Survey - Time Out

In the early 1970s Survey was a half-hour slot dedicated to short documentaries. Director Murray Reece experimented with this format with Time Out, an unscripted drama set in suburban Wellington. It featured genuine police officers investigating an invented scenario about an escapee from Miramar's Mount Crawford prison. The cast includes Blerta luminaries Geoff Murphy and David Lawrence (soon to become Bruno) playing muso Johnny O'Keefe, who returns serve on police officers in a testy interview. Lawrence's performance won him Best Actor at the 1971 Feltex Television Awards.

I don't know, where's my wife? Do you know where my wife is? 

– Johnny O'Keefe (Bruno Lawrence) teases police officers

Key Cast & Crew

Murray Reece

Director

Michael Haigh

As: Prison Supervisor

Geoff Murphy

As: Graeme Nichols

Bruno Lawrence

As: Johnny O'Keefe

Ian Johnstone

Narrator