I Can Jump Puddles

Infobox TV film
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name = I Can Jump Puddles


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format = Drama
runtime = 48 min.
creator = Alan Marshall (novel)
Cliff Green (writer)
Roger Simpson (writer)
director = Kevin James Dobson
Douglas Sharp
Keith Wilkes
producer = John Gauci
writer = Cliff Green
Roger Simpson
Sonia Borg
starring = Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Tony Barry
Julie Hamilton
Adam Garnett
Ann Henderson
Lesley Baker
Bruce Kerr
Brian Hannan
Olivia Brown
Clare Binney
Earl Francis
Debra Lawrance
Darren MacDonald
editing = Edward Richard Lowe
music = Kevin Hocking
budget =
country = AUS
language = English
network = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
released = June 7, 1981
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num_episodes = 9
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imdb_id = 0138505
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I Can Jump Puddles is a 1981 Australian television mini-series based on the 1955 autobiographical series of the same name by author Alan Marshall. Adapted for television by screenwriters Cliff Green and Roger Simpson, the series starred Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Adam Garnett, Tony Barry, Julie Hamilton, Ann Henderson, Lesley Baker, Olivia Brown, Debra Lawrance and Darren MacDonald.

Several prominent television actors also had supporting roles including Lisa Aldenhoven ("The Young Doctors"), Kaarin Fairfax ("Bed of Roses"), Maurie Fields ("Skyways"), Terry Gill ("Bluey"), Reg Gorman ("Fergus McPhail"), Matthew King ("Dogstar") , Julie Nihill ("Blue Heelers"), Maureen Edwards and Dennis Miller ("A Country Practice") and Jason Donovan and Cliff Ellen ("Neighbours").

A large part of supporting and minor roles also featured cameo appearances by cast members of "Prisoner Cell Block H" such as Esme Melville ("Beryl Hudson"), Peter Curtin ("Ian Mahoney"), Ian Smith ("Ted Douglas"), Christine Amor ("Jean Vernon"), Fiona Spence ("Vera Bennett"), Edward Hepple ("Sid Humphrey"), Sigrid Thornton ("Roslyn Coulson"), Leila Hayes ("Jeannie Baxter"), Sandy Gore ("Kay White"), Mary Ward ("Mum Brooks"), Anne Phelan ("Myra Desmond"). Future cast members included Billie Hammerberg ("May Collins") and Pepe Trevor ("Lexie Patterson).

Plot

Based on Alan Marshall's three-part autobiography "I Can Jump Puddles" (1955), "This is the Grass" (1962) and "In Mine Own Heart" (1963), the film tells of Marshall's childhood growing up in rural Victoria during the turn of the century. Contracting polio soon after attending school, the story retells the obstacles he faced as a child in trying to overcome his disability. As an adult, he later encounters prejudice from his debilitating disease while looking for work in Melbourne.

Cast and characters

Main characters

*Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Alan Marshall
*Tony Barry as Alan's Father
*Julie Hamilton as Alan's Mother
*Adam Garnett as Alan (Aged 11)
*Ann Henderson as Mary
*Lesley Baker as Matron
*Bruce Kerr as Dr. Robertson
*Brian Hannan as Alec
*Olivia Brown as Prostitute Maisie
*Clare Binney as Prostitute Ruby
*Earl Francis as George
*Debra Lawrence as Nurse Conrad
*Darren MacDonald as Steve

upporting characters

*Lisa Aldenhoven as Mamie
*Christine Amor as Rose
*Peter Curtin as Flagger
*Jason Donovan as Freddy
*Maureen Edwards as Mrs. Carmichael
*Cliff Ellen as Drunk
*Kaarin Fairfax as Rene
*Maurie Fields as Spruiker
*Terry Gill as Arthur
*Sandy Gore as Miss. Claws
*Reg Gorman as Arthur
*Billie Hammerberg as Mrs. Hale
*Leila Hayes as Miss. Bryce
*Edward Hepple as Tom
*Matthew King as Urger
*Esme Melville as Miss. Forbes
*Dennis Miller as Gunner
*Julie Nihill as Young woman
*Anne Phelan as Lay preacher
*Ian Smith as Mr. Slade
*Fiona Spence as Mrs. Wilson
*Elizabeth Stevenson as Night sister
*Peter Thompson as Businessman
*Sigrid Thornton as Mabel
*Pepe Trevor as Pretty girl
*Mary Ward as Mrs. Birdsworth

Reception

The series was first aired on June 7, 1981 and ran for nine episodes. It was shown again two years later before being released on dvd by Roadshow Home Entertainment in August 2005.

Awards

Adam Garnett, who played the 11-year-old Alan Marshall, won a Logie Award for Best Performance by a Juvenile in 1981.

External links

* [http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/i-can-jump-puddles/ Australian Screen: I Can Jump Puddles]
* [http://www.afc.gov.au/filmsandawards/filmdbsearch.aspx?view=title&title=ICANJU Screen Australia Searchable Film Database: I Can Jump Puddles]