Blue Murder - Australian Miniseries 1995
May 14, 2020 10:27:13 GMT
Gene Hunt, The Saint, and 3 more like this
Post by Dirty Epic on May 14, 2020 10:27:13 GMT
Not to be confused with the dubious Caroline Quentin detective drama 
most people will be familiar with, I’ve got into and really enjoyed Blue Murder a two-part miniseries made in 1995.
Unlike few drama’s which feature real events is very much based on real-life events, in this case the activities of former and disgraced Sydney CIB Detective Sergeant Roger ‘The Dodger’ Rogerson – portrayed by Richard Roxburugh and eerily accurate and very close to Rogerson in real-life, his relationship with Sydney criminal’s like Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith (Tony Martin), the corruption that was rife throughout the NSW police and judiciary during the 1970’s/’80’s, the consequential assassination attempt on undercover Drug Squad detective, Michael "Mick" Drury (Steve Bastoni), the Sydney gang-wars of the mid 1980’s and the subsequent Royal Commissions which have uncovered much of what is shown in Blue Murder as pretty much being true.
The next section will contain spoilers.
Blue Murder is roughly two feature length episodes with three individual chapters in each episode.
Episode 1
“Getting A Green” – Narrated by ‘Neddy’ Smith (Tony Martin)
The part picks up on Neddy’s rise from knockabout crook, armed robber, pimp and rapist to a major force within Sydney’s organised crime scene. Circa 1976 Neddy while on bail commits a bungled armed robbery on a seemingly soft-target on the street. When he reports to his police station he’s taken at gunpoint by Rogerson and given a rough interrogation, bashing – with a phone book, and a choice either cop the charges for the armed robbery which will see him do serious jail time or work for/with them. Initially this is acting as a minder for a prominent heroin dealer but Neddy soon gets wise and involved in the drug trade himself, albeit with in/out stints in Long Bay jail. Neddy teams up with enforcer and perhaps considered his right hand man Graham ‘Abo’ Henry (Peter Phelps) and has made a connection with Warren Lanfranchi (Alex Dimitriades) whom he has met in Long Bay and has sort of taken under his wing. Lanfranchi is a loose cannon and is in a relationship with heroin addicted prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp (Loene Carmen). When Lanfranchi points a gun and trigger at a traffic police officer and rips off drugs from a dealer connected to Rogerson he’s what is termed ‘running hot’ and scared he asks for Neddy to arrange a meeting with Rogerson. Unarmed and taken to meet Rogerson in a deserted Sydney laneway Rogerson shoots Lanfanchi at point blank range and his SWOS team finish off the job. This triggers off a Royal Commission hearing into the Lanfanchi killing. Rogerson and his cohorts in Sydney CIB coerce Neddy to give evidence which supports Rogerson’s claim’s of self-defence. The fly in the ointment is Huckstepp. Before the meeting with Rogerson, Lanfranchi said to Huckstepp if ‘he’s not home by 5 he’s not coming home’ and Huckstepp tries to convince the media – including a prominent TV interview, and Royal Commission Lanfranchi was murdered by Rogerson. Rogerson is cleared by the Royal Commission and not only this his respected position within the NSW police see’s him strengthen his grip on things… he’s ironically received at least thirteen awards for bravery, outstanding policemanship and devotion to duty including the Peter Mitchell Trophy, the highest annual police award! Rogerson rewards Neddy for his testimony by offering him a ‘Green Light’ which enables him to pretty much commit his crimes unrestricted on the proviso he ‘doesn’t shoot a cop!’. Things seem to be working out fine for Rogerson and Neddy however trouble is on the horizon with undercover Drug Squad detective, Michael Drury.
"Hitting a Blue" – Narrated by Michael Drury (Steve Bastoni)
It’s 1981 and Drury is working undercover in Melbourne. He’s got word Alan Williams (Marcus Graham) a major player on Melbourne’s drug scene has a large quantity of heroin for sale. Using a go-between Drury arranges the buy with a cautious Williams. However the Victorian police assisting Drury with the bust bungle things and break cover before the deal is made and after a high speed pursuit Williams escapes. Drury still prepares a case in Sydney against Williams however his informants are murdered and he’s got a notice to contact Rogerson. Rogerson offers Drury a bribe not to give evidence which Drury doesn’t/won’t accept and warns Rogerson the Federal Police are hovering around and not to contact him over the matter. Drury is now isolated and his safety is now at risk.
