View source for Ryan (TV series)

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Ryan_opening_title.jpeg
| caption            =
| runtime            = 60 minutes
| creator            = [[Crawford Productions]]
| starring           = {{plainlist|
* [[Rod Mullinar]] 
* [[Pamela Stephenson]]
* Luigi Villani
}}
| country            = Australia
| network            = [[Seven Network]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1973|5|25|df=y}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|1974|4|13|df=y}}
| num_seasons        = 1
| num_episodes       = 39
| company            = Crawford Productions
| executive_producer = Terry Stapleton
| music              = Garry Hardman
| camera             = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| related            = ''[[Homicide (Australian TV series)|Homicide]]'' 
}}

'''''Ryan''''' is an Australian adventure [[television program|television series]] screened by the [[Seven Network]] from 27 May 1973. The series was produced by [[Crawford Productions]] and had a run of 39 one-hour episodes.<ref name="Moran, Albert 1993. p 398">Moran, Albert. ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', Allen & Unwin, 1993. {{ISBN|0-642-18462-3}} p 398</ref>

==Synopsis ==
The series title relates to the character of Michael Ryan, a dashing [[private investigator]] played by [[Rod Mullinar]]. A few years prior Mullinar had briefly taken the lead role in similar Crawford's series ''[[Hunter (Australian Crawfords TV series)|Hunter]]'' (1967) in its closing episodes after the original lead actor [[Tony Ward (Australian actor)|Tony Ward]] left the show. 

Ryan's secretary Julie King was played by [[New Zealand]]-born actor [[Pamela Stephenson]], soon to leave for England and a successful television career.Some storylines were built around the character of Julie.<ref>Moran, Albert 1993. p 398</ref> Tony Angelini ([[Luigi Villani]]), a taxi driver and Ryan's regular informant and assistant was the third key player in every episode while Detective Cullen ([[Colin McEwan]]) was Ryan's main liaison with the police force.<ref name="CAT">Storey, Don. ''TV Eye - Classic Australian Television'', [http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/Ryan.htm TV Eye - Classic Australian Television]</ref> When McEwan appeared in an episode, he would be credited as one of the four main cast members.

==Production==
''Ryan'' was shot entirely on film and in colour with an eye to potential international sales. [[Hector Crawford]] told the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' that the show was 'probably the most significant breakthrough for us, and for the Australian television industry, since we first produced ''[[Homicide (Australian TV series)|Homicide]]'' eight years ago.' <ref>'Ryan, newest private eye here on Sunday' Sydney ''Sunday Sun-Herald'' 10 June 1973 p. 82</ref> An initial sale of 39 episodes to the Seven Network recouped only 55% of the series' relatively high production costs. An international sale was therefore crucial to the show's continued feasibility.<ref name="CAT"/>

Australian television was still in the process of transitioning to colour broadcasting in 1973, while key international markets were already in colour and would more readily purchase a colour series. Though many Australian series shot their interior scenes on videotape in the studio using a [[multiple-camera setup]] with only outdoor scenes shot on film, many television studios were not yet equipped with colour equipment. This meant ''Ryan'' had to be shot entirely on film. In another concession to international marketability Mullinar was instructed to play the role using a Mid-Atlantic American accent.<ref name="CAT"/>

One of Crawfords' directors, David Lee, designed a gun, in collaboration with Melbourne CIB ballistics, specifically for Mullinar to use in the show: 'a [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]] with a 4-inch barrel.'<ref>'Jamie on TV Show' Sydney "Sun-Herald" 17 September 1972 p. 128</ref>

==Broadcast==
The series premiered in May 1973, rating well in [[Brisbane]] and [[Adelaide]], but failing in the crucial [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] markets. A key reason for low ratings was the fact that the [[Nine Network]] had moved the highly popular police drama ''[[Division 4]]'' to a new night to compete with the much-hyped new series. ''Ryan'' was moved around the schedules in order to find an audience, but ratings remained mediocre. After the initial 39 episodes were in the can the ''Ryan'' crew were, in expectation of a second series, retained by Crawfords and put to work on ''[[Homicide (Australian TV series)|Homicide]]'' - whose output was increased to two episodes a week - on that show's second weekly episode. This resulted in one cross-over episode, with the ''Ryan'' regular characters appearing in an episode of ''Homicide'' with the exception of Pamela Stephenson, who had opted to leave the series during the recess.<ref name="CAT"/> Ultimately ''Ryan'' was not renewed by the Seven Network due to insufficient ratings.<ref name="CAT"/> The ''Homicide'' production reverted to one episode a week. While some of the ''Ryan'' crew were rolled into the new Crawfords serial ''[[The Box (soap opera)|The Box]]''. However, that show featured little outdoors filming so inevitably some of the ''Ryan'' crew were retrenched - the first time Crawfords had ever retrenched staff.<ref name="CAT"/>

