The Delinquents (1989 film)

Last updated

The Delinquents
The Delinquents (1989 film).png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChris Thomson
Screenplay by
Based onThe Delinquents
by Criena Rohan
Produced by
  • Alex Cutler
  • Michael Wilcox
Starring
Cinematography Andrew Lesnie
Edited by John Scott
Music by Miles Goodman
Production
companies
Distributed by Roadshow Film Distributors (Australia)
Warner Bros. (International)
Release date
  • 21 December 1989 (1989-12-21)(Australia)
Running time
103 minutes [1]
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetAU$9 million [2]
Box office$3,370,650

The Delinquents is a 1989 Australian coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Chris Thomson from a screenplay by Clayton Frohman and Mac Gudgeon, based on Criena Rohan's 1962 book of the same name. It is the first film by Village Roadshow Pictures. It stars Kylie Minogue (in her feature film debut) and Charlie Schlatter as the main characters Lola and Brownie, and was filmed in the Queensland locations of Brisbane, Maryborough and Bundaberg.

Contents

The film was released in Australia on 21 December 1989 to mixed reviews from critics. It grossed $3,370,650 at the box office in Australia. [3] An accompanying soundtrack was also released.

Plot

Lola and Brownie are teenagers in 1950s Bundaberg, Australia. They fall in love, but because of their age they must fight their parents and welfare, who try to keep them apart. Lola falls pregnant and the couple run away so they can keep their baby. However, Lola's mother and the police find them and take Lola home.

Brownie joins the crew of a ship so he can sail the coast and look for Lola. He befriends a sailor called Bosun, who offers him a job.

Meanwhile, Lola is forced to have an abortion by her mother in Brisbane. After an argument with her mother, Lola moves to Melbourne, becomes a waitress and bleaches her hair. Lola is reunited with Brownie after he visits the bar where she works whilst on shore leave. They return to his ship and they spend the night together. The next day, Bosun discovers Lola in Brownie's cabin and asks her to leave. After an argument between Brownie and Bosun, the latter agrees to Lola staying, on the condition that she is kept "out of sight" from the other sailors.

After the ship docks, Lola and Brownie attend a party held by a young couple, Lyle and Mavis. They are squatting in the property with their daughter, Sharon. Both couples quickly become friends and Lola and Brownie move into their spare room.

One night, both couples are socialising in a local pub when Lola and Brownie are arrested for underage drinking and vagrancy.

Lola is sent to stay with Aunt Westbury, a caretaker in the countryside for a fixed-term of 12 months. She and Brownie are told that they are not allowed to see or contact each other for one year. Brownie was also issued with a fine.

During Lola's stay in the community placement, a former charge of Aunt's visits the house. Lola collects the mail and, after a brief conversation with the postman, realises that Aunt Westbury has disposed of Brownie's letters. An argument follows, and Lola runs away.

Finding her mother drunk and unsympathetic, Lola heads to Lyle and Mavis's house, only to be arrested and taken to a reform school to restart and complete her sentence. During this time, a riot is started by the other inmates.

After her 18th birthday, Lola has completed her sentence and is immediately reunited with Brownie. Upon returning to the house, Lola discovers Mavis is heavily pregnant with her second child.

Lola wants Brownie to quit his job as a sailor, and stay with her. However, Brownie is in a quandary and confides in Bosun about his dilemma. Meanwhile, Mavis goes into labour; the birth does not go well and both Mavis and the baby die.

Although Lola and Brownie offer to adopt Sharon (Lyle & Mavis' surviving daughter), they are unable to as they are unmarried. Lyle leaves the child with Lola to give to social services as she will be placed into foster care and Lyle is unable to bear the thought of giving up his only child. Lyle subsequently leaves after telling Lola he plans to travel the world, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet.

Lola leaves the house, suitcase packed, ready to take Sharon to the welfare office before heading back to Bundaberg. Brownie sees Lola and Sharon in the taxi and runs after them. Eventually, Brownie catches up with the taxi and he is reunited with Lola and Sharon. The film ends with their wedding with their families and friends in attendance.