“Brotherhood” – Narrated by Roger Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh)
Despite being exonerated by the Royal Commission Rogerson’s involvement in the Lanfanchi shooting and activities in general have cost him some prestige in the NSW police force. He’s transferred from the CIB/SWOS to Darlinghurst CID and full of hate and resentment about this Rogerson becomes more corrupt and strengthens his ties with Sydney’s organised crime scene. Christopher Dale ‘Rentakill’ Flannery (Gary Sweet) has subsequently arrived in Sydney from Melbourne and is connected to much of the Melbourne organised crime scene – including Williams. Rogerson brokers a meeting with Flannery to discuss Drury. Although present at this meeting Neddy wants no part of this and distances himself from what is being discussed – assassinating Drury. Another meeting between Rogerson, Flannery and Williams sets up Drury’s assassination. Flannery is driven – believed to be by Rogerson, to Drury’s home in Sydney’s Chatswood. Drury is in the kitchen feeding his young child when he is struck by two bullets at point blank range from Flannery.
Episode 2
"Black Angus" – Narrated by Michael Drury (Steve Bastoni)
Seriously wounded from the shooting Drury undergoes surgery in hospital. Against all odds he recovers consciousness 12 days later. The investigation into his shooting is handled by local detectives under the supervision of the acting and outgoing head of Sydney CIB, Detective Superintendent ‘Black’ Angus Macdonald (Bill Hunter). ‘Black Angus’ is a mate of Rogerson’s and when Drury alleges he was bribed not to give evidence against Williams by Rogerson and hints he may be involved in the shooting ‘Black Angus’ reacts angrily to Drury’s allegations and sticking up for Rogerson slings mud at Drury that he too is corrupt, for example ripping off drug-dealers, having affairs etc. none of which is true. Drury’s claims are at first corroborated by a fellow officer Lewis Roussos (Bogdan Koca), who had witnessed the initial contact between Drury and Rogerson, however ‘Black Angus’ dismisses and in fact Obstructs the investigation. ‘Black Angus’ is brought before the Police Commissioner (Bruce Barry) who is angry no progress is being made into the Drury shooting and that the Director of Public Prosecutions will lay bribery charges against Rogerson. A incensed Rogerson is formally charged with attempted bribery and is suspended from duty.
"The Dodger" – Narrated by Roger Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh)
The prosecution assigns Bruce Kerrison (Dennis Miller), to uncover new evidence against Rogerson. An ineffectual police officer Kerrison non the less see’s what’s going on when Roussos’s testimony has significantly changed and will not give evidence of any contact between Drury and Rogerson. Around this time Sydney’s Gangland Wars have begun with Flannery a key member and loose cannon in these shootings. Rogerson begins to doubt whether Flannery will keep silent about the Drury shooting as things get hotter and hotter and when one of Flannery’s associates Tony ‘Spaghetti’ Eustace (Marshall Napier) faces legal troubles due to his drug supply activities Eustace does a deal with Kerrison informing him Flannery was the shooter in the Drury assassination attempt. Word of this gets back to Flannery who shoots Eustace in the car park of Sydney Airport’s Hilton Hotel. Eustace doesn’t die straight away but wont inform the police of his assassin telling them to ‘F*** Off!’ before dying in hospital. Flannery meanwhile survives his own assassination attempt, thought to come from rival criminal Tom Domican (not actually depicted/shown in Blue Murder) and fuelled by cocaine and amphetamine use Flannery wants bloody revenge. This is the last thing Rogerson wants and when Flannery threatens to shoot in a pub one of Rogerson’s former mates within the Sydney CIB Detective Lyail Chandler (Richard Carter) something has to be done about Flannery. Flannery is lured to go to George Freeman’s house (again not actually shown in Blue Murder) to ‘test’ a machine pistol he has. When Flannery’s car doesn’t start he’s seen outside his apartment the Connaught building on Liverpool Street in central Sydney. A car pulls up outside which Chris gets into and by parties unknown he is shot and killed inside the car, thought to be by Rogerson or his associates. Just an aside the real-life disappearance of Flannery has numerous rumours the strongest rumour is he was taken by Rogerson to Freeman’s home and he was then killed with a machine gun by one of Freeman’s trusted associates Stan ‘The Man’ Smith. However Flannery’s body has never been found and there’s a weak rumour he may have simply disappeared and is living under a new identity. The investigation against Rogerson is gearing up. Rogerson has well-respected QC Chester Porter (John Hargreaves) on his side and the prosecution solely relies on Drury’s testimony. Chester’s strategy is to undermine Drury which is successful and Rogerson is exonerated. However Federal Investigations continue to build against Rogerson and his activities.
