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You Can't See 'Round Corners is an Australian drama and military TV series that aired on the Seven Network for 26 episodes from 28 June 1967 based on the 1947 novel by Jon Cleary, updated to be set during the Vietnam War. It was directed by David Cahill and shot around Sydney in black and white, and was adapted into a film version in 1969.

Cast

Main

• Ken Shorter as Frankie McCoy
• Lyndall Barbour as Mrs. McCoy
• Rowena Wallace as Margie Harris
• Judith Fisher as Peg Clancy
• Slim De Grey as Mick Patterson

Guest cast

• Aarne Neeme as Chopper (3 episodes)
• Alister Smart
• Andrew Pappas as Dimitris (4 episodes)
• Carmen Duncan as Myra Neilson (4 episodes)
• Diana Perryman (3 episodes)
• Garry McDonald as Young Man (1 episode)
• Harold Hopkins as Soldier at dance (uncredited) (1 episode)
• John Norman as Danny (3 episodes)
• Michele Fawdon (1 episode)
• Reg Evans as Ern McCauliffe (3 episodes)
• Roger Ward as Punter (uncredited) (1 episode)
• Sheila Kennelly as Linda (1 episode)
• Tom Oliver (3 episodes)
• Valli Kemp
• Vincent Gil as Terry Howlett

Film

• Max Phipps as Keith Greyson

Production

Jim Oswin of ATN-7 asked Richard Lane if he knew of an Australian novel to adapt. Lane suggested Jon Cleary's You Can't See Round Corners which was a favourite of Lane's wife, updated to the Vietnam War. Oswin agreed. The novel was set in Paddington but Lane thought that suburb had changed so much by the 1960s he relocated it to Newtown. Lane wrote the first 17 scripts and was consultant on the last nine.

This was Rowena Wallace's first professional dramatic TV series. She was recommended by Barry Creyton who was originally going to play the role of Frankie McCoy, the role that went to Ken Shorter.

The series garnered controversy on release because of a scene where Frankie, an army deserter, runs his hand up Margie's skirt. Wallace says she had no idea Shorter was going to do this, which is why her reaction was so authentic. Many stations around Australia cut the scene.

The majority of episodes were written by Richard Lane. The theme and incidental music was composed by Tommy Tycho. Peter Weir worked on the show as a production assistant.

Reception

The show was generally well received.

See also

• List of television plays broadcast on ATN-7

References

1. "Cleary novel on CTC". The Canberra Times. 3 July 1967. p. 13. Retrieved 18 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "Australian Drama Series Before Mavis". The Age. 22 June 1967. p. 5.
3. Lane, Richard; De Berg, Hazel (1969), Richard Lane interviewed by Hazel de Berg for the Hazel de Berg collection, retrieved 1 July 2023
4. ^ Don Storey, 'Interview with Rowena Wallace', Classic Australian Television, Oct 1994
5. "Board view of TV episode challenged". The Canberra Times. 15 July 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 18 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "CINEMA 'Corners' is better than expected". The Canberra Times. 22 March 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 18 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

• You Can't See 'Round Corners (TV series) at IMDb
• You Can't See 'Round Corners (TV series) at National Film and Sound Archive
• You Can't See 'Round Corners TV series at AustLit

• Seven Network original programming
• 1960s Australian drama television series
• 1967 Australian television series debuts
• 1967 Australian television series endings
• Black-and-white Australian television shows
• Works by Richard Lane
• 1960s Australian mini-series