Two businessmen/brothers announce plans for a theme park to glorify Ballarat's goldrush past. The following morning one brother is found dead in the local baths. Doctor Blake soon realises t... Read allTwo businessmen/brothers announce plans for a theme park to glorify Ballarat's goldrush past. The following morning one brother is found dead in the local baths. Doctor Blake soon realises the death is suspicious.Two businessmen/brothers announce plans for a theme park to glorify Ballarat's goldrush past. The following morning one brother is found dead in the local baths. Doctor Blake soon realises the death is suspicious.
Photos
Robert van Mackelenberg
- Sam Seeley
- (as Robert Van MacKelenberg)
Timothy Quabba
- Constable Ned Simmons
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe theme park in California that Goldrush Park, the Wild West amusement park, is modeled after is Knott's Berry Farm, about 7 miles from Disneyland. In 1940, Walter Knott began constructing a replica Ghost Town on the property, and the first ride, the Calico Log Ride opened in 1969.
- GoofsThe show is set in the early 1960s but the camera Rose is seen using is a Nikon FM 35 mm circa 1972.
Featured review
The gold rush
'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' may not quite be among my favourite shows of all time, but it's a riveting series that keeps getting better and one of the better detective drama shows in recent years. It is always fascinating to see a mystery series from outside England and America, and 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' is one of the better examples.
Unfortunately, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' tends to be buried within daytime television scheduling, both on the BBC when first getting into it three or so years ago and on not as much watched channel (i.e. Alibi). It also tends to be aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, for me it was during sporadic periods when not needing to go into music college. The series deserves much better than that when it has consistently been one of the better shows to be aired in the early afternoon.
Season 4 got off to a very good start with "The Open Road", albeit there are far better episodes of 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' including all the episodes of the previous season. Things get even better with the season's second episode "Golden Years", not one of the best episodes either but with a lot of typically excellent qualities.
Am glad to see the back of Munro. His combative relationship with Blake did get finally more interesting in the last two episodes of the previous season, but the character with his cold fish nature never did it for me. The new superior is a far more appealing character, and while he has not quite settled fully there is a good deal of promise, there is authority but there is more warmth.
By now, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' felt like it had found its feet and had established things well by this point. Relationships and characters continue to deepen, the mysteries are even twistier and the pace has more lustre.
Like the rest of 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries', "Golden Years" is exceptionally well made. The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. It is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the episode. It is scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained.
Writing continues to be very good with the tone established very well. There is great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story is riveting, suspensefully written and you care about having it solved. The solution is not obvious nor is it too complicated, very neat without being too pat. The characters are well written and more than just stereotypes, Lucien Blake still has it in how fascinating a character he is.
Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the character suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, and seldom if ever any less. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in.
In conclusion, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Unfortunately, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' tends to be buried within daytime television scheduling, both on the BBC when first getting into it three or so years ago and on not as much watched channel (i.e. Alibi). It also tends to be aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, for me it was during sporadic periods when not needing to go into music college. The series deserves much better than that when it has consistently been one of the better shows to be aired in the early afternoon.
Season 4 got off to a very good start with "The Open Road", albeit there are far better episodes of 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' including all the episodes of the previous season. Things get even better with the season's second episode "Golden Years", not one of the best episodes either but with a lot of typically excellent qualities.
Am glad to see the back of Munro. His combative relationship with Blake did get finally more interesting in the last two episodes of the previous season, but the character with his cold fish nature never did it for me. The new superior is a far more appealing character, and while he has not quite settled fully there is a good deal of promise, there is authority but there is more warmth.
By now, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' felt like it had found its feet and had established things well by this point. Relationships and characters continue to deepen, the mysteries are even twistier and the pace has more lustre.
Like the rest of 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries', "Golden Years" is exceptionally well made. The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. It is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the episode. It is scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained.
Writing continues to be very good with the tone established very well. There is great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story is riveting, suspensefully written and you care about having it solved. The solution is not obvious nor is it too complicated, very neat without being too pat. The characters are well written and more than just stereotypes, Lucien Blake still has it in how fascinating a character he is.
Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the character suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, and seldom if ever any less. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in.
In conclusion, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 30, 2018
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime56 minutes
- Color
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content