner loves the Paul Hogan Show so much that he’s like a walking, talking Hogan himself at times - I could throw a shoe at him when he sings novelty songs from back then.