Part of the ABC Classics produced in the 1980s and recorded on Video, this series is adapted from the life story of Alan Marshall in his three book autobiography: ?I can Jump Puddles?, ?This is the Grass?, and ?How Beautiful are Thy Feet?, with Aspect rate 4:3 and running time of 445 minutes.

It has scene selection available on each disc and is worth every minute it takes to watch. Starring Adam Garrett, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Tony Barry, Jason Donovan and a young Sigrid Thornton, this all Australian story traces the life of Alan Marshall to age 31. It gives his view of having Infantile Paralysis, and how he battled to overcome all the ensuing difficulties it brought, without any self-pity, or sympathy seeking, but showing great courage and true dignity.

Disc One

?Run Like the Wind? shows Alan as a youth growing up on a farm, learning to handle horses and be of some use to his father. It also tells of his hospitalization and treatment, and the confirmation of his crippling disease.

?The Weight of Air? shows him recovering and learning to use crutches and a wheelchair, and his mastery of both.

?Starlight? shows Alan keeping up with all his mates and his learning to ride again, and his refusal to be mollycoddled by his family.

Disc 2

?Crutches are Nothing? shows him going Bush with an old Bullocky, spending all his time with an old Outsider awakens his natural talents in writing and story telling.

?Bona Fide Traveller? sees Alan leave home to find work in Melbourne and he learns that not all people want to employ a cripple, even one as determined as he is.

?Getting Your Breath? sees Alan in Melbourne in some of the less savoury suburbs of the 1920s. The crowd he hangs out with provides him with material for his writing and he sells his first story

Disc 3

?Take it or Leave It? sees Alan forced to work for less than others, because of his perceived disability. He becomes easily recognized in his dealings with others and he faces several crises with his usual dignity and aplomb.

?Boots, Boots, Boots!? has Alan working part time in a factory, finding his first girl, and again meeting tragedy head on.

?Walk Into Paradise? continues the Life and Loves of Alan Marshall up to where he decided to not tell us anymore. It is a great story?well told. He could have gone into the misery of his life, and added a ?why me?? section, but he didn?t. He just got on with it.

This is not a ?poor me, I?m crippled? sad reflection on his life. It is rather how he never considered his disabilities and his need for crutches as anything more than a hindrance. His determination to keep up with everyone else was inspiring, both while he was at school and in his later life.

This series continues over three discs and covers the era from the early 1900s to the Great Depression. It has a great appeal to those of you who are into anything vaguely historical. I loved it all and would recommend it for your library.

CONCLUSION

This all Australian story traces the life of Alan Marshall to age 31. It gives his view of having Infantile Paralysis, and how he battled to overcome all the ensuing difficulties it brought, without any self-pity, or sympathy seeking, but showing great courage and true dignity. This is not a ?poor me, I?m crippled? sad reflection on his life. It is rather how he never considered his disabilities and his need for crutches as anything more than a hindrance. His determination to keep up with everyone else was inspiring, both while he was at school and in his later life.