Cast

Original novel

The novel was published in 1962. It had been written in a TB hospital, [4] and subsequently submitted for the Miles Franklin Award. [5] Author Rohan died in 1963, having only published one other book in her lifetime. The novel was re-published in 1986, [6] and again in 1989 to tie-in with the release of the film. [7]

There are some differences between the film and the novel. For example, in the novel, Lola is part Asian and suffers a miscarriage on the grounds of the all-girls school. It is uncertain whether the screenplay was adjusted or the missing parts of the book were filmed and removed to meet a lower certificate.

Production

Rights to the novel were purchased by first time producers Alex Cutler and Michael Wilcox in 1985. They had been trying to obtain the rights to another Australian novel but had difficulty negotiating with the author; someone suggested they have a look at The Delinquents, which Penguin were about to reissue. They obtained finance from the New South Wales Film Corporation and Australian Film Commission and hired Lex Marinos to write a draft. In 1987 David Bowie announced in an interview he thought the book would make a good film, which re-ignited a great deal of interest in the project. [8] It was announced that he would compose the film's score [9] but subsequently distanced himself from the film's production, and interviewed in 1990, he cited "a large artistic disagreement with [the] producers" over the direction of the film as the reason he was no longer involved in the film. He said, "the book that I read and the film that they were making had nothing to do with each other", adding "it was a wonderful little book and it should have been a little film. It should have been an Australian film." [10]

The Australian Film Commission provided further script development money enabling Dorothy Hewett to write a second draft. Greg Coote and John Tarnoff of Village Roadshow became involved and Coote suggested Kylie Minogue play the lead. It was the first major film from Village Roadshow's film production company. [11] At one stage Ben Mendelsohn was signed to appear opposite her but eventually it was decided to go with an imported actor so the film might appeal to an international market: Charlie Schlatter was chosen. [2] [12]

Chris Thomson was approached to direct. He did not like the script but thought the book was wonderful, so managed to persuade the producers to hire Mac Gudgeon, who had made Waterfront (1983) with Thomson, to work on the script. Village Roadshow agreed to provide half the budget and the producers applied to the FFC for further finance in October 1988. [8]

The film was partly shot at Warner Bros studios on the Gold Coast. [2] Production was accompanied by media reports of script and casting interference by US executives, who reportedly faxed numerous script changes to reduce the use of Australian references and slang. [13] With investors hoping to replicate the success of Dirty Dancing , it was hoped that a young audience would turn out to see the film "6 or 7 times". [14] [13]

Release and reception

After a London world premiere, The Delinquents opened in Australia and New Zealand on 21 December 1989 in wide release. Five days after the Australasian release date, it opened in the United Kingdom on 26 December 1989. It was later announced that the film would be released in other European countries; it was released on 1 June 1990 in Finland and Sweden under the name Delinquents – Nuoret Kapinalliset. It opened in the Netherlands on 8 June. It was released on 15 June 1990 in Denmark under the name For ung til kærlighed. Then Portugal on 29 June. Its last release was in Germany.

Despite having chosen an American lead actor and an American composer, with an eye to the American market, the film was never released in the United States, in part due to a problem with distribution. This led to the production company filing a lawsuit against Village Roadshow Pictures and the FFC. [12]

Reception

The film was hit with controversy over its content, with Britain's Daily Mail asserting that it was "immoral and dangerous" that it had been given a 12 certificate, allowing young children to see it. [13] David Stratton of Variety called the story "trite stuff" and felt that Schlatter was miscast and that "as for Minogue, the verdict still is out regarding a future acting career ... but it's unfair to judge her on this material". [9] DVD.net later gave the movie a mixed review, scoring it 5/10. [15] On Scoopy.com, the reviewer complimented the film's cinematography, the period details and Minogue's lead role in the film. [16] The Radio Times grades the film two stars out of five, calling it a "passable tale of teenage torment". [17]

Box office

The Delinquents opened on 98 screens in Australia, grossing A$752,800 in its opening week. [11] It went on to gross A$3,370,650 at the Australian box office [3] and was the most successful Australian film of 1990 on Australian soil. In the United Kingdom it grossed £399,785 in its opening weekend from 207 screens [18] and reached number one, grossing £1,072,110 in its first week. [19] [ better source needed ] It was the 17th highest-grossing film of 1989 there. [20] It was the most popular Australian film of 1990. [21]

