Metro Australia — January 2018

108 •Metro Magazine 195 | © ATOM

LQ WKH V DQG V WKH PXFKGHULGHG o$)& >$XVWUDOLDQ )LOP

&RPPLVVLRQ@ JHQUHp RU SHULRG ĺOP WKH LQFUHDVLQJ LPSRUWDQFH DQG

invaluable contribution of key female production personnel to the

$XVWUDOLDQ IHDWXUHĺOP LQGXVWU\ DQG WKH PRGHO DQG H[DPSOH LW RI

IHUV IRU ORFDO ĺOPV DWWHPSWLQJ WR DWWUDFW LQWHUQDWLRQDOUHFRJQLWLRQ

and distribution, among various other factors.

Production and release

7KH ĺOPpV FDVW LQFOXGHV D QXPEHU RI LPSRUWDQW $XVWUDOLDQ DFWRUV

RI WKH HUD LQFOXGLQJ 'U\QDQ (ZDUW +RSNLQV 0HLOORQ 0RUULV DQG

7RQ\ %DUU\ DV ZHOO DV VHYHUDO LQWHUQDWLRQDO SHUIRUPHUV VRPHZKDW

fancifully introduced to attract unlikely and only ever lukewarm

overseas interest, like Cargill, known for his role in%@SGDQ #D@Q

%@SGDQ DQG nLJRQ D <XJRVODY DFWUHVV ,W DOVR PDUNV WKH UHWXUQ RI

RQH RI $XVWUDOLDpV PRVW VXFFHVVIXO LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWDUV 5RG 7D\ORU D

NH\ PRWLYDWLQJ IDFWRU IRU WKH ĺOPpV FRPSDUDWLYHO\ UREXVW LI SDWFK\

international screening schedule and release. Much of the writing

DQG SXEOLFLW\ DURXQG WKH ĺOP FHQWUHG RQ 7D\ORUpV KRPHFRPLQJ^1 an

emphasis that seemed somewhat out of kilter with his supporting

role as Palmer, the ironic decision to have him play an American

SDUWO\ GXH WR KLV LQDELOLW\ WR UHFRQIHFW DQ $XVWUDOLDQ DFFHQW DQG

WKH OLJKWZHLJKW DQG RQH RU DW EHVW WZRGLPHQVLRQDO QDWXUH RI KLV

characterisation. Taylor’s role also brought to the surface the per

HQQLDO FRQĻLFW EHWZHHQ WUXO\ ORFDO ĺOP SURGXFWLRQ GLVWULEXWLRQ DQG

H[KLELWLRQ DQG FRPSHWLQJPRGHOVLPSRUWHGIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV

and elsewhere.

Unlike-DVREQNMS, which potently and melancholically docu

ments the demise of Australian production interests in the 1940s

DQG V WKURXJK WKH IDWHV RI ULYDO QHZVUHHO FRPSDQLHV3GD

/HBSTQD 2GNV ,@Mprovides a markedly less nuanced and more

H[SOLFLWO\ DOOHJRULFDO SRUWUDLW RI MHUU\EXLOW EXW LQJHQLRXV ORFDO RSHUD

tions struggling to compete with more streamlined and increasingly

mechanised forms of cinema imported from overseas. Palmer is

WKH ĺUVW WR LQWURGXFH VRXQG HOHFWULĺFDWLRQ DXWRPRWLYH WUDQVSRUW

and other innovations, though, tellingly, we are never actually privy

MAIN CAST‘Pop’ PymJohnMeillonPalmerRod TaylorFreddieJohn EwartLarryHarold HopkinsFitzwilliamPatrick Cargill

Madame Cavalli-HOHQDnLJRQLucySally ConabereLouGarry McDonaldMiss LockhartJudy MorrisMrs DuncanJeanie Drynan

PolicemanTony BarryMajor LockhartDon Crosby35,1&,3$/ &5(',76Year of Release 1977 Length 98 minutes

DirectorJohn PowerScreenplayJoan Long, based on the book by Lyle PennProduction CompanyLimelight Productions

Producer Joan LongProduction ManagerSue MillikenCinematographyGeoff BurtonEditorNicholas Beauman

Art DirectionDavid CoppingCostume DesignJudith DorsmanMusicPeter Best