''Ryan'' debuted in Canada in September 1975,<ref>'TV Timetable' Calgary ''Albertan'' 16 September 1975 p. 21</ref> in the US eleven days later on 27 September 1975<ref>'Monday Evening Television' Buffalo ''Evening News'', 27 September 1975 p. 54</ref> and in the UK on the 6 July 1976.<ref>'Radio and Television', London ''Daily Telegraph'' 6 July 1976 p. 27</ref>

==Cast==

===Main===
* [[Rod Mullinar]] as Michael Ryan
* [[Pamela Stephenson]] as Julie King
* Luigi Villani as Tony Angelini
* [[Colin McEwan]] as Detective Sergeant Dan Cullen

===Guests===
{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
{|class="wikitable"
! Actor
! Role
! Eps.
|-
| [[Alfred Sandor]] || Miklos / Knight || 2
|-
| [[Alister Smart]] || Colin Brown || 
|-
| [[Anne Scott-Pendlebury]] || Katrina ||
|-
| [[Anthony Hawkins]] || Adler || 1
|-
| [[Brian Moll]] || Warburton / Topley ||
|-
| [[Bruce Spence]] || Wally Scott || 1 
|-
| [[Carmen Duncan]] || Anne || 1
|-
| [[Carole Skinner]] || Jane Moore || 1
|-
| [[Cecily Polson]] || Gail Scott / Vicki || 2
|-
| [[Christine Amor]] || Jennifer || 1
|-
| [[Danny Adcock]] || Harry Fisher || 1
|-
| [[Diane Craig]] || Lacey Glen || 1 
|-
| [[Dina Mann]] || Nikki || 1
|-
| [[Elspeth Ballantyne]] || Rhoda Bitov || 1
|-
| [[Graeme Blundell]] || Flip Mitchell / Slade || 2
|-
| [[Jack Thompson (actor)|Jack Thompson]] || John Mitchell / Brian Duncan || 2
|-
| [[John Clayton (Australian actor)|John Clayton]] || Hunt / Harry || 2
|-
| [[John Stanton (actor)|John Stanton]] || Johnson || 1
|-
| [[Kate Sheil]] || Ellen Cornell || 1
|-
| [[Kevin Golsby]] || Trevor Armstrong || 1 
|-
| [[Kevin Miles]] || John Hiller ||
|-
| [[Maurie Fields]] || Bob Clark || 1
|-
| [[Michael Aitkens]] || Bernie Wood || 1
|-
| [[Norman Yemm]] || Carl Hoffman / Max Miller || 2
|-
| [[Pat Bishop]] || Elaine Duncan || 1
|-
| [[Penne Hackforth-Jones]] || Jana / Helen || 2
|-
| [[Peter Gwynne]] || Raymond Fitch || 1 
|-
| [[Roger Ward]] || Don || 1
|-
| [[Rowena Wallace]] || Kate / Sue Ogilvie / Zita / Holly Beckett || 4
|-
| [[Serge Lazareff]] || Patrick ||
|-
| [[Sheila Florance]] || Lorna Russell || 1
|-
| [[Simon Chilvers]] || Joe / Fat man / Henderson || 3 
|-
| [[Terry McDermott (actor)|Terry McDermott]] || Matt ||
|}

