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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Television series.
Prisoner told stories of the inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre, a women's prison. The show had its roots in the similar UK drama series Within These Walls, but presented storylines with a much harder and sometimes controversial edge, including themes such as lesbianism, murder, and drugs.
Key characters in the series included Bea Smith (aka Queen Bea), who ran things from the prisoners' side, and prison guards Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson and Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett. Other inmates included the elderly Lizzie Birdsworth and lesbian Franky Doyle.
Notes
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The series is known as Prisoner: Cell Block H outside Australia, due to the similarity of the title to that of Patrick McGoohan's television series The Prisoner.
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Award-winning and individually published episodes in this series will be included on AustLit.
Content indexing in process.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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From Boys to Men Via Cell Block H : Prisoner, Queer Identities and Productive Fan Nostalgia
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: TV Transformations and Transgressive Women : From Prisoner : Cell Block H to Wentworth 2022; -
Gothic Themes in Australian TV's Women's Prison Dramas
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: TV Transformations and Transgressive Women : From Prisoner : Cell Block H to Wentworth 2022; -
'I Want to See Rit 'Connors'. I Want to See Her Now!' The TV Series Guest Performer as Intertextual Messenger
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: TV Transformations and Transgressive Women : From Prisoner : Cell Block H to Wentworth 2022; -
Scriptwriting on the inside : The Streamlined System of Prisoner and the Collaborative Community of Wentworth
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: TV Transformations and Transgressive Women : From Prisoner : Cell Block H to Wentworth 2022; -
Repeat Offender : TV Remakes, Reboots and Revival from Prisoner to Wentworth and Beyond
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: TV Transformations and Transgressive Women : From Prisoner : Cell Block H to Wentworth 2022;
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y
Super Aussie Soaps : Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows
North Melbourne
:
Pluto Press
,
2004
Z1511282
2004
single work
criticism
The definitive history of Australian TV soaps, Super Aussie Soaps examines Australian television serials, in chronological order from 1958 to the early 2000s. Among the series presented are Bellbird, Number 96, The Sullivans, Prisoner, Sons and Daughters, Neighbours and Home and Away.
- y Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series North Ryde : Australian Film Television and Radio School , 1993 Z1511317 1993 single work criticism An in-depth history of Australian television series from 1956-1993.
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y
Australian Television : A Geneology of Great Moments
South Melbourne
:
Oxford University Press
,
2001
Z1632922
2001
single work
criticism
(taught in 1 units)
Alan McKee examines some key moments in Australian television history, drawing on extensive contemporary evidence as well as presenting detailed analysis of the programs themselves.
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Bad Girls Broke the Shackles
2009
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 16 February 2009; -
Top-Dog Bea's Back in the Clink
2012
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 4 March 2012; (p. 3)
Awards
- 1982 winner Logie Awards — Most Popular Drama Program
- 1981 winner Logie Awards — Most Popular Drama Program
- 1980 winner Logie Awards — Best New Drama