Page 110 - Metro

MAIN CAST ‘Pop’ Pym John Meillon Palmer Rod Taylor Freddie John Ewart Larry Harold Hopkins Fitzwilliam Patrick Cargill
Madame Cavalli -HOHQD nLJRQ Lucy Sally Conabere Lou Garry McDonald Miss Lockhart Judy Morris Mrs Duncan Jeanie Drynan
Policeman Tony Barry Major Lockhart Don Crosby 35,1&,3$/ &5(',76 Year of Release 1977 Length 98 minutes
Director John Power Screenplay Joan Long, based on the book by Lyle Penn Production Company Limelight Productions
Producer Joan Long Production Manager Sue Milliken Cinematography Geoff Burton Editor Nicholas Beauman
Art Direction David Copping Costume Design Judith Dorsman Music Peter Best

LQ WKH V DQG V WKH PXFK GHULGHG o$)& >$XVWUDOLDQ )LOP DQG SXEOLFLW\ DURXQG WKH ĺOP FHQWUHG RQ 7D\ORUpV KRPHFRPLQJ an
1
&RPPLVVLRQ@ JHQUHp RU SHULRG ĺOP WKH LQFUHDVLQJ LPSRUWDQFH DQG emphasis that seemed somewhat out of kilter with his supporting
invaluable contribution of key female production personnel to the role as Palmer, the ironic decision to have him play an American
$XVWUDOLDQ IHDWXUH ĺOP LQGXVWU\ DQG WKH PRGHO DQG H[DPSOH LW RI SDUWO\ GXH WR KLV LQDELOLW\ WR UH FRQIHFW DQ $XVWUDOLDQ DFFHQW DQG
IHUV IRU ORFDO ĺOPV DWWHPSWLQJ WR DWWUDFW LQWHUQDWLRQDO UHFRJQLWLRQ WKH OLJKWZHLJKW DQG RQH RU DW EHVW WZR GLPHQVLRQDO QDWXUH RI KLV
and distribution, among various other factors. characterisation. Taylor’s role also brought to the surface the per
HQQLDO FRQĻLFW EHWZHHQ WUXO\ ORFDO ĺOP SURGXFWLRQ GLVWULEXWLRQ DQG
H[KLELWLRQ DQG FRPSHWLQJ PRGHOV LPSRUWHG IURP WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV
Production and release
and elsewhere.
7KH ĺOPpV FDVW LQFOXGHV D QXPEHU RI LPSRUWDQW $XVWUDOLDQ DFWRUV Unlike -DVREQNMS, which potently and melancholically docu
RI WKH HUD LQFOXGLQJ 'U\QDQ (ZDUW +RSNLQV 0HLOORQ 0RUULV DQG ments the demise of Australian production interests in the 1940s
7RQ\ %DUU\ DV ZHOO DV VHYHUDO LQWHUQDWLRQDO SHUIRUPHUV VRPHZKDW DQG V WKURXJK WKH IDWHV RI ULYDO QHZVUHHO FRPSDQLHV 3GD
fancifully introduced to attract unlikely and only ever lukewarm /HBSTQD 2GNV ,@M provides a markedly less nuanced and more
overseas interest, like Cargill, known for his role in %@SGDQ #D@Q H[SOLFLWO\ DOOHJRULFDO SRUWUDLW RI MHUU\ EXLOW EXW LQJHQLRXV ORFDO RSHUD
%@SGDQ DQG nLJRQ D <XJRVODY DFWUHVV ,W DOVR PDUNV WKH UHWXUQ RI tions struggling to compete with more streamlined and increasingly
RQH RI $XVWUDOLDpV PRVW VXFFHVVIXO LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWDUV 5RG 7D\ORU D mechanised forms of cinema imported from overseas. Palmer is
NH\ PRWLYDWLQJ IDFWRU IRU WKH ĺOPpV FRPSDUDWLYHO\ UREXVW LI SDWFK\ WKH ĺUVW WR LQWURGXFH VRXQG HOHFWULĺFDWLRQ DXWRPRWLYH WUDQVSRUW
international screening schedule and release. Much of the writing and other innovations, though, tellingly, we are never actually privy

108 • Metro Magazine 195 | © ATOM