==Episodes==
{{Episode table|background=#841B2D|overall=5|season=5|title=20|director=18|writer=20|airdate=16||country=AUS|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Liz 
| DirectedBy = [[Simon Wincer]]
| WrittenBy = [[Morton S. Fine]]<br />Terry Stapleton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|25|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = This Little Piggy Went to Pieces
| DirectedBy = Andrew Swanson
| WrittenBy = [[Peter Schreck]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|1|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Firing Squad
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = [[Colin Eggleston]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|8|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Nut File
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = Neil Atkinson<br />Terry Stapleton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|15|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = King's Bishop to Queen Three
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = Peter Schreck
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|22|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Catalyst
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = [[Ron McLean (writer)|Ron McLean]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|29|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Death Watch
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = Phil Freedman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|7|6|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Come the Liberation
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = [[William Froug]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|7|13|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Messenger Birds
| DirectedBy = Ian Crawford<br />Andrew Swanson
| WrittenBy = James Wulf Simmonds
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|7|20|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Tribe
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Dennis Paul<br />Peter Schreck
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|7|27|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Girl with the Golden Slippers
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|8|3|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Miss Ogilvie Repents
| DirectedBy = Andrew Swanson
| WrittenBy = Dennis Paul
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|8|10|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Man with a Mission
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = James Wulf Simmonds
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|8|17|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = But When She Was Bad
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|8|24|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 14
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Moon Monkey
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = [[Everett De Roche]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|8|31|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 15
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Nobody's Perfect
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = José Luis Bayonas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|9|8|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 16
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Person or Persons Unknown
| DirectedBy = David Johnstone
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|9|15|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 17
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Fibber the Dancing Galah
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Everett De Roche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|9|22|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 18
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Hamlet's Horse
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Dennis Paul
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|9|29|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 19
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Where Thunder Sleeps
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = [[Ian Jones (author)|Ian Jones]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|10|6|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 20
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Far Away Girl
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = John Blair
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|10|13|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 21
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Hickory Dickory Dock
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = José Luis Bayonas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|10|20|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 22
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Pipeline
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = Michael Harvey
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|10|27|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 23
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Three-Legged Duck
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = Everett De Roche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|11|3|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 24
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Bag Full of Miracles
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = José Luis Bayonas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|11|10|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 25
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Giant, Giant Had a Great Fall
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Neil Atkinson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|11|17|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 26
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Way Back
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Terry Stapleton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|11|24|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 27
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Negative Proof
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = [[John Edwards (producer)|John Edwards]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|12|1|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 28
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Little Something Special
| DirectedBy = George Miller
| WrittenBy = William Froug
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|12|8|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 29
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Red Alert
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = John Blair
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|12|15|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 30
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Deep Dark Place
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|25|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 31
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Song for Julie
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = Everett De Roche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|1|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 32
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Man in Room 16
| DirectedBy = Andrew Swanson
| WrittenBy = Ian Jones
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|18|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 33
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Give Them the World
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|2|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 34
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Wild About Harry
| DirectedBy = Simon Wincer
| WrittenBy = Ian Jones
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|9|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 35
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = King Hit
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = José Luis Bayonas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|16|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 36
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Goodbye Holly Beckett
| DirectedBy = Ian Bennett
| WrittenBy = John Blair<br />Terry Stapleton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|23|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 37
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = There's Going to Be a War
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = David Boutland
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|30|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 38
| ShortSummary = 
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Altar
| DirectedBy = Gary Conway
| WrittenBy = Neil Atkinson<br />Terry Stapleton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|4|13|df=y}}
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 39
| ShortSummary = 
}}
}}

==DVD release==

The complete series was released on DVD in June 2018. It and other Crawford Productions series are available to international viewers from Eaton Films in the UK and Australia and New Zealand based buyers from Crawfords DVD. As well as the full run of 39 episodes, the DVD set includes the ''Homicide'' crossover episode "As Simple As ABZ".

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Title
! Format
! Ep #
! Discs
! Region 2 (UK)
! Region 4 (Australia)
! Special Features
! Distributors
|-
| Ryan (Complete Collection)
| DVD
| style="text-align:center;" | 39
| 10
| June 2018
| June 2018
| HOMICIDE - Episode 408 featuring Ryan
| [[Crawford Productions]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.crawfords.com.au/libary/drama/ryan.shtml ''Ryan''] at ''Crawford Productions''
* {{IMDb title|id=0165058}}
*[https://www-austlit-edu-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/austlit/page/C802536 ''Ryan''] at [[AustLit]]
*[https://www-austlit-edu-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/austlit/page/C852612 episode "Catalyst"] at [[AustLit]]

[[Category:Australian adventure television series]]
[[Category:1973 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1974 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s Australian crime television series]]
[[Category:Seven Network original programming]]
[[Category:Black-and-white Australian television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Crawford Productions]]

[[ja:私立探偵ライアン]]