The Fire-Raiser

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The Fire-Raiser
Also known asThe Undercover Gang
Written byMaurice Gee
Directed byPeter Sharp
Starring
ComposerTerry Gray
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes5
Production
ProducerGinette McDonald
EditorPaul Sutorius
Running time25 minutes (102 minutes)
Original release
NetworkTVNZ 2
Release24 August (1986-08-24)[1] –
21 September 1986 (1986-09-21)

The Fire-Raiser is a 1986 New Zealand television series.[2] It was written by Maurice Gee and directed by Peter Sharp. Set in 1915 in the small town of Jessop it featured four children who suspect a local farmer of being an arsonist.[3] The 5 episode series was later recut as a telemovie.[4] The telemovie was further cut down and released with the title The Undercover Gang.[5]

Dancer Jon Trimmer, who was playing the farmer Edgar Marwick, had his jaw broken during a fight scene. The jaw had to be wired shut for six weeks so the production team had work around that, using a mask and careful lighting to hid his minimal jaw movement.[6]

The Fire-Raiser was based in part on historical events and people from Nelson that were detailed in Gee's non-fiction book Nelson Central School: A History, with the fictional town of Jessop standing in for Nelson.[7]

Cast

  • Jon Trimmer as Edgar Marwick
  • Elizabeth Moody as Mrs. Marwick
  • Peter Hayden as Clippy Hedges
  • Miles Murphy as Phil Miller
  • Alix Chapman as Kitty Wix
  • Darryl Beattie as Noel Wix
  • Emma Vere-Jones as Irene Chalmers
  • Donna Akersten as Frau Stauffel
  • Anne Budd as Mrs. Bolton
  • Gerald Bryan as Mr. Wix
  • Jane Waddell as Mrs. Wix
  • David Cameron as Mr. Chalmers
  • Helen Moulder as Mrs. Chalmers
  • Edward Campbell as Sergeant McCaa

Episodes

  1. The Red Balaclava
  2. Chalmers Warehouse
  3. Kitty Plays the Piano
  4. Britannia Meets the Kaiser
  5. The White Lady

Awards

1987 GOFTA Awards[8]

  • Best Drama Series
  • Best Children’s Programme: "The Red Balaclava" (episode one)
  • Best Director: Peter Sharp
  • Best Writer - Drama: Maurice Gee, for "The Red Balaclava"

References

  1. "Television and radio", The Press, 23 August 1986
  2. "[feature]", NZ Listener, p. 19, 23 August 1986
  3. Baker, Margaret (23 August 1986), "Eerie images add spark to latest N.Z. 'kidult' series", The Press
  4. The Fire-Raiser, NZ on Screen
  5. Malone, Peter, Undercover Gang, The, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
  6. Sharp, Peter (17 April 2024), The Filming The Fire-Raiser - Broken Bones and Swimming Holes, NZ on Screen
  7. van Rij, Vivien (11 October 2012), "Historical Material in Maurice Gee's The Fire-Raiser", Kōtare: New Zealand Notes & Queries
  8. "Topp Twins score treble in G.O.F.T.A. awards", The Press, 17 July 1987