Dear John - BASF

For this classic advert, milk bottle silver caps stood in for soldier’s dog tags, and a Wellington quarry was used to recreate the Korean War. Updating a 1950s country and western tearjerker, singer Jacqui Fitzgerald provides a charming if illogical twist on the traditional ‘Dear John’ letter. The Tony Williams-directed commercial won multiple awards, and was voted Best Australasian Commercial of the 1980s. The ad's callbacks to Korean War comedy M*A*S*H* include a reference to one of the show's most beloved characters in the mail call. Read the memories of the ad's musical maestro Murray Grindlay here. 

It's interesting that Dear John, which is a rare case of a great idea and is still talked about in the US and UK, recently won best ad of the decade. It was made at the beginning of the decade, and still won best ad, which shows the 'great idea' was lost to commercials in the 80s.

– Director Tony Williams

Key Cast & Crew

Pat Cox

Producer, Production Manager

Murray Grindlay

Musical Arranger

Doug Moroney

Writer

Roger Brittenden

Writer

Ron Highfield

Production Designer

Tony Williams

Director, Producer