"Two Dogs" – Narrated by Neddy Smith (Tony Martin)
Evidence mounts against Rogerson including an ill-fated marijuana importation with former Sydney CIB colleague Detective Mal Rivers (Steve Jacobs) the walls are closing in on Rogerson. Huckstepp claims to have tapes implicating Rogerson and others in the Sydney CIB of corruption and appears on a ABC television interview with Ray Martin to promote her claims. Rogerson discussing the matter with Neddy decides Huckstepp has to go. In February 1986 Huckstepp is found drowned in Centennial Park Sydney. In Blue Murder Huckstepp is brutally assaulted by Neddy who drowns Huckstepp in in Busby Pond. In real-life Neddy was charged with Huckstepp’s murder but subsequently acquitted. Rogerson also appears on television refuting Huckstepp’s claims and his relationships with criminals like Neddy – whom he mentions, is based on gaining information only. This makes Neddy a marked man in Sydney’s crime scene and after an attempt to kill him by being rundown by a car fails, Neddy claims he’ll ‘kill Rogerson’ for naming him as his informant/‘dog’. Rogerson meets with Neddy and tells him it wasn’t him who made an attempt on his life and it was rival criminals who were after him instead with Neddy grudgingly accepts. The two reconcile and frequently have raucous anti-social drinking sessions together which taunt the Federal Police and with Neddy’s advancing Parkinson’s disease sometimes result in shocking violence – more of which later. Rogerson’s involvement in the marijuana plot and fraudulent bank accounts see him dismissed from the NSW Police. Neddy’s ‘Green Light’ is gone and after a failed armed robbery and falling out with ‘Abo’ things start tumbling down for Neddy too. After a wild and excessive drinking session Neddy and an associate get involved in a road rage incident where a truck driver is fatally stabbed – by Neddy’s associate in Blue Murder. Hiding out in a shack-type house in an industrial area of Sydney Rogerson visits Neddy and after reminisces leaves and SWOS arrest Neddy and the associate. In real life Neddy was jailed for life for this murder and subsequently given a whole life tariff when evidence of a separate murder of brothel owner Harvey Jones in the mid-‘80’s was gained whilst Neddy was in jail.
Blue Murder was made by the same writing and production team who did Scales of Justice in 1983 and again is in my opinion a very good and quality piece of Australian television. As I said earlier on Richard Roxburgh is freakily accurate in his portrayal, look and feel to the real Roger Rogerson. You can believe it’s Rogerson in Blue Murder in a similar way Eric Bana was when he portrayed Mark ‘Chopper’ Read in Chopper.
It’s not just that which has drawn me into Blue Murder. It’s simply one of the best adaptations and insights into the world of organised crime and police corruption that has been made. In 2017 Richard Roxburgh reprised his role as Rogerson in Blue Murder: Killer Cop which looks at Rogerson’s activities post Blue Murder including his brief stints in jail in the ‘90’s for fraud and contempt, his connections in the Sydney drug business with the ‘Bikies’ and well known criminal Michael ‘Mickle’ Hurley (Dan Wyllie), Rogerson’s reinvention as a media personality – he’s frequently appeared in many Australian based organised crime documentaries like Tough Nuts, Gangs of Oz and Australia’s Families of Crime etc. and the contradiction and foolishness of still being involved in organised crime and the drug business and killing drug dealer Jaimie Gao (Michael Tran) in 2014 which has seen Rogerson do the life sentence for murder he possibly should’ve served earlier in life. This was made by Channel 7 not ABC however it’s a very, very good follow up with is very faithful and true to the original and not only updates and completes the Rogerson story but validates much of what was shown in the original Blue Murder as being true too.
