The all-film Grundy Television Production of 'Taurus Rising' went on air for the first time in Australia in July 1982. Described as "a sort of Australian 'Dynasty'", Alan Cassell argued from the outset, "'Taurus Rising' sets a standard (all-film) and if it fails we will go back to the previous standard which really wasn't good enough. But if this keeps going, before long the other stuff won't be acceptable." Reg Watson of Grundy's added, "Everything is getting a better look all over the world and we just have to keep up with it. It's a question of cost always, but standards have improved immensely in the past 7 to 8 years (since say 1976) and there is now greater expertise available."
Lynton Taylor of the Nine network told Richard Coleman of 'Fairfax Media' at the time, 'Taurus Rising' was an exceptional project because 'Taurus Rising' was possibly the first Australian project commissioned outside a network (channel Nine) from one group of people (Michael Pate who conceived 'Taurus Rising' in 1979 and Tony Morphett wrote the first drafts) and then developed by another (Reg Watson of Grundy Organization).
Richard Coleman continued, "The concept was to have a quality drama about 2 feuding family dynasties (the rich and powerful Drysdales and the Brents), divided by business rivalries and failed romances, united by their mutual hatred for each other."
From January 1981, in discussion with Lynton Taylor "the original concept changed into something approaching its present (in July 1982) form, with added emphasis on commercial appeal."
In October 1981, Michael Pate and the Nine network "came to an agreement that 'Taurus Rising' should be produced by an established production house and the project was handed over to Reg Watson, Grundy's senior vice-president of drama." A pilot costed some $500,000 to film was shown to the network in January 1982. Channel Nine was said liked 'Taurus Rising' and ordered 20 episodes from the Grundy Organization. The 20 hours costed $2 million to produce.
Up against another Grundy's series, 'Prisoner' on Tuesday nights, the expensive 'Taurus Rising' attracted low ratings. The premiere 2-hour episode peaked at 14 points, compared to 'A Country Practice' (27) or '60 Minutes' (32). Annette Andre remarked, "In England, you don't work to ratings in the early days of a show. I just can't understand the reaction here (in Australia) and I think it's bad of the Australian public which is normally very patriotic and nationalistic. If they don’t support the program how can it do well?"
Set in Point Piper, Sydney, amidst the Lear Jet, Rolls Royce and mansion, producer Philip East pointed out, "The appeal of 'Taurus Rising' is that it covers every echelon of Australian society from the working class to the filthy rich and although it is about wealth it is not about to make people want to be wealthy. It won't make people feel jealous."
Barbara Hooks reported, "In the series' 6th episode, the Drysdales 'move house'. Early film was shot at the luxurious home of a Sydney family but the complexities of a location 2 hours out of Sydney coupled with the fact that the owners wished to take up residence there again, meant that the screen family had to be found a new home. Their new and opulent estate is, on the outside, Old Government House at Parramatta. Inside, it is a series of interlocking sets which took 4 months to design and build at the old Bijou Theatre in Balmain."
Annette Andre acknowledged, "'Taurus' compares terribly well to anything being done overseas. Money has been lavished on it and everyone here has worked flat out to get it off the ground. 'Taurus' is quality television. It has upgraded the industry." Philip East was matter-of-fact, "A big television name can bring an audience but if you start off with 'new' people they will become identified with the program and the network. Acting experience and performance are also the keys to the show."
Reviewer Garrie Hutchinson made the observation, "Everyone knows a rose is a rose, but what is the rose at the beginning of 'Taurus Rising'? It's fresh at first, then placed in an old book, and pressed. Another hand opens the book and perhaps the rose gives off a faint perfume. Then it bursts into flames! Sins? Old sins that live on in the blood of the rich. Old sins that come back to haunt from father unto son, unto the next generation.
"Or through the female line, sins being passed down without any sexism whatsoever. But whose sins? The revealing titles give way to the actual name of the show - 'Taurus Rising'. What this means exactly is a bit mysterious at first. It's only later that we might discover that it is a big building. Presumably there is also some astrological significance in it as well. This big building is the precursor of more big buildings, and the building of it is the subject of the business rivalry between the 2 families. It is between these 2 aspects of oldish money that the bad blood, fate reaching down the generations, lust and romance exist."
