The ABC of Love and Sex: Australia Style

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The ABC of Love and Sex: Australia Style
Directed by John D. Lamond
Written by
  • John D. Lamond
  • Alan Finney
Produced byJohn D. Lamond
Starring John-Michael Howson
Narrated by
Production
companies
ABC of Love and Sex Film Productions
Distributed by
  • Roadshow
  • Umbrella Entertainment
Release date
  • March 1978 (1978-03)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$70,000 [1]
Box officeA$447,000 (Australia) [2]

The ABC of Love and Sex: Australia Style is a 1978 Australian documentary film that was released on 3 March 1978.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Plot

The film opens with giant alphabet blocks, and a general introduction, then begins to move through the alphabet:

Production

Lamond had intended to follow up his highly successful Australia After Dark (1975) with Felicity , but that was delayed "and I got stuck into doing another cheapie. I knew there was a market for it and, like all of my films, I had a guaranteed release before the film was made." [3] Unlike his first film, this one was shot in 35mm, and around 20% - the hardcore footage - was shot in Sweden. [4] Modelmation Film Productions, based in Melbourne, did the animated closing sequence, and John-Michael Howson starred in the "orgy scene" in the M vignette.

The film encountered troubles with the censor who ended up demanding 3 minutes and 36 seconds be cut from it and stopping him from releasing certain advertisements. Lamond says this hurt his ability to promote the film with adequate lead time. [1] [3] In late 1978, Lamond said the film was in profit "on paper" but he had not received any money yet. [3] [ needs update ]

Cast

Reception

Scott Murray was typical in his book on Australian Film: "What is notable this film, and others like it, is the joyousness it attributes to free sexuality, in all its forms. Though such films are viewed by many today as sexist and catering solely to male fantasies (a view contradicted by the ticket sales), films like The ABC of Love and Sex Australia Style were important in liberalising community attitudes to sexuality." [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p270
  2. Australian Box Office Report, Film Victoria 2009 accessed 28 Sept 2012
  3. 1 2 3 Scott Murray, "John Lamond", Cinema Papers Oct/Nov 1978 p96
  4. Interview with John Lamond, Mondo Stumpo, early 2002 accessed 14 October 2012
  5. "the ABC of Love and Sex Australia Style - Review - Photos - Ozmovies". www.ozmovies.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2018.