In one interview, producer Mike Wilcox hit out over the "mythology" that the film was a financial failure, saying, "I wonder where these people get their information from because I was part of the production and I don't have accurate figures on what its performance was. I think the jury is still out on whether it was a financial failure or not." [13]

Home media

The Delinquents was released on VHS worldwide in 1990 and released on DVD in 2005 in Australia only. The film was released internationally on digital platforms, including iTunes in 2016.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album was released in Australia and New Zealand by Mushroom Records and in the UK by PWL Records. [22] The soundtrack release consisted of old standards (one of them performed by Minogue and one by Johnny Diesel and the Injectors), as well as one track from the film's score. "Tears on My Pillow" was released as a single in February 1990, peaking at number 20 in Australia. "Please Send Me Someone to Love" was released as a single, peaking at number 11 in Australia. Tears on My Pillow went to number one in the UK for one week in January 1990, and was the 26th best-selling single of the year in the UK during 1990.

  1. "Please Send Me Someone to Love" – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (Written by Percy Mayfield) (4:25)
  2. "Slippin' and Slidin'" – Little Richard (Written by Little Richard (as Penniman)/Eddie Bo (as Edwin J. Bocage)/Al Collins/James Smith) (2:33)
  3. "Twenty Flight Rock" – Eddie Cochran (Written by Ned Fairchild/Eddie Cochran) (1:45)
  4. "Break Up" – Jerry Lee Lewis (Written by Charlie Rich) (2:40)
  5. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (Written by Gene Vincent/Tex Davis) (2:36)
  6. "Lucille" – Swanee (Written by Richard Penniman/Al Collins) (2:24)
  7. "One Night" – Fats Domino (Written by David Bartholomew/Pearl King) (2:50)
  8. "Only You" – The Platters (Written by Buck Ram/Ande Rand) (2:38)
  9. "Tears on My Pillow" – Kylie Minogue (Written by Bradford Lewis) (2:31)
  10. "Theme From The Delinquents" – The Delinquents Orchestra (Composed and Conducted by Miles Goodman) (2:24)

Songs heard in the film but not on the soundtrack album:

  1. "Three Steps To Heaven" by Eddie Cochran (Written by Eddie Cochran)
  2. "Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page (Written by King/Stewart)
  3. "Great Balls of Fire" by Pattie Page (Written by Otis Blackwell/Jack Hammer)
  4. "Since I Met You Baby" by Ivory Joe Hunter (Written by Joe Hunter)
  5. "Chantez Chantez" by Dinah Shore (Written by Albert Gamse/Irving Fields)
  6. "My Babe" by Little Walter (Written by Willie Dixon)
  7. "She's My Baby" by Johnny O'Keefe (Written by Turnball/Molfast/Finch)
  8. "Roll With Me Henry" by Johnny O'Keefe (Written by Turnball/Molfast/Finch)

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [23] 20

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Minogue</span> Australian singer and actress (born 1968)

Kylie Ann Minogue is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fashion world as a major style icon. Her accolades include two Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and eighteen ARIA Music Awards. Minogue is the highest-selling Australian female artist of all time, with sales surpassing 80 million records worldwide. In 2024, Time named her one of the most influential people in the world.

<i>Kylie</i> (album) 1988 album by Kylie Minogue

Kylie is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, released on 4 July 1988 by Mushroom Records. Minogue had established herself as a child actress before signing to the record label in early 1987. The success of her debut single, "Locomotion", resulted in her working with Stock Aitken Waterman, who produced the album and wrote nine of its ten tracks. Their recording sessions, commencing in October 1987 in London and Melbourne, coincided with Minogue's filming schedule for the soap opera Neighbours.