The thing which has drawn me to Blue Murder is time and subsequent investigations into the activities of Rogerson, Neddy Smith, Sydney CIB, Sydney’s organised crime scene and the Michael Drury shooting have pretty much been proved true and if anything the truth may be much more stranger and wilder than the fiction shown in Blue Murder. Everyone involved in Blue Murder can be proud they’ve put together a well researched, produced, written and acted piece of television which perhaps does shine a light on things we know go on but don’t want to see and perhaps like within the Metropolitan Police in the 1960’s-70’s the sense of denial and downright condemnation of anyone saying or depicting these things go on is something which interests me generally. The simple fact of the matter is it brought a fair bit of comment in Australia when it was first shown and was banned in NSW until 2000 – mainly due to legal reasons/proceedings, shows to me how good this miniseries is and it’s a shame it’s not really been shown in the UK. I think either BBC2 or Channel 4 may have shown it once in the mid/late ‘90’s but due to it’s violence and subject matter and at that time being very much out of step with drama being shown and made in the UK I think it got buried in a graveyard slot and I’ve not known of it being repeated or shown again. It certainly hasn’t been shown on digital/Sky/Cable channels in the UK.
The Sydney crime scene and gang wars were loosely covered in 2009’s Underbelly: Tale of Two Cities which was again good and something I’ve enjoyed and reviewed here. It’s good but nowhere near as good as Blue Murder here and Blue Murder is arguably the closest and most accurate drama depiction of the Sydney crime scene of the 1970’s-‘80’s, it’s gangland wars, corrupt police and drug scene that more or less I feel is as good as it gets!
I fully and wholeheartedly recommend Blue Murder to everyone on the forum. I do give a word of warning to those who like more easy going, cosy pieces of television it’s raw, uncompromising and violent (not over the top mind in my opinion) and might not be for everyone. There are uploads of Blue Murder on YouTube and Vimeo although out of respect for the forum I won’t post them here. There’s also a Region 0 DVD released in Australia I got recently which was released in 2009 which if you like what you see may be worth getting hold of. Here’s a trailer for that DVD which may give you a taste of what it’s all about.
I hope I haven’t gone on too much with this thread/review and you’ve enjoyed what I’ve written and discussed here and if you do give Blue Murder a watch I hope you enjoy it and perhaps maybe post your own thoughts on this post too.
most people will be familiar with, I’ve got into and really enjoyed Blue Murder a two-part miniseries made in 1995.Unlike few drama’s which feature real events is very much based on real-life events, in this case the activities of former and disgraced Sydney CIB Detective Sergeant Roger ‘The Dodger’ Rogerson – portrayed by Richard Roxburugh and eerily accurate and very close to Rogerson in real-life, his relationship with Sydney criminal’s like Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith (Tony Martin), the corruption that was rife throughout the NSW police and judiciary during the 1970’s/’80’s, the consequential assassination attempt on undercover Drug Squad detective, Michael "Mick" Drury (Steve Bastoni), the Sydney gang-wars of the mid 1980’s and the subsequent Royal Commissions which have uncovered much of what is shown in Blue Murder as pretty much being true.
The next section will contain spoilers.
Blue Murder is roughly two feature length episodes with three individual chapters in each episode.
