House of Hancock
GenreDrama
Written by
Directed byMark Joffe
Starring
ComposerMichael Yezerski
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producers
  • Nick Murray
  • Jo Rooney
  • Andy Ryan
Producers
Production locations
CinematographyGarry Phillips
EditorMark Perry
Production companyCordell Jigsaw Productions
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release8 February (2015-02-08) –
15 February 2015 (2015-02-15)

House of Hancock is an Australian mini-series, part 1 aired on the Nine Network on 8 February 2015 and the 2nd part on 15 February.[1]

Plot

House of Hancock tells the fictionalised story of the Hancock dynasty and the bizarre love triangle that emerged between Lang, his daughter Gina, and his beautiful Filipina housekeeper Rose.

Lang and Gina are inseparable, the perfect team, and Gina is confident she will soon inherit the family business. But their relationship is rocked by a series of tumultuous events. First, Lang is furious when Gina marries a man old enough to be her father. Then Lang's beloved wife Hope dies. In an attempt to help her ailing father, Gina employs a new housekeeper to get him back on track, Rose Lacson from the Philippines, not realising this will be a decision that tears their family apart.

Lang is instantly smitten with the vivacious Rose, 37 years younger than the ageing iron ore magnate. Is it real love? Or has the housekeeper snagged the richest man in Australia? Lang and Rose quickly marry and what follows is an increasingly bitter public feud lasting two decades: filled with forbidden love, murder accusations, drug charges, illegitimate children, court cases and epic betrayal, all played out in the media, and all for Gina to retain control over the staggering Hancock family fortune.[1]

Production

Prix d'Amour, a studio version features in the TV series

On 13 February 2013, it was confirmed that a series, titled Gina, consisting of four, one-hour telemovies based on the life of mining magnate, Gina Rinehart was commissioned in a joint venture between the Nine Network, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder and Claudia Karvan's production company.[2]

In November 2013, the Nine Network confirmed that the drama had been cut to half its original size and had a new name, presenting it as a two, one-hour telemovies, titled Gina v Rose: The House of Hancock.[3]

On 13 August 2014, it was announced that Mandy McElhinney had won the titular role of Gina Rinehart, with news breaking four days later that Sam Neill and Peta Sergeant had signed on to play Lang Hancock and Rose Hancock Porteous, respectively.[3]

The telemovie is produced by Michael Cordell, Claudia Karvan and Paul Bennett.[3]

Filming for House of Hancock took place in Perth and Sydney, which began in August 2014 and wrapped six weeks later in early October 2014.[4]

Cast

Reception

The first episode aired on 8 February 2015 at 8:45 on the Nine Network,[5] against Ten's NCIS: New Orleans.[6] The Telemovie is split into two parts shown over two Sundays.

No. Title Air date Overnight ratings Consolidated ratings Total
viewers 		Ref(s)
Viewers Rank Viewers Rank
1 Part 1 8 February 2015 1,383,000 2 180,000 2 1,563,000 [7][8]
2 Part 2 15 February 2015 1,380,000 2 304,000 1 1,684,000 [9][10]

Awards and nominations

2016 Logie Awards[11] Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie House of Hancock Nominated
Most Outstanding Actress Mandy McElhinney Nominated

Controversy

Controversy over House of Hancock being defamatory has been a worry of Gina Rinehart since it premiered on the Nine Network. Rinehart has accused the show of being incorrect. Since then, Gina Rinehart has taken legal action, for which her lawyers have been contacted about this defamatory and tried to stop part 2 from airing.[12] On 24 February 2017 the Nine Network forced to release a carefully worded apology to Gina Rinehart for its inaccuracies and agreed not to release the TV series again on DVD, stream or sell it overseas.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Knox, David (31 January 2015). "Airdate: House of Hancock". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ Knox, David (13 February 2013). "Another Drama on Gina Rhinehart". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Channel 9's Gina v Rose: The House of Hancock will focus on Gina Rinehart and Rose Porteous". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Rhinehart family secrets brought to life in telemovie, Gina vs Rose". smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  5. ^ "The House of Hancock: Mandy McElhinney faces pressure of playing Gina Rinehart". 4 February 2015. Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Sunday, 8-Feb-2015". Southern Cross Media. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Sunday 8 February 2015". TV Tonight. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Timeshifted: Sunday 8 February 2015 – TV Tonight". Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Sunday 15 February 2015". TV Tonight. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Timeshifted: Sunday 15 February 2015 – TV Tonight". Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. ^ Knox, David (3 April 2016). "Logie Awards 2016: nominations". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Gina Rinehart given access to preview House of Hancock before it airs on Channel Nine - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 February 2015.
  13. ^ //"Channel Nine apologises to Gina Rinehart for House of Hancock | news.com.au". Archived 8 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine
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