John Cousins Movies
The true story of a gifted Australian piano prodigy, this biographical drama was nominated for seven Oscars, with actor Geoffrey Rush winning for Best Actor. Rush stars as David Helfgott, a pianist with a history of mental problems. As a fragile boy genius at math, chess, and piano, David is driven hard by his overbearing father (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a tyrant who forbids him to accept a scholarship offered by the great violinist Isaac Stern. Although he studies briefly in London under tutor Cecil Parks (John Gielgud), David has a nervous breakdown after performing Rachmaninoff's daunting "Piano Concerto No. 3" (known as the "Rach 3"). Years later, the adult David keeps up a steady patter of nervous stammering at all times and has been reduced to playing in a bar. Through a friend, he meets astrologer Gillian (Lynn Redgrave), and falls in love with her. With Gillian's help, David embarks down the road to regained fame and mastery of the "Rach 3." The international popularity of Shine caused a sensation leading to a musical tour for Helfgott, whose performances were less adroit than many audiences expected, sparking criticism that writer-director Scott Hicks had exaggerated his subject's talent for dramatic purposes. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor, (more)
- 1990
Ollie Rennie (Garry McDonald) really has no business running a caretaking institution of any kind, much less one for the mentally handicapped; he's an alcoholic, has no respect for other people, and persistently tries to put the make on an unwilling social worker. All the same, he runs an institution of just that kind, with the unappealing name of "