Blue Murder (miniseries)
| Blue Murder | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on |
In the Line of Fire by Darren Goodsir Neddy by Arthur Smith and Tom Noble |
| Written by | Ian David |
| Directed by | Michael Jenkins |
| Starring |
Richard Roxburgh Tony Martin Steve Bastoni |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Rod Allan |
| Running time | 198 min (in total) |
| Production company(s) | Endemol Australia (Then branded as Southern Star) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | 14 September – 21 September 1995 |
Blue Murder is a two-part Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1995 and is based on true events.
Set in the 1970s and 1980s in Sydney, the miniseries concerns the relationship between controversial former Detective Roger "the Dodger" Rogerson and notorious criminal Arthur "Neddy" Smith. Rogerson and his colleagues were accused of giving Smith a "green light" to commit crimes without Police interference, with the relationship fraying when Rogerson orders hitman Christopher "Mr. Rent-a-Kill" Flannery to murder Police Officer Michael Drury. The murder of prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp also features.
Blue Murder is narrated by the characters of Rogerson, Smith and Drury and focuses on the corruption allegations that plagued the NSW Police Force at the time. Rogerson and Smith achieved a kind of celebrity status during the Wood Royal Commission into Police corruption.
The screenplay was written by Ian David who has written extensively on the people and events featured. The miniseries was directed by Michael Jenkins and produced by Rod Allan.
Blue Murder consists of two ninety-minute episodes, which are each divided into three individual "chapters".
"Getting a Green" (Narrated by Neddy Smith)
After a botched attempt at a payroll robbery, career criminal Arthur "Neddy" Smith (Tony Martin) is arrested by the NSW Police. He is brutally interrogated by Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh), who attempts to coerce a confession from him. However, Smith maintains silence and is eventually released on the understanding that he will henceforth be operating under the paid protection of Rogerson and his colleagues. Smith initially takes on work as a bodyguard for a prominent heroin dealer, but soon takes charge of his own drug business. One of Smith’s underlings, Warren Lanfranchi (Alex Dimitriades), points his gun at a traffic policeman and pulls the trigger, although no round is discharged. Rogerson considers this a violation of the terms of their protection arrangement, and attempts to apprehend Lanfranchi, who immediately goes into hiding. Rogerson instructs Smith to locate Lanfranchi and turn him over, taking care to disarm him first. Smith convinces Lanfranchi to meet with Rogerson by reassuring him that he will face nothing worse than a verbal reprimand. Lanfranchi, however, fears that a worse fate awaits him, and he shares this fear with his girlfriend, Sallie-Anne Huckstepp (Loene Carmen). Smith delivers Lanfranchi to Rogerson, who shoots Lanfranchi dead. At the inquest, Rogerson claims that Lanfranchi had pulled a gun on him, forcing him to shoot him in self-defense. However, Huckstepp complicates the matter by appearing on television to voice her suspicion that her boyfriend was murdered by Rogerson. To redress the accusation, Rogerson convinces Smith to testify that Smith had not disarmed Lanfranchi before the meeting. Smith agrees to this, and Rogerson is consequently cleared of suspicion. Grateful for Smith’s testimony, Rogerson and his colleagues award Smith a "green light", meaning that he is permitted to commit crimes in Sydney with full police protection and, at times, assistance. This arrangement also requires that Smith occasionally act as a hit-man for Rogerson and his colleagues.
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