End Play

End Play is a 1976 Australian thriller film directed by Tim Burstall and starring George Mallaby, John Waters and Ken Goodlet. It was an adaptation of the 1972 novel End Play by Russell Braddon. It was made by Hexagon Productions.[3]

End Play
Directed byTim Burstall
Written byTim Burstall
Based onEnd Play
by Russell Braddon
Produced byTim Burstall
Alan Finney (associate)
Starring
CinematographyRobin Copping
Edited byDavid Bilcock
Music byPeter Best
Production
company
Distributed byRoadshow
Release date
1 January 1976
Running time
114 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$294,000[1]
Box officeA$800,000 (Australia)[2]

Plot

Hitchhiker Janine Talbot is picked up and murdered by an unseen assailant. Mark Gifford, a merchant sailor on leave, then disposes of the body, attracting the suspicion of his wheelchair-using brother Robert. The police become suspicious of both brothers, who are rivals over their half-cousin, Margaret.

Cast

Production

Russell Braddon's novel was originally set in England but was relocated to Australia.[4] Burstall made the film as part of a deliberate effort to move away from "ocker material". He was attracted to Braddon's novel because it would be simple to film as it was basically a two hander, while also preparing Eliza Fraser (1976). The movie was budgeted at $244,000 but eventually cost $294,000.[1] Shooting commenced in January 1975.

The two leads, George Mallaby and John Waters, were familiar faces on Australian television at the time.[2]

Reception

The film performed reasonably at the box-office, and in 1979 reported that it had just broken even. It also rated highly on television, the rights for which earned Hexagon $70,000.[2] Burstall admitted the film might have been more effective as a TV movie, but says it would have been harder to make a profit that way.[1]

The film is rated M in New Zealand for violence and cruelty.

References
  1. Scott Murray, 'Tim Burstall', Cinema Papers Sept-Oct 1979 p495, 576
  2. David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p34
  3. Moran & Veith p. 78
  4. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 297

Bibliography
  • Moran, Albert & Viethm, Errol. Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2005.


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