The film came about through the research of Janne Dennehy, in part looking at the family Ryan left behind. It was picked up by Crawfords and the Nine Network who produced and screened the telemovie.[2] It went into production at the end of 1996.[3]
Hodson's daughter criticised the movie for its portrayal of her father, "I don't think my father was portrayed in the correct light at all. They've made him look a bit silly."[4] She said it was disappointing and disrespectful to show him as "a bit of a clown".[5]
The Last of the Ryans did poorly in the ratings where it lost over 100,00 viewers after the first 15 minutes.[6]
Peter Weiniger of The Age chose it as his pick of the week, concluding "'The Last of the Ryans' takes a while to get its rhythm, but once it outlines the various aspects - legal, political and personal - to the Ryan case, it becomes a moving and tense drama that provides a fresh perspective on a traumatic episode from our not-too-distant past."[7] Also in the Age Simon Hughes was not as positive, saying "there is something lifeless about the whole production. Like a room that has had the air sucked from it, there is an atmosphere here antithetical to the senses."[8]
