You Can’t See ’round Corners – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 7 (Australia)
26 x 30 minute episodes

Based on a 1947 novel by Jon Cleary and adapted and serialised for television by Richard Lane, this gritty drama series from Australia’s Seven Network followed Frankie McCoy (Ken Shorter), who is conscripted into the army, decides to go AWOL rather than be sent to Vietnam, and becomes a deserter and illegal SP bookmaker.

Filmed in the working-class inner-city suburb of Newtown, the series launched the career of 19-year-old Brisbane actress Rowena Wallace, who played Frankie’s girlfriend, Margie.

When Margie leaves him, and Frankie finds himself in debt to some local criminals, he drifts into the arms of the sexually liberated – but deeply neurotic – Myra (Carmen Duncan), with disastrous results when he accidentally kills her in a blazing row.

Much of the action revolved around a Newtown pub known as Patto’s – named after the publican Mick Patterson (Slim DeGrey) – which was the regular haunt of Frankie, Peeper (David Copping) and the Glebe gang.

The show was hugely popular but raised a furore in some circles because of its uncompromising approach to moral issues.

The Australian Broadcasting Control Board made a particular fuss about a fumbled skirt-lifting in a scene of attempted seduction in a park in the opening episode, which apparently distressed “responsible viewers”.

Following the success of the television series, a colour feature film version was released in 1969, with the same principal cast and director (David Cahill).

Frankie McCoy
Ken Shorter
Margie Harris
Rowena Wallace
Mick ‘Patto’ Patterson
Slim DeGrey
Vi Patterson
Audrey Teesdale
Mrs McCoy
Lyndall Barbour
Jack Kelly
John Armstrong
Peg Clancy
Derani Scarr
Dimitris
Andrew Pappas
Myra Neilson
Carmen Duncan
Ern McCauliffe
Reg Evans
Danny
John Norman
Chopper
Aarne Neeme
Gerry Dooley
Sandy Harbutt
Peeper
David Copping
Terry Howlett
Vincent Gil
Fred
Tina Cornioley
Nugget
Lou Vernon
Karen
Helen Morse
Lisa
Darlene Johnson
Linda
Sheila Kennelly
Young Man
Garry McDonald
Landlady
Mary McKay
Smacker
Les Asmussen
Julian
Sean Myers
Sergeant Quinn
Peter Aanensen
Peter
Henri Szeps

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