Episode 1
“Getting A Green” – Narrated by ‘Neddy’ Smith (Tony Martin)
The part picks up on Neddy’s rise from knockabout crook, armed robber, pimp and rapist to a major force within Sydney’s organised crime scene. Circa 1976 Neddy while on bail commits a bungled armed robbery on a seemingly soft-target on the street. When he reports to his police station he’s taken at gunpoint by Rogerson and given a rough interrogation, bashing – with a phone book, and a choice either cop the charges for the armed robbery which will see him do serious jail time or work for/with them. Initially this is acting as a minder for a prominent heroin dealer but Neddy soon gets wise and involved in the drug trade himself, albeit with in/out stints in Long Bay jail. Neddy teams up with enforcer and perhaps considered his right hand man Graham ‘Abo’ Henry (Peter Phelps) and has made a connection with Warren Lanfranchi (Alex Dimitriades) whom he has met in Long Bay and has sort of taken under his wing. Lanfranchi is a loose cannon and is in a relationship with heroin addicted prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp (Loene Carmen). When Lanfranchi points a gun and trigger at a traffic police officer and rips off drugs from a dealer connected to Rogerson he’s what is termed ‘running hot’ and scared he asks for Neddy to arrange a meeting with Rogerson. Unarmed and taken to meet Rogerson in a deserted Sydney laneway Rogerson shoots Lanfanchi at point blank range and his SWOS team finish off the job. This triggers off a Royal Commission hearing into the Lanfanchi killing. Rogerson and his cohorts in Sydney CIB coerce Neddy to give evidence which supports Rogerson’s claim’s of self-defence. The fly in the ointment is Huckstepp. Before the meeting with Rogerson, Lanfranchi said to Huckstepp if ‘he’s not home by 5 he’s not coming home’ and Huckstepp tries to convince the media – including a prominent TV interview, and Royal Commission Lanfranchi was murdered by Rogerson. Rogerson is cleared by the Royal Commission and not only this his respected position within the NSW police see’s him strengthen his grip on things… he’s ironically received at least thirteen awards for bravery, outstanding policemanship and devotion to duty including the Peter Mitchell Trophy, the highest annual police award! Rogerson rewards Neddy for his testimony by offering him a ‘Green Light’ which enables him to pretty much commit his crimes unrestricted on the proviso he ‘doesn’t shoot a cop!’. Things seem to be working out fine for Rogerson and Neddy however trouble is on the horizon with undercover Drug Squad detective, Michael Drury.
"Hitting a Blue" – Narrated by Michael Drury (Steve Bastoni)
It’s 1981 and Drury is working undercover in Melbourne. He’s got word Alan Williams (Marcus Graham) a major player on Melbourne’s drug scene has a large quantity of heroin for sale. Using a go-between Drury arranges the buy with a cautious Williams. However the Victorian police assisting Drury with the bust bungle things and break cover before the deal is made and after a high speed pursuit Williams escapes. Drury still prepares a case in Sydney against Williams however his informants are murdered and he’s got a notice to contact Rogerson. Rogerson offers Drury a bribe not to give evidence which Drury doesn’t/won’t accept and warns Rogerson the Federal Police are hovering around and not to contact him over the matter. Drury is now isolated and his safety is now at risk.
“Brotherhood” – Narrated by Roger Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh)
Despite being exonerated by the Royal Commission Rogerson’s involvement in the Lanfanchi shooting and activities in general have cost him some prestige in the NSW police force. He’s transferred from the CIB/SWOS to Darlinghurst CID and full of hate and resentment about this Rogerson becomes more corrupt and strengthens his ties with Sydney’s organised crime scene. Christopher Dale ‘Rentakill’ Flannery (Gary Sweet) has subsequently arrived in Sydney from Melbourne and is connected to much of the Melbourne organised crime scene – including Williams. Rogerson brokers a meeting with Flannery to discuss Drury. Although present at this meeting Neddy wants no part of this and distances himself from what is being discussed – assassinating Drury. Another meeting between Rogerson, Flannery and Williams sets up Drury’s assassination. Flannery is driven – believed to be by Rogerson, to Drury’s home in Sydney’s Chatswood. Drury is in the kitchen feeding his young child when he is struck by two bullets at point blank range from Flannery.
Episode 2
"Black Angus" – Narrated by Michael Drury (Steve Bastoni)
Seriously wounded from the shooting Drury undergoes surgery in hospital. Against all odds he recovers consciousness 12 days later. The investigation into his shooting is handled by local detectives under the supervision of the acting and outgoing head of Sydney CIB, Detective Superintendent ‘Black’ Angus Macdonald (Bill Hunter). ‘Black Angus’ is a mate of Rogerson’s and when Drury alleges he was bribed not to give evidence against Williams by Rogerson and hints he may be involved in the shooting ‘Black Angus’ reacts angrily to Drury’s allegations and sticking up for Rogerson slings mud at Drury that he too is corrupt, for example ripping off drug-dealers, having affairs etc. none of which is true. Drury’s claims are at first corroborated by a fellow officer Lewis Roussos (Bogdan Koca), who had witnessed the initial contact between Drury and Rogerson, however ‘Black Angus’ dismisses and in fact Obstructs the investigation. ‘Black Angus’ is brought before the Police Commissioner (Bruce Barry) who is angry no progress is being made into the Drury shooting and that the Director of Public Prosecutions will lay bribery charges against Rogerson. A incensed Rogerson is formally charged with attempted bribery and is suspended from duty.
