The central character in Return To Eden is Stephanie Harper (played beautifully by Rebecca Gilling), Australia's wealthiest woman whom is a middle aged, rather niaeve and plain-looking mining magnate's daughter and mother of two. The story opens with the wedding of Stephanie Harper and the dashing Greg Marsden (James Reyne) a fading sports star. Greg, a man nearly half Stephanie's age, is blatantly just after getting his greedy hands on Stephanie's fortune.
On the wedding day an obvious attraction between Greg and Stephanie's frosty best friend Jilly Stewart (marvelously played by Wendy Hughes) is made apparent. The newly-weds invite Jilly Stewart along on their honeymoon at Stephanie's family homestead, Eden, located in the Northern terriotry. It is at Eden that the traitorous Jilly embarks upon a twisted affair with Greg, while poor Stephanie remains completely oblivious to her husbands infidelity and scheming ways.
One night, Stephanie and Jilly join Greg on a boat for a crocodile hunt. Once in a deserted spot, Greg throws Stephanie straight into the jaws of a crocodile as Jilly just simply stands by and watches her supposed best friend fight desperately for her life.
Stephanie Harper is presumed dead, but, miraculously she survives the crocodile attack (remember folks this was the 1980's) though is obviously half dead and hideously scarred. The world thinks Stephanie Harper is dead, and she spends the next six months recovering in a private clinic on a deserted island, all the while hatching a cunning plan to exact revenge on Greg and Jilly. She undergoes extensive plastic surgery that drastically changes her whole physical appearance. At the hands of the gentle plastic surgeon Dr Dan Marshall (James Smilie), Stephanie is transformed from an ugly ducking into a beautiful swan. She assumes a new identity, calling herself Tara Welles and quickly becomes one of Australia's most celebrated fashion models. Stephanie, masquerading as Tara Welles, befriends Jilly, winning her trust, and charms Greg into falling in love with her all the while continuing plotting bitter revenge on her betrayors.
Return To Eden is not least redeemed by its ludicrously over-the-top plot line by an engaging performance from its leading star, Rebecca Gilling. Rebecca Gilling is both believable and likable in her role as Stephanie Harper/Tara Welles. The transformation of Stephanie into the stunningly beautiful Tara Wellesis truly amazing thanks to a fantastic and expert make up job.
Another renowned Australian actress, Wendy Hughes, appears as the restless, bitter, Jilly Stewart. She delivers a delightfully over-the-top performance as the neurotic, needy alcoholic. Early 80s Aussie rock star, James Reyne, presumably chosen for his good looks rather than his questionable acting abilities, is quite laughable most of the time in his role as the greedy, scheming Greg Marsden. Intentionally, he literally oozes bucket loads of slime in the role, though his performance is often wooden. He is at his most hilariously over the top at the exciting and dramatic climax where he is seemingly playing the whole thing as though he were the principal villain in a pantomime. Completing the principal cast line up is James Smilie as the smooth (if occasionally too sickly sweet) Dr Dan Marshall whom Stephanie/Tara ends up having a somewhat complex affair with.
The locations used in Return To Eden are notably beautiful throughout and ranged from Sydney, Orpheus Island and Arnham Land in the Northern terriotry, and boasts magnificent cinematography courtesy of Dean Semler who later went on to win an academy award for his work on the classic film Dances With Wolves.
I really don't want to give anything away about the fun climax for those of you that have not yet watched Return To Eden but I can reveal that the conclusion is very drawn out with plenty of action and high, intense drama where Stephanie/Tara cunningly lures both Greg and Jilly back to Eden to serve up her carefully planned revenge.
Return To Eden clocks in at over four hours long and is admittedly hard to stick to in one sitting if viewing it on DVD or video. However, when watched in the three installments as shown on television it is thoroughly enjoyable. Most notably funny in Return To Eden are the hilarious fashions seen during the cat walk sequences which proceeds to make Return To Eden look all the more dated. Undoubtedly though, the fashions, as laughably over the top as they are, was the cutting edge of its time.
Produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy, they were already renowned for their work on the Australian film classic, Picnic At Hanging Rock. The screenplay was written by Michael Laurence and was directed by Karen Arthur.