<i>Enjoy Yourself</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1989 album by Kylie Minogue

Enjoy Yourself is the second studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, released on 9 October 1989 in the United Kingdom by Pete Waterman Entertainment (PWE), and in Australia on 6 November by Mushroom Records. In the United States, it was released in January 1990 by Geffen Records. Following the success of her self-titled debut album, Minogue reunited with the producers Stock Aitken Waterman, who produced and wrote nine of the album's ten tracks, in London in February 1989. The recording sessions took place there from February until July, coinciding with Minogue filming her first feature film The Delinquents.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1990 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Rhythm of Love is the third studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released in the United Kingdom on 12 November 1990 by Pete Waterman Limited (PWL) and in Australia on 3 December 1990 by Mushroom Records. Recording sessions took place in London and Los Angeles during early-to-mid 1990. Minogue started to become more involved in the writing and production of the album; she was credited as co-writer for the first time, while Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) were the primary producers along with new producers and collaborations, including Keith Cohen, Stephen Bray and Michael Jay.

<i>Lets Get to It</i> 1991 album by Kylie Minogue

Let's Get to It is the fourth studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was the final studio album with Pete Waterman Limited (PWL), being released by the record label in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991. Mushroom Records distributed the album in Australia on 25 November 1991. After Matt Aitken left the trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) in early 1991, the remaining producers wanted to make another album with Minogue, although it was not a contractual obligation for her. Mike Stock and Pete Waterman agreed to share their songwriting credits with Minogue for the first time on six tracks. They spent months recording at PWL Studios, more time than any of her previous studio albums.

<i>Intimate and Live</i> (album) 1998 album by Kylie Minogue

Intimate and Live is the debut live album by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue. It was released on 30 November 1998 as a double CD set, and on 23 July 2002 as a DVD through BMG, Mushroom Records and Warner Vision. The concert was filmed at Capitol Theatre on 1 July 1998 from the Intimate and Live concert tour. Produced by David Wilson and directed by Mark Adamson and Michael Williams, both the album and DVD features twenty-one songs from the concert and spawned a promotional single, "Dancing Queen".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Should Be So Lucky</span> 1987 single by Kylie Minogue

"I Should Be So Lucky" is a 1987 song performed by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album, Kylie (1988). Released on 29 December 1987 by Mushroom Records and PWL Records, the song became a worldwide breakthrough hit. The image of Minogue on the front cover of the single was shot by David Levine. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue, whom went on to produce Minogue's initial four studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je ne sais pas pourquoi</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand on Your Heart</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Hand on Your Heart" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989), and released as its lead single on 24 April 1989. Much like her previous releases up to Let's Get to It (1991), the song was written and produced by English songwriting and record production trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). Referenced tracks during composition included "This Old Heart of Mine" by the Isley Brothers and "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Too Late (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Never Too Late" is a song written and produced by British production team Stock, Aitken and Waterman for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989). Released on 23 October 1989, the song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Ireland, and number 14 in Australia. It was later rerecorded for Minogue's orchestral compilation album, The Abbey Road Sessions, in 2012. Writer Mike Stock says he deliberately composed the song with "old fashioned" lyrical themes, imagining it the style of a 1920s number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tears on My Pillow</span> 1958 single by Little Anthony and the Imperials

"Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their original recording of the song became a Billboard top-10 hit, peaking at No. 4, No. 3 in Canada, and was the Imperials' first million-seller. It was also a two-sided hit, with its flip side, "Two People in the World," also becoming a major hit. Although it remains one of the Imperials' signature songs, "Tears on My Pillow" has been extensively covered, including a No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart version by Kylie Minogue in January 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better the Devil You Know</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breathe (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 1998 single by Kylie Minogue

"Breathe" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, from her sixth studio album, Impossible Princess (1997). It was released on 16 March 1998 as the third single from the album, and her final one for the Deconstruction Records label. "Breathe" was co-written by Minogue with Ball and Vauk and produced by Dave Ball and Ingo Vauk. Backed by synthesisers and keyboards, it is an electronica track. The lyrics revolve around contemplation and calmness. "Breathe" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, some of whom highlighted the track as an album stand-out and commended the lyrical and vocal delivery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step Back in Time</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Step Back in Time" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 22 October 1990, and distributed by PWL and Mushroom as a CD single, cassette tape and 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The track was written, arranged, and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, who are collectively known as Stock Aitken and Waterman, and was recorded in London, United Kingdom. Musically, it is a disco song that lyrically pays tribute to 1970s' culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Get to It Tour</span> 1991 concert tour by Kylie Minogue

