Demolition (1978 film)

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Demolition
Written by Bruce A. Wishart
Directed by Kevin James Dobson
Starring John Waters
Belinda Giblin
Fred Steele
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerSteve Kibler
Producer Robert Bruning
CinematographyGary Hansen
EditorHenry Dangar
Production companyGemini Productions
BudgetA$105,000 [1]
Original release
Release21 June 1979 (1979-06-21) (Sydney) [2]
Release21 May 1980 (1980-05-21) (Melbourne) [3]

Demolition is an Australian TV movie. [1] [4]

It was produced by Robert Bruning's Gemini Productions and screened on Channel 7. [5] Director Kevin Dobson recalled it as an attempt by Bruning and Grundys "to make mid-Atlantic films for the US market. It was pretty ill-fated." [6]

Contents

Plot

British Intelligence have been conducting sound tests in different countries on techniques to increase the ability of long-distance truck drivers to stay awake - sounds were pumped into their ears to see the results. They discover that one method could completely erase memory.

An intelligence officer, Ainsley, blackmails Peter Clarke, an Australian who used to work for him as an agent, Peter Clarke, into returning to Sydney as a courier. Clarke is to take an audio tape of recordings that will erase the memory of the listener. Ainsley wants the tape to lure an enemy agent, Korcheck - the plan is to trap Korchek into listening to the tape and have his memory wiped.

An American friend introduces Peter to Faith Camden and they begin an affair.

Cast

Production

Filming started in Sydney on 14 November 1977. [7]

Release

Although the film was made in 1977 it did not air in Sydney until 1979. [6]

The Sydney Morning Herald called it "of poor quality... rather than the plot justfying itself, it seems to be an ill-constructed frame that ties together, rather clumsily, less important aspects of the film that don't stand up by themselves." [8]

Filmink magazine later wrote:

[The movie has] a very James Bond set up, but the treatment is surprisingly downbeat and film noir-y – Waters’ character gets beaten up a lot. However, the climax does involve Waters running through a wildlife safari park and stumbling into a lion enclosure, so that’s pretty Bond-y. The script is far too confusing for this to be effective. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p42
  2. ↑ "Movies on TV". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 June 1979. p. 53.
  3. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 21 May 1980. p. 2.
  4. 1 2 Vagg, Stephen (31 December 2019). "Top Ten Australian James Bond Homages". Filmink.
  5. ↑ Beilby, Peter; Murray, Scott (September–October 1979). "Robert Bruning". Cinema Papers. pp. 517–519.
  6. 1 2 "Kevin Dobson". Cinema Papers. February 1982. p. 17.
  7. ↑ "Short Takes". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 November 1977. p. 83.
  8. ↑ Neil, Kristine (18 June 1979). "One With all the Cliches". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 29.


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