In 1943 twelve-year-old Rex sees his quiet New Zealand village dramatically changed by the arrival of a black American soldier on leave from the war.
Main cast:
Jackson Coop - Michael James
Rex Pascoe - Milan Borich
Bernice Pascoe - Sarah Peirse
Dawn Stewart - Louise Perry
Lee Yukich - Scott Harman
Bob Davies - Don Selwyn
Crew
Producer - Ginette Mcdonald
Writer - Maurice Gee
Director - Peter Sharp
1) The Yankee Soldier (8/10/1989)
1943, late summer in wartime New Zealand. Some US soldiers on leave are to be billeted with families in Kettle Creek. Bernice Pascoe has asked for one "a special one"...
Alf Pascoe - Alistair Douglas
Gloria Pascoe - Mereinth Braun
Bella Crombie - Jo Groser
Joan Stewart - Janice Gray
Stipan Yukich - Peter Bland
Matty Yukich - Troy Blanchette
Marv Varcoe - Peter Tait
Herb - Brian Carbee
George Perry - Sean Duffy
Miss Betts - Augusta Mcdonald
Mr Dent - Bill Johnson
Jim Whette - Luke Pivac
2) Purple Heart (15/10/1989)
"He's just a boy and he's a long way from home." Miss Betts meets her match in the Pascoes' houseguest, and Jack-son Coop finds that the mangroves stir up more memories than mud.
Alf Pascoe - Alistair Douglas
Gloria Pascoe - Mereinth Braun
Joan Stewart - Janice Gray
Miss Betts - Augusta Mcdonald
Bella Crombie - Jo Groser
Freddie Crombie - Tony Groser
Marv Varcoe - Peter Tait
Herb - Brian Carbee
George Perry - Sean Duffy
Matty Yukich - Troy Blanchette
Faye - Kelly Billing
Jim Whette - Luke Pivac
Vera - Sharmaine Cassidy
Nancy Barthill - Kim Knap
Gavin - Jade Botd
3) Gala Day (22/10/1989)
Rex learns more about Jack, Dawn learns more about her Grandma, and Jack lands in hot water.
Alf Pascoe - Alistair Douglas
Gloria Pascoe - Meredith Braun
Joan Stewart - Janice Gray
Lee Yukich - Scott Harman
Stipan Yukich - Peter Bland
Matty Yukich - Troy Blanchette
Bella Crombie - Jo Groser
Freddie Crombie - Tony Groser
Miss Betts - Augusta Mcdonald
George Perry - Sean Duffy
Mr Dent - Bill Johnson
Les - Bernie Allen
Marv Varcoe - Peter Tait
Herb - Brian Carbee
Mp - David Weatherley
4) Tiger Coop (29/10/1989)
"Alf set it up, I guess I gotta go along with it."
Alf Pascoe - Alistair Douglas
Marv Varcoe - Peter Tait
Herb - Brian Carbee
Miss Betts - Augusta Mcdonald
5) AWOL (5/11/1989)
Rommel on the run in North Africa, but how safe is Jack in Kettle Creek?
Joan Stewart - Janice Gray
Mp Riley - Bruce Tegart
Mp Barta - Jack Dacy
Stipan Yukich - Peter Bland
Matty Yukich - Troy Blanchette
Gloria Pascoe - Meredith Braun
Bella Crombie - Jo Groser
Freddie Crombie - Tony Groser
6) Rosie Goes to Sea (12/11/1989)
While the Milk Inspector gets wet, will the Rosie and her unlikely crew. make it? (Final)
Joan Stewart - Janice Gray
Alf Pascoe - Alistair Douglas
Stipan Yukich - Peter Bland
Wartime N.Z. setting for drama
Press, 5 October 1989
“The Champion,” a new, six-part, kidult drama series which starts on Sunday (6 p.m. on Two) brings together the successful team of producer Ginette McDonald, director Peter Sharp, and writer Maurice Gee, who were responsible for “The Fire-Raiser,” winner Of four 1987 G.O.F.T.A. awards.
They are hoping tb achieve a similar success with “The Champion,” which is the last film drama to be entirely produced by Television New Zealand.
Set in a small New Zealand town in 1943, “The Champion” is described by Ginette McDonald as a “maturation” story. It tells of the harrowing effects of World War II on a young black American soldier who has experienced racism and hatred. He forms an uneasy alliance with the young son of the family he is billeted with and together
they break through the barriers of racism and understanding. McDonald and Sharp are quick to point out that although wartime New Zealand initially seemed an unappealing setting for a children’s drama series, their research soon revealed that it was a colourful and exciting time.
“It seems a grittier story than recent kidults,” says McDonald, “But there’s a lot of levity in it. “There were so many laws and bylaws introduced during the war, everyone was forced to break them.”
“Everybody was on the fiddle,” adds Peter Sharp, “trying to get hold of a bit more sugar or a bit more tobacco, dreaming up ways to spin the petrol put or get some more tyres.
“Arid as far as the Americans here went, every young woman who has written anything from
that time, said what fun they had because the Americans were so polite and attentive. “One book said the florists must have made a fortune.”
Los Angeles-based actor Michael James, who has had roles in “L.A. Law,” “Who’s the Boss” and “General Hospital,” is cast as Private Jackson coop, with Auokland schoolboy Milan Borich as 12-year-old Rex.
Two other relative newcomers to television, Scott Harma and Louise Perry, play the other children central to the storyline, Leo and Dawn.
Other familiar faces in the cast include Sarah Peirse, Peter Bland and Don Selwyn.
Filming for the “The Champion” took place between February and May this year, around Auckland, in Helensville, Puhoi, and the mangrove swamps of the Mahurangi Heads inlet. Helensville became the small town of Kettle Creek in which the story is set and the designer Donald Grant Sunderland was delighted to find many buildings which still retained the character of the forties.
Another stoke of luck was the discovery of an old Australian showman who had kept a collection of merry-go-rounds, monkey shies and fairground props, all circa 1940, and in original condition
These were used for the gala which forms the background for a crucial scene in the drama.
Unlike “The Fire-Raiser,” which McDonald described as “a rattling good yarn,” “The Champion” concentrates on character development, which will give it appeal to a wider audience than the usual 10-10 kidult age group "there's less meat on the bones of this story,” she say, “but the meat is of a finer cut.”
book by Maurice Gee.
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