"The Dodger" – Narrated by Roger Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh)
The prosecution assigns Bruce Kerrison (Dennis Miller), to uncover new evidence against Rogerson. An ineffectual police officer Kerrison non the less see’s what’s going on when Roussos’s testimony has significantly changed and will not give evidence of any contact between Drury and Rogerson. Around this time Sydney’s Gangland Wars have begun with Flannery a key member and loose cannon in these shootings. Rogerson begins to doubt whether Flannery will keep silent about the Drury shooting as things get hotter and hotter and when one of Flannery’s associates Tony ‘Spaghetti’ Eustace (Marshall Napier) faces legal troubles due to his drug supply activities Eustace does a deal with Kerrison informing him Flannery was the shooter in the Drury assassination attempt. Word of this gets back to Flannery who shoots Eustace in the car park of Sydney Airport’s Hilton Hotel. Eustace doesn’t die straight away but wont inform the police of his assassin telling them to ‘F*** Off!’ before dying in hospital. Flannery meanwhile survives his own assassination attempt, thought to come from rival criminal Tom Domican (not actually depicted/shown in Blue Murder) and fuelled by cocaine and amphetamine use Flannery wants bloody revenge. This is the last thing Rogerson wants and when Flannery threatens to shoot in a pub one of Rogerson’s former mates within the Sydney CIB Detective Lyail Chandler (Richard Carter) something has to be done about Flannery. Flannery is lured to go to George Freeman’s house (again not actually shown in Blue Murder) to ‘test’ a machine pistol he has. When Flannery’s car doesn’t start he’s seen outside his apartment the Connaught building on Liverpool Street in central Sydney. A car pulls up outside which Chris gets into and by parties unknown he is shot and killed inside the car, thought to be by Rogerson or his associates. Just an aside the real-life disappearance of Flannery has numerous rumours the strongest rumour is he was taken by Rogerson to Freeman’s home and he was then killed with a machine gun by one of Freeman’s trusted associates Stan ‘The Man’ Smith. However Flannery’s body has never been found and there’s a weak rumour he may have simply disappeared and is living under a new identity. The investigation against Rogerson is gearing up. Rogerson has well-respected QC Chester Porter (John Hargreaves) on his side and the prosecution solely relies on Drury’s testimony. Chester’s strategy is to undermine Drury which is successful and Rogerson is exonerated. However Federal Investigations continue to build against Rogerson and his activities.
"Two Dogs" – Narrated by Neddy Smith (Tony Martin)
Evidence mounts against Rogerson including an ill-fated marijuana importation with former Sydney CIB colleague Detective Mal Rivers (Steve Jacobs) the walls are closing in on Rogerson. Huckstepp claims to have tapes implicating Rogerson and others in the Sydney CIB of corruption and appears on a ABC television interview with Ray Martin to promote her claims. Rogerson discussing the matter with Neddy decides Huckstepp has to go. In February 1986 Huckstepp is found drowned in Centennial Park Sydney. In Blue Murder Huckstepp is brutally assaulted by Neddy who drowns Huckstepp in in Busby Pond. In real-life Neddy was charged with Huckstepp’s murder but subsequently acquitted. Rogerson also appears on television refuting Huckstepp’s claims and his relationships with criminals like Neddy – whom he mentions, is based on gaining information only. This makes Neddy a marked man in Sydney’s crime scene and after an attempt to kill him by being rundown by a car fails, Neddy claims he’ll ‘kill Rogerson’ for naming him as his informant/‘dog’. Rogerson meets with Neddy and tells him it wasn’t him who made an attempt on his life and it was rival criminals who were after him instead with Neddy grudgingly accepts. The two reconcile and frequently have raucous anti-social drinking sessions together which taunt the Federal Police and with Neddy’s advancing Parkinson’s disease sometimes result in shocking violence – more of which later. Rogerson’s involvement in the marijuana plot and fraudulent bank accounts see him dismissed from the NSW Police. Neddy’s ‘Green Light’ is gone and after a failed armed robbery and falling out with ‘Abo’ things start tumbling down for Neddy too. After a wild and excessive drinking session Neddy and an associate get involved in a road rage incident where a truck driver is fatally stabbed – by Neddy’s associate in Blue Murder. Hiding out in a shack-type house in an industrial area of Sydney Rogerson visits Neddy and after reminisces leaves and SWOS arrest Neddy and the associate. In real life Neddy was jailed for life for this murder and subsequently given a whole life tariff when evidence of a separate murder of brothel owner Harvey Jones in the mid-‘80’s was gained whilst Neddy was in jail.