Alan Cassell did not model Ben Drysdale after J.R. Ewing or Blake Carrington but "I do know someone who fits this character – I used to work for him – and if he reads this he will know. He doesn't care about being disliked. You have to admire him for that because it's a singlemindedness which gets bridges built and sky-scrapers off the ground. Without people like him we'd all sit around growing brown rice and knitting shawls."
Apart from the high quality production, Reg Watson made the point, "Another difference is that there are a lot of people in 'Taurus' who are not very nice at all. Normally you go for one good heavy (such as J.R. on 'Dallas' or Alexis on 'Dynasty'). Here we have a group of them. But we have approached them in such a way that after a few episodes people might begin to understand why they are not nice.
"And then there was the cost, which has been mind-boggling and goes on and on. But while we have aimed at quality, we have also emphasized entertainment, because that's what it's all about. There's no point in having long boardroom arguments which will impress very few people because the average viewer will use them to make a cup of tea. When you have a very expensive series like this one that you want a lot of people to look at, you have to touch every nerve there is – and I think we've done that."
Of being shown against 'Prisoner', Reg Watson told Brian Courtis of 'The Age', "It is a unique situation for me. Very difficult. We have no jurisdiction over how the networks schedule programs and the only way to deal with it is by giving as much to one program ('Prisoner') as the other ('Taurus Rising'). To be honest, when there are discussions about 'Prisoner' I cannot afford to let 'Taurus' cross my mind at all. And it is the same with 'Taurus'; when you're concentrating on that, you don't worry about the other. I'm the only one who moves from one program to another, trying to give all. I can to each of them. It becomes a question of switching your mind onto whatever you are working on and giving it all you've got. Obviously I have a tremendous loyalty to 'Prisoner' and I'm very proud of the achievements made on the show."
"Or through the female line, sins being passed down without any sexism whatsoever. But whose sins? The revealing titles give way to the actual name of the show - 'Taurus Rising'. What this means exactly is a bit mysterious at first. It's only later that we might discover that it is a big building. Presumably there is also some astrological significance in it as well. This big building is the precursor of more big buildings, and the building of it is the subject of the business rivalry between the 2 families. It is between these 2 aspects of oldish money that the bad blood, fate reaching down the generations, lust and romance exist."
Alan Cassell did not model Ben Drysdale after J.R. Ewing or Blake Carrington but "I do know someone who fits this character – I used to work for him – and if he reads this he will know. He doesn't care about being disliked. You have to admire him for that because it's a singlemindedness which gets bridges built and sky-scrapers off the ground. Without people like him we'd all sit around growing brown rice and knitting shawls."
Apart from the high quality production, Reg Watson made the point, "Another difference is that there are a lot of people in 'Taurus' who are not very nice at all. Normally you go for one good heavy (such as J.R. on 'Dallas' or Alexis on 'Dynasty'). Here we have a group of them. But we have approached them in such a way that after a few episodes people might begin to understand why they are not nice.
"And then there was the cost, which has been mind-boggling and goes on and on. But while we have aimed at quality, we have also emphasized entertainment, because that's what it's all about. There's no point in having long boardroom arguments which will impress very few people because the average viewer will use them to make a cup of tea. When you have a very expensive series like this one that you want a lot of people to look at, you have to touch every nerve there is – and I think we've done that."
Of being shown against 'Prisoner', Reg Watson told Brian Courtis of 'The Age', "It is a unique situation for me. Very difficult. We have no jurisdiction over how the networks schedule programs and the only way to deal with it is by giving as much to one program ('Prisoner') as the other ('Taurus Rising'). To be honest, when there are discussions about 'Prisoner' I cannot afford to let 'Taurus' cross my mind at all. And it is the same with 'Taurus'; when you're concentrating on that, you don't worry about the other. I'm the only one who moves from one program to another, trying to give all. I can to each of them. It becomes a question of switching your mind onto whatever you are working on and giving it all you've got. Obviously I have a tremendous loyalty to 'Prisoner' and I'm very proud of the achievements made on the show."