That old adage "they don't make them like this anymore" applies accordingly to Return To Eden as its so blatantly a product of its time. Never the less it remains an enthralling and intense melodrama with excellent production values; evidently no expense was spared. Absolutely compulsive, Return To Eden is a worthwhile viewing experience and is recommended. Providing you don't take it too seriously and view it as a piece of very well made entertainment, you'll love it.
Ian Phillips
On the wedding day an obvious attraction between Greg and Stephanie's frosty best friend Jilly Stewart (marvelously played by Wendy Hughes) is made apparent. The newly-weds invite Jilly Stewart along on their honeymoon at Stephanie's family homestead, Eden, located in the Northern terriotry. It is at Eden that the traitorous Jilly embarks upon a twisted affair with Greg, while poor Stephanie remains completely oblivious to her husbands infidelity and scheming ways.
One night, Stephanie and Jilly join Greg on a boat for a crocodile hunt. Once in a deserted spot, Greg throws Stephanie straight into the jaws of a crocodile as Jilly just simply stands by and watches her supposed best friend fight desperately for her life.
Stephanie Harper is presumed dead, but, miraculously she survives the crocodile attack (remember folks this was the 1980's) though is obviously half dead and hideously scarred. The world thinks Stephanie Harper is dead, and she spends the next six months recovering in a private clinic on a deserted island, all the while hatching a cunning plan to exact revenge on Greg and Jilly. She undergoes extensive plastic surgery that drastically changes her whole physical appearance. At the hands of the gentle plastic surgeon Dr Dan Marshall (James Smilie), Stephanie is transformed from an ugly ducking into a beautiful swan. She assumes a new identity, calling herself Tara Welles and quickly becomes one of Australia's most celebrated fashion models. Stephanie, masquerading as Tara Welles, befriends Jilly, winning her trust, and charms Greg into falling in love with her all the while continuing plotting bitter revenge on her betrayors.
Return To Eden is not least redeemed by its ludicrously over-the-top plot line by an engaging performance from its leading star, Rebecca Gilling. Rebecca Gilling is both believable and likable in her role as Stephanie Harper/Tara Welles. The transformation of Stephanie into the stunningly beautiful Tara Wellesis truly amazing thanks to a fantastic and expert make up job.
Another renowned Australian actress, Wendy Hughes, appears as the restless, bitter, Jilly Stewart. She delivers a delightfully over-the-top performance as the neurotic, needy alcoholic. Early 80s Aussie rock star, James Reyne, presumably chosen for his good looks rather than his questionable acting abilities, is quite laughable most of the time in his role as the greedy, scheming Greg Marsden. Intentionally, he literally oozes bucket loads of slime in the role, though his performance is often wooden. He is at his most hilariously over the top at the exciting and dramatic climax where he is seemingly playing the whole thing as though he were the principal villain in a pantomime. Completing the principal cast line up is James Smilie as the smooth (if occasionally too sickly sweet) Dr Dan Marshall whom Stephanie/Tara ends up having a somewhat complex affair with.
The locations used in Return To Eden are notably beautiful throughout and ranged from Sydney, Orpheus Island and Arnham Land in the Northern terriotry, and boasts magnificent cinematography courtesy of Dean Semler who later went on to win an academy award for his work on the classic film Dances With Wolves.
I really don't want to give anything away about the fun climax for those of you that have not yet watched Return To Eden but I can reveal that the conclusion is very drawn out with plenty of action and high, intense drama where Stephanie/Tara cunningly lures both Greg and Jilly back to Eden to serve up her carefully planned revenge.
Return To Eden clocks in at over four hours long and is admittedly hard to stick to in one sitting if viewing it on DVD or video. However, when watched in the three installments as shown on television it is thoroughly enjoyable. Most notably funny in Return To Eden are the hilarious fashions seen during the cat walk sequences which proceeds to make Return To Eden look all the more dated. Undoubtedly though, the fashions, as laughably over the top as they are, was the cutting edge of its time.
Produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy, they were already renowned for their work on the Australian film classic, Picnic At Hanging Rock. The screenplay was written by Michael Laurence and was directed by Karen Arthur.
That old adage "they don't make them like this anymore" applies accordingly to Return To Eden as its so blatantly a product of its time. Never the less it remains an enthralling and intense melodrama with excellent production values; evidently no expense was spared. Absolutely compulsive, Return To Eden is a worthwhile viewing experience and is recommended. Providing you don't take it too seriously and view it as a piece of very well made entertainment, you'll love it.
Ian Phillips