A Town Like Alice

After the Japanese invasion of Malaya, a group of British women and children are forced to march for months between villages under Japanese guard. Along the way, Jean Paget forms a bond with an Australian POW truck driver, Joe Harman, who helps them at great personal risk. The story follows their wartime hardship and postwar reunion.

The miniseries is based on Nevil Shute's novel, inspired by a real forced march of Dutch women internees in Sumatra. Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942 saw harsh treatment of European civilians and POWs alike, with some interned groups relocated on foot between camps.

Shute based the march on a real account but transposed and fictionalized events and characters for the novel and adaptation.

Directed by David Stevens

Cast: Helen Morse, Bryan Brown, Gordon Jackson

Positioned at 1942–1945 within the World War II phase of the war, as part of the Japanese occupation of Malaya. This is entry 61 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Malaya occupation
• forced march
• civilian internment
• Nevil Shute
• Australian POW

• 

  Paradise Road

  1942–1945

• 

  Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

  1942–1944

• 

  The Railway Man

  1942–1943

• 

  The Bridge on the River Kwai

  1942–1943

• 

  Bataan

  Early 1942

• 

  The Ascent

  Winter 1942