Blue Murder was made by the same writing and production team who did Scales of Justice in 1983 and again is in my opinion a very good and quality piece of Australian television. As I said earlier on Richard Roxburgh is freakily accurate in his portrayal, look and feel to the real Roger Rogerson. You can believe it’s Rogerson in Blue Murder in a similar way Eric Bana was when he portrayed Mark ‘Chopper’ Read in Chopper.
It’s not just that which has drawn me into Blue Murder. It’s simply one of the best adaptations and insights into the world of organised crime and police corruption that has been made. In 2017 Richard Roxburgh reprised his role as Rogerson in Blue Murder: Killer Cop which looks at Rogerson’s activities post Blue Murder including his brief stints in jail in the ‘90’s for fraud and contempt, his connections in the Sydney drug business with the ‘Bikies’ and well known criminal Michael ‘Mickle’ Hurley (Dan Wyllie), Rogerson’s reinvention as a media personality – he’s frequently appeared in many Australian based organised crime documentaries like Tough Nuts, Gangs of Oz and Australia’s Families of Crime etc. and the contradiction and foolishness of still being involved in organised crime and the drug business and killing drug dealer Jaimie Gao (Michael Tran) in 2014 which has seen Rogerson do the life sentence for murder he possibly should’ve served earlier in life. This was made by Channel 7 not ABC however it’s a very, very good follow up with is very faithful and true to the original and not only updates and completes the Rogerson story but validates much of what was shown in the original Blue Murder as being true too.
The thing which has drawn me to Blue Murder is time and subsequent investigations into the activities of Rogerson, Neddy Smith, Sydney CIB, Sydney’s organised crime scene and the Michael Drury shooting have pretty much been proved true and if anything the truth may be much more stranger and wilder than the fiction shown in Blue Murder. Everyone involved in Blue Murder can be proud they’ve put together a well researched, produced, written and acted piece of television which perhaps does shine a light on things we know go on but don’t want to see and perhaps like within the Metropolitan Police in the 1960’s-70’s the sense of denial and downright condemnation of anyone saying or depicting these things go on is something which interests me generally. The simple fact of the matter is it brought a fair bit of comment in Australia when it was first shown and was banned in NSW until 2000 – mainly due to legal reasons/proceedings, shows to me how good this miniseries is and it’s a shame it’s not really been shown in the UK. I think either BBC2 or Channel 4 may have shown it once in the mid/late ‘90’s but due to it’s violence and subject matter and at that time being very much out of step with drama being shown and made in the UK I think it got buried in a graveyard slot and I’ve not known of it being repeated or shown again. It certainly hasn’t been shown on digital/Sky/Cable channels in the UK.
The Sydney crime scene and gang wars were loosely covered in 2009’s Underbelly: Tale of Two Cities which was again good and something I’ve enjoyed and reviewed here. It’s good but nowhere near as good as Blue Murder here and Blue Murder is arguably the closest and most accurate drama depiction of the Sydney crime scene of the 1970’s-‘80’s, it’s gangland wars, corrupt police and drug scene that more or less I feel is as good as it gets!
I fully and wholeheartedly recommend Blue Murder to everyone on the forum. I do give a word of warning to those who like more easy going, cosy pieces of television it’s raw, uncompromising and violent (not over the top mind in my opinion) and might not be for everyone. There are uploads of Blue Murder on YouTube and Vimeo although out of respect for the forum I won’t post them here. There’s also a Region 0 DVD released in Australia I got recently which was released in 2009 which if you like what you see may be worth getting hold of. Here’s a trailer for that DVD which may give you a taste of what it’s all about.
I hope I haven’t gone on too much with this thread/review and you’ve enjoyed what I’ve written and discussed here and if you do give Blue Murder a watch I hope you enjoy it and perhaps maybe post your own thoughts on this post too.