The Let's Get to It Tour was the fourth concert tour by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. As stated by Minogue herself in 1991, the tour was technically a continuation of the previous Rhythm of Love Tour which had already visited Australia and Asia. In addition to revising the setlist, she assembled a new band to work with her existing musical director and choreographer. Backed by her five dancers, Minogue mounted the tour in support of her fourth studio album Let's Get to It (1991).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco in Dream</span> 1989 concert tour by Kylie Minogue

Disco in Dream is the debut concert tour by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. Although headlined by Minogue, the tour was an ensemble show alongside fellow Stock Aitken Waterman acts Sinitta and Dead Or Alive and supported her first two studio albums, Kylie (1988) and Enjoy Yourself (1989). The tour took place in Asia, later travelling to Europe re-titled as 'The Coca-Cola Hitman Roadshow' with a different line up of PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman artists such as Big Fun and Sonia. The shows were free to "thank British fans for their support" and targeted towards fans under the age of 18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Minogue videography</span> Videography of Kylie Minogue

Australian singer Kylie Minogue has been credited for ninety-six music videos, twenty-three lyric videos, nineteen visualisers, thirteen concert films, thirteen music video compilations and two documentaries. From her eponymous debut studio album (1988), she released music videos for the singles "I Should Be So Lucky, "The Locomotion", "Got to Be Certain", "Je ne sais pas pourquoi", and "It's No Secret", all directed by Chris Langham and released from 1987 to 1988. She followed with two other music videos in 1988—"Made in Heaven" a b-side and "Especially for You" with Jason Donovan. In 1989, music videos for "Hand on Your Heart", "Wouldn't Change a Thing", "Never Too Late" and "Tears on My Pillow" — singles from her second studio album Enjoy Yourself (1989)

Deirdre Cash was an Australian novelist and torch singer, who wrote under the pseudonym Criena Rohan. Her first novel, The Delinquents, set in Brisbane, was described as a "back-street Tristan and Isolde".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't Change a Thing (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Wouldn't Change a Thing" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, recorded for her second studio album Enjoy Yourself (1989). The song was written by Stock Aitken Waterman, and was released on 24 July 1989 by Mushroom and PWL Records. The song was released as the second single off the album.

References

  1. "The Delinquents (12)". British Board of Film Classification . 27 November 1989. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 David Stratton (1990). The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry. Pan MacMillan. pp. 350–352.
  3. 1 2 "Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  4. "Dead Novelist's Book Praised". The Canberra Times . 30 August 1963. p. 17. Retrieved 8 March 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  5. "THE MILES FRANKLIN AWARD". The Canberra Times . 20 April 1963. p. 22. Retrieved 8 March 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "THE BEST WEEKEND". The Canberra Times . 26 January 1986. p. 82. Retrieved 8 March 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. 1 2 Patricia Amad & Philippa Hawker, "The Delinquents", Cinema Papers, July 1989 p4-7
  9. 1 2 Stratton, David (3 January 1990). "Film reviews: The Delinquents". Variety . p. 20.
  10. The Simon Bates interviews, BBC Radio 1, Jan-Feb 1990
  11. 1 2 "'Delinquents' astute". Variety . 3 January 1990. p. 26.
  12. 1 2 Helen Barlow, "The Australian Film Finance Corporation", Cinema Papers, August 1991 p36
  13. 1 2 3 4 Scott, Gavin; Denby, Matthew. "Ep 53: Tears On My Pillow (and We Know The Meaning Of Love)". A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman (Podcast). Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  14. Kylie Minogue The Delinquents Australian press conference, 22 December 2022, retrieved 5 June 2023
  15. "DVD.net : The Delinquents - DVD Review".
  16. "The Delinquents".
  17. "The Delinquents (1989)".
  18. Adams, Mark (3 January 1990). "Romance keeps filmgoers rapt in London for 'Harry Met Sally;' 'Delinquents' opens big". Variety . p. 26.
  19. "The Delinquents". 25thframe.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  20. http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/yearlychartspage.php?year=1989 [ bare URL ]
  21. "Top five Australian films each year from 1988". Australian Film Commission. Archived from the original on 26 January 2001. Retrieved 12 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. "The Delinquents (1989) - IMDb". IMDb .
  23. "Australiancharts.com – Various – The Delinquents". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2014.