Series

Watch The Cowra Breakout (1985) Online

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7.02 votes19852hEnded

Synopsis

In August 1944, 1104 Japanese prisoners of war at the Australian POW camp at Cowra stage a mass breakout. Four guards are killed in the escape, and 231 prisoners die by wounds sustained or suicide, while 334 prisoners are recaptured over the subsequent nine days.

Episodes

Season 1

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1. Episode OneNow viewing1985-04-162hCorporal Stan Davidson (Alan David Lee) is still recovering from his war injury when he’s posted to the prisoner of war (POW) camp at Cowra. He assumes he’ll be guarding Italian prisoners. The camp has a relaxed feel about it and Italian POWs march past him singing on their way to work. Major Horden explains to Stan that the camp is run according to the Geneva Convention, the list of rules drawn up by the international community to govern the way prisoners of war are to be treated. It comes as a huge shock to Stan to discover that the camp also holds Japanese POWs and that he’s been assigned to guard them.
2. Episode Two1985-04-172hAt the Cowra POW camp, another 100 Japanese prisoners have arrived and pour scorn on their compatriots for having accepted their prison status without a fight to the death for the honour of their Emperor and their families. They stage a revolt and the young Lieutenant McDonald (Andrew Lloyde) is about to open fire on the prisoners when Major Hordern (Simon Chilvers) intervenes and is able to disarm the situation so that the 15 defiant Japanese soldiers are undermined and brought under control. The clip ends on the Japanese leader in the camp, Komatsu (Kazuhiri Muroyama), clearly disturbed by the rebellion.
3. Episode Three1985-04-222hStan has been placed in charge of security in the Japanese compound. His friend, Hayashi (Junichi Ishada) begs him to try to reverse the order to move some of the prisoners to another location. Stan desperately tries to understand what Hayashi seems to be saying – that a Japanese soldier should do everything in his power to be killed rather than bring shame on his family by being held in captivity. When Stan asks Hayashi what he will do, he replies simply, 'I am Japanese’.
4. Episode 41985-04-232h

Cast

Top Billed Cast

Alan David Lee
Stan Davidson
Tracy Mann
Sally Murphy
Dennis Miller
Mick Murphy
Paul Smith
Bob Davidson

Availability

Where To Watch Legally

No legal streaming, rental or purchase options for The Cowra Breakout were reported for this region.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Cowra Breakout available to watch online?

Vidbox does not currently have a legal streaming, rental or purchase option on record for The Cowra Breakout in this region.

How many seasons does The Cowra Breakout have?

The Cowra Breakout has 1 season and 4 episodes.

When did The Cowra Breakout first air?

The Cowra Breakout first aired in 1985.

Is The Cowra Breakout still running?

The Cowra Breakout's status on TMDB is: Ended.