The Great Gold Swindle

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The Great Gold Swindle
Greatgoldswindledvdcover.jpg
DVD cover
GenreCrime
Drama
Based on Perth Mint Swindle
Written byDavid White
Directed by John Power
Starring John Hargreaves
Tony Rickards
Robert Hughes
Chris Haywood
Music byJohn Stuart
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Michael Thornhill
ProducersBarbara Gibbs
David White (associate producer)
Cinematography David Sanderson
Editor Sara Bennett
Running time96 mins
Production companyIndian Pacific Films
Budget$750,000 [1]
Original release
Release1984 (1984)

The Great Gold Swindle is a 1984 Australian TV movie based on the Perth Mint Swindle. It was shot on location in Perth. [1]

Contents

Plot

In 1982, the brothers Mickelberg are accused of robbing 49 gold bars from a mint in Perth, Western Australia.

Premise

The film is a dramatized recreation of a bold and brilliant crime which resulted in the defrauding of the Perth Mint of gold bullion then worth $650,000 in June 1982.

The screenplay tells of an ingenious and elaborate plot which led the Mint to hand over bullion in return for three dud building society cheques.

Throughout the planning and execution of the swindle, the men behind it remained almost entirely hidden. Largely operating by telephone and letter, they used a series of dupes and temporary employees to carry out their operation. A surprising aspect of the case is that, when they were caught, they proved not to be classic criminals or con-men. Two of the brothers were abalone divers (one of them an ex- SAS commando) and the third was a helicopter pilot.

Their detection came about because of one fatal flaw in their operation. At only one point did they display excessive caution which led to the tracing of two of the cheques to them. Otherwise, their swindle was as daring as it was complicated. As far as is known, the gold bullion was never recovered - which would have increased in value to well over $1 million by 1987.

During the four-week trial the brothers were cross-examined in the witness box for days on end. [2]

Cast

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p71
  2. Panorama newspaper TV Highlights; 02/03/1987; Page 10