What the Moon Saw

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What the Moon Saw
Directed by Pino Amenta
Written by Frank Howson
Produced by Frank Howson
StarringAndrew Shepherd
Max Phipps
Pat Evison
Kim Gyngell
Danielle Spencer
Cinematography David Connell
Production
company
Release date
  • December 1990 (1990-12)
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$3,350,000 [1]
Box officeA$43,919 (Australia) [2]

What the Moon Saw is a 1990 Australian film directed by Pino Amenta. The first of five films Boulevard Films made following the success of Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988), it was based on Howson's memories of being a child actor in the theatre. [3]

Contents

The musical performed in the film, Sinbad's Last Adventure was written by Howson. [4]

Plot

Steven Wilson travels from the outback to visit his Gran in Melbourne for the school holidays. Gran's former role as a showgirl enables Steven to be drawn in by the magic of the theatre. While watching a performance of Sinbad's Last Adventure, Steven becomes immersed in the story, becoming the sailor himself, and adventure ensues.

Cast

Production

Howson had been a child actor and had worked extensively in the theatre. He later said of the film:

I wrote in one long night, and it captured a real energy. Even when I was writing it I had no idea where it was heading. Which is good, because neither did the audience. It’s the only script of mine that didn’t need a polish and that not one actor wanted to change a word of it. It really did capture some kind of magic. [5]

Reception

According to Howson:

It became the first Australian film sold to Miramax and opened the London Film Festival in 1990 and was selected for competition at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival. Even I can’t explain its appeal. In fact, it breaks quite a few rules of the formula movie, and perhaps that’s why it worked. The publicity by-line on the Miramax poster was, “A look at the magic of innocence.” And that’s what it was. [5]

Filmink magazine said "The film is full of charm and had so much... potential, it’s frustrating that it’s not better than it is: it looks splendid, has a magical atmosphere and features fantastic actors... However, once more, as a writer Howson made a series of errors, notably under-utilising his characters and including a dream sequence in act three that goes for twenty minutes." [6]

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References

  1. ↑ "Production Barometer", Cinema Papers, May 1989 p. 40
  2. ↑ Australian Films at the Australian Box Office Report for Film Victoria
  3. ↑ David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p. 153
  4. ↑ Adrian Jackson, "What the Moon Saw", Australian Film 1978–1992, Oxford Uni Press, 1993 p. 307
  5. 1 2 "Producer and Writer Frank Howson on Laura Branigan, the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, the Art of Creation and more…". Cult Film Alley. 13 July 2019.
  6. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (21 February 2024). "Frank Howson: The Unsung Auteur". Filmink.
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