Over the last few years a selection of classic Crawford Productions series – including Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Skyways, Carson’s Law and Holiday Island – have been screened in late-night timeslots on regional network WIN, which has owned the Crawfords business since the late 1980s.
Recently, Crawfords Australia (as it is now) have started to release episodes of other series on DVD.
The Flying Doctors, based on a fictional adaptation of the real-life Royal Flying Doctor Service, began as a mini-series on the Nine Network in 1985 – with a cast led by Andrew McFarlane (The Sullivans) and US actress Lorna Patterson – and its popularity led to production of an ongoing weekly series from 1986 with a mix of cast members from the original mini-series and the addition of new characters to sustain an ongoing production. (Among those joining McFarlane in the ongoing series were Liz Burch and Rebecca Gibney, pictured above)
The series gave the Nine Network one of its few drama successes in the ’80s, among a string of failures such as Starting Out, Taurus Rising, Waterloo Station, Possession, Prime Time, All The Way and Kings.Â
The Flying Doctors was a success in Australia and overseas and ran until 1992. The series was relaunched as RFDS in 1993. RFDS, which featured few of the Flying Doctors cast and shifted the focus of the show from the fictional town of Coopers Crossing to the real-life town of Broken Hill, failed to catch on with viewers and was not extended beyond its first series.
Crawfords Australia have recently released a DVD box set featuring 234 episodes of the series. The Crawfords website does not mention if this also includes the initial 1985 mini-series and/or the RFDS spin-off.
The 48-disc box set is certainly one of the largest DVD releases in Australia but is still a far cry from the long-running Australian series Prisoner which has just had all 692 episodes re-released in a 174-disc set – believed to be the largest DVD release in the world.
And another Crawfords series is also getting a new life on DVD. The Sullivans was the highly-acclaimed series depicting the life of a Melbourne family during the time of World War II. The series debuted on the Nine Network in November 1976 and was an immediate success. The Sullivan family was led by Dave (Paul Cronin, formerly from previous Crawford dramas Matlock Police and Solo One) and Grace (Lorraine Bayly) with daughter Kitty (Susan Hannaford) and sons John (Andrew McFarlane), Terry (Richard Morgan) and Tom (Steven Tandy). The Sullivans was a hit in Australia, winning a swag of awards, and sold to 20 countries. Even though World War II ended in the series in 1981 the show continued to depict life in post-War Melbourne.
Bayly had left the series in 1979 but production of The Sullivans wound up after Cronin decided to leave in 1982. After 1114 episodes The Sullivans came to an emotional end on screen in early 1983.
To coincide with the 35th anniversary of the show’s debut Crawfords Australia released the first 50 episodes of The Sullivans on DVD before Christmas and are planning to release the next 50 episodes this year.
Both The Flying Doctors and The Sullivans DVDs are available via the Crawfords Australia website.
107 thoughts on “Crawfords classics on DVD”
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Crawfords Australia is recently putting Homicide on DVD and the first volume will be released in few months.
where’s cop shop coming on dvd?
i love to own that on dvd.
let me know when it comes out on dvd,
I have plenty of episodes of this great show.
Just wondering how many episodes after the first 150 you have?
leigh Wilson I see you have some season of cop shop if I could get some of them janet mccall
Hi all why can’t all these classics be sold in Sanity and Big W and jbhifi? I personally would love all of these. But $69 for one volume o Hunter? Please can we see these out on the shelves instead being bought online
Cheers
Cop Shop has been released by Crawford up to Volume 12 (episode # 310). This is of July 2020.
There are about another 9 DVD volumes (26 episodes each) planned for release in later years.
is the tv show cop shop coming out on DVD it would be good to see again
She want need order The Sullivan’s vol 7 Seasons 2Quantity1 DVD . I let know about DVD number 7 to ?
are crawford production bring out cop shop on DVD it was a very good show in it time
I would like to ask if Fields of fire may be available on DVD
Thea,
While I am not aware specifically of Fields Of Fire on DVD an increasing number of classic and current television programs are being retrieved from the archives and being released on DVD – check your local or online DVD retailer.
Really hoping The last of the Australians will be released soon.
I reckon this was the funniest show on tv.
Alwyn Kurts and Rosie Sturgess were brilliant !!!
We just enjoyed 26 episodes of Carson’s law. How do we get the rest please.
I’m not aware of any further releases but suggest you keep an eye on the Crawfords website for any updates.
Hi when is series 3 of Carson’s law to be released and will the whole series follow.
Hi Stan
As per previous response above, I’m not aware of any further releases but suggest you keep an eye on the Crawfords website for any updates.
So guys where to find out what classics are available and where to buy them?
Mike
Is Alice to nowhere going to be released on dvd
Crawfords haven’t decide to put Alice To Nowhere on DVD but I saw it on YouTube.
I would love to get my hands on the set of the 1970’s series
Of cop shop with paula duncan and srgt o’reily i am sure everyone
Knows what i am talking about DVD or USB will be fine
Thanks guys.
Hi Pat, I have 130 Cop Shop DVDS but missing at least 15 episodes. I taped them on Galaxy in 95/96. I have been told they will never be released on DVD.
Hi Leigh. I wondered if you would be kind enough to share the episodes of Cop Shop that you have stored? Cheers Daren
I would love to get a copy of all your cop shop episodes..
regards richard
Cop Shop has been released & is currently selling Volume 8 according to Crawford’s DVD. I haven’t collected any of the volumes as yet & I’m not 100% sure as to how many episodes there are per volume. I think it may be 26.
We recieved disc 1 of volume 8 of The Sullivan`s today to replace the faulty one & it played very good. Thanking You . Margaret
Hi just wondering if division 4 will be coming out on DVD pls let me know thanks so much
Hi Kylie
Refer to the Crawfords DVD Store webpage
hi i was wondering if u know when Matlock Police and Solo One will be released. Thanks
Can you please advise whether you are going to bring out the Matlock Police series thanks
I suggest you keep an eye on the Crawfords website for any updates.
Excellent to see homicide and division 4 released on dvd. Wouldd love to see cop shop, skyways, matlock police and class of 74 and 75e released on dvd so we can own them and watch commercial free at our leisure.
Division 4 on DVD on sale at Crawford Productions now.
where can i buy the sullivans: dvd volume 5
Hi John
Check the Crawfords DVD website
does anybody know where to order sullivans dvd season 5 and higher that will ship to Canada, crawfords online store only accepts orders from Australia and amazon uk only stocks vols. 1-4, any advice would be greatly appreciated
Seems like there is a demand for Matlock Police on DVD, dont know who owns the rights but i would love to get the series, if it takes much longer to release, all the baby boomers who enjoyed this Australian production in the 70’s may not be around to buy it.
I have watched the first 4 volumes of Homicide. I have just bought the first volume of Division 4. There are many shows that Crawford’s should release including Ryan, Matlock Police, Bluey, Silent Number, Last of the Australians, Class of 74 and 75. I would love to watch Almost Anything Goes which was filmed in Nunawading. I watched them as a kid as I lived down the road. Would be on every episode in the crowd I reckon,
Hi George,
I agree with your comments that more material should be released on DVD although some of the titles you listed are Reg Grundy Organisation productions and it seems that, now it’s part of FremantleMedia, they are not as keen to release as many classic titles.
But hopefully Crawfords will continue to bring out more titles on DVD.
Will you ever be releasing on dvd, the Hendersen kids?
Can I please get the series of Holiday Island?
Can you please tell me if you can supply sword of honor with Andrew Clarke
Thanks and regards
Trevor
Hi Trevor,
This is available from Umbrella Entertainment or check with any other DVD retailer
I am going to order 3-11 of the Sullivans is that the end of the show or is there to come,there was 1114 show but only 550 series on 1-11.
doing more reading, and DVD 11
is not the last when are you going to release the hole series I wish to buy the rest, I have 1-2
I’ve been hoping for years that Cop Shop will come out on DVD.Any chance of that happening?Also the show GP that was shown on the ABC 1989-1997?
G.P. Is owned by Roadshow who have told me that they will not be producing this onto DVD at this stage until they can find out what the cost will be due to royalties to the actors of the original series as well as costs to other people associated with the series such as the script editors, producers, directors etc.
Cop Shop and G.P would be awesome !!!
I haven’t seen COP SHOP since it’s nocturnal reruns in the 90s. Please tell me it will get the digital treatment? Great cast, characters. How long do we have to wait??
Would love to see matlock police and solo one out on dvd what are our chances of that happening
my husband has been asking for the mini series “Sword of Honour”. Is that made by Crawford Productions and if so, would it be ever available on dvd to purchase?
Thank you.
Will Crawfords be putting Cop Shop on DVD? It was the first time a police series showed the personal lives of the police. Fabulous Aussie drama starring the ever talented Peter Adams and many other great stars.
unfortunately Crawford’s have no plans to release Cop Shop at this point in time
Regards
Brett Wilson…
Just wondering if Matlock Police and Solo One are available on DVD
Hi Andrew.
Not that I am aware of but keep an eye on the Crawfords DVD website as any new releases will be announced there
Hi
Is Matlock Police going to be put out on DVD from Crawfords. I would be interested particulary the very early episodes
Cheers
Julie
Hi, would love to see Last of the Australians
On DVD or bluray
im sick to death of the crawfords dvd ads on win….ENOUGH ALREADY
Since WIN now OWNS Crawfords, I don’t think you’ll get any relief from the ads! 🙂
Hi I’m looking to purchase Matlock Police on DVD. Please email me if you have any episodes I could purchase- I can’t find it anywhere! Thanks
Cop Shop – Yes please
Skyways – Yes please
Matlock Police – Yes please
Silent Number, the Box – yes please
Holiday Island – yep, that too.
Most of these are in colour as well. The last part of Matlock was in colour. . Would be great to see the cavalcade of guest stars that appeared in these classic shows.
I just love Holiday Island. Is there anyway I’d be able to get all 80 episodes on DVD from Crawford’s.
Peter Mitchell
[email protected]
Yes I would love to see Matlock and Bluey. I have seen some on reruns but would love to see all of them that I missed as I was a bit young to watch them in the 70s. In fact any old Aussie shows I love watching. It is great to see all the actors that appeared and the scenery and just seeing that part of our era. When life was a lot simpler. Gee I wish I would have been born a few years earlier to see these classics when they were first put on TV. If only I had a time tunnel, I would go straight to the 70s.
Crawford’s will be releasing Bluey next month
Regards
Brett…
I would really love it when Skyways would be available as a DVD boxset. Please, please, please would it be possible?
Rumour has it episodes of the Box will be out on DVD.
Huge demand for Matlock Police. I reckon once all the whole series of Homicide and Division 4 is released you will see Matlock Police, Ryan and Bluey out on DVD. Hope so
I have the 1st 9 Volumes of Homicide & 1st 5 Volumes of Division 4 & Volume 1 of the BOX .
Awesome oz classic tv. I really want to see Matlock Police & Cop Shop ASAP. Bluey, Ryan i want to see also. It really is a shame that Reg Grundy will not release The Restless Years and some of those classics. We need more aussie released shows and less of the yank shows, so good on Crawfords for supporting Australian TV and actors.
As a few other people have also said, I would love Last Of The Australians to be released. DVD or Blu Ray…. even VHS would do me at this point… laser disc? Beta? CED?
I would prefer one of the formats other than Betamax or CED though, I don’t have the players for those, and I’m sure they’re not cheap these days… but I’ll take what I can get!
I don’t like crawfords much, They don’t have westerns
i really don’t understand why they don’t put these classics onto iTunes to download?the episodes and movies are just going to sit in their archives collecting dust and when they do decide to release them it will be too late as the film negatives will probably have perished.i understand it costs money to release these things but as the saying goes you need to spend money to make money!!!!
Crawfords are releasing Matlock Police in April 2015 on DVD and hopefully Bluey in he near future 🙂
I have a lot of episodes of Skyways Matlock Police Carson’s law Division 4 Homicide on video which I taped from the Win Network over the years I also have most of the Skippy episode as well which is still on the Win Network today I know Skippy was not produced by craw fords it is still great to have all these old Aussie T V shows available to watch any time
Is police rescue ever going to be available to buy on dvd?
Might be a question to ask ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm
It has been released on DVD’s. I have the full 5 seasons on DVD. Out of production now though. I have heard from Abc that it will not be re released.
I can not see you can not Bring tv show cop shop and G.P out on DVD cop shop was the best show janet mccall
I absolutely loved Holiday Island and would love to get every episode on
DVD. Do you know if Crawfords will be releasing in the near future.
Not aware of any Holiday Island release but keep an eye on the Crawfords website as new titles are gradually being released