It's the mid-forties: a family stands to lose everything they have worked for, ruthlessness and deceit are in the wings as a cinema empire is born, a trap is laid, and the drama unfolds.
The Cambridge Empire follows the lives, trials and tribulations of a family who began a chain of cinemas back when the war was ending, and cinema was bringing new joy and hope to the people. It describes the rise to glory of the Cambridge family, who sold their failing farm after years of drought and hard times caused by the Great Depression, to finally be wiped out by a bushfire. With the insurance money and sale proceeds, Carleton Cambridge starts a modest business. He sets up a make-shift picture theatre in an old grain store in the growing community of Sunshine.
Although far from glamorous, the locals flocked to the new picture theatre, entertainment had arrived in Sunshine at last. Carleton, or CC as his friends called him, had great vision and plans for expansion... a new cinema on the current grain store site, and at least two other cinemas in neighbouring areas. With the war over, Seymour Cambridge, second son to Carleton Cambridge, returns from the front line and his sister, Cecilia, is being ensnared by the ruthless Godfrey Maxwell.
Hudson Cambridge, the elder son, works tirelessly in the cinema but is always outshone by his brother, whose head for figures is more favourable than Hudson's genius for the creative.
Jack Sotheby, General Manager, is determined to further himself while young Roger Rugliss struggles to overcome the ordeals and torments he faces in his poverty stricken home life.
Miss Wright-Smith is the person everyone loves to loathe, particularly the Cambridge offspring. She seems hell-bent on getting CC to sign on the dotted line of marriage contract and is constantly around, playing secretary during working hours and acting like a domestic goddess most of the other hours. CC is not interested in marrying again and her attentions do not register. His children see it very differently.
Whilst all this is unwinding, the fledgling business grows - but what goes on behind the scenes? We journey through the creation of the first grand cinema - the insidious plot that destroys the almost completed building threatening opening night, near foreclosure by the bank and heartbreaking family setbacks.
Romance blooms and turmoil prevails as this cinema empire is born.