End Play
| End Play | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ken Goodlet |
| Cinematography | Robin Copping |
| Edited by | David Bilcock |
| Music by | Peter Best |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Roadshow |
Release date |
|
Running time | 114 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$294,000[1] |
| Box office | A$800,000 (Australia)[2] |
End Play is a 1975
Plot
Hitchhiker Janine Talbot is picked up and murdered by an unseen assailant. Mark Gifford, a merchant sailor on leave, then disposes of the body, attracting the suspicion of his wheelchair-using brother Robert. The police become suspicious of both brothers, who are rivals over their half-cousin, Margaret.
Cast
- George Mallaby - Robert Gifford
- John Waters - Mark Gifford
- Ken Goodlet- Superintendent Cheadle
- Delvene Delaney - Janine Talbot
- Charles Tingwell- Doctor Fairburn
- Belinda Giblin - Margaret Gifford
- Robert Hewett - Sergeant Robinson
- Kevin Miles - Charlie Bricknall
- Walter Pym - Stanley Lipton
- Sheila Florance - Mavis Lipton
- Reg Gorman - TV Reporter
- Adrian Wright - Andrew Gifford
- Jan Friedl - Policewoman
- Vicki Raymond - Robbie's Mother
- Elspeth Ballantyne - Welfare Officer
- Terry Gill - Ticket Collector
Production
Russell Braddon's novel was originally set in England but was relocated to Australia.[4] Burstall made the film as part of a deliberate effort to move away from "ocker material". He was attracted to Braddon's novel because it would be simple to film as it was basically a two hander, while also preparing Eliza Fraser (1976). The movie was budgeted at $244,000 but eventually cost $294,000.[1] Shooting commenced in January 1975.
The two leads, George Mallaby and John Waters, were familiar faces on Australian television at the time.[2]
Reception
The film performed reasonably at the box-office, and in 1979 reported that it had just broken even. It also rated highly on television, the rights for which earned Hexagon $70,000.[2] Burstall admitted the film might have been more effective as a TV movie, but says it would have been harder to make a profit that way.[1]
The film is
References
- ^ a b c Scott Murray, 'Tim Burstall', Cinema Papers Sept-Oct 1979 p495, 576
- ^ a b c David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p34
- ^ Moran & Veith p. 78
- ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 297
Bibliography
- Moran, Albert & Viethm, Errol. Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2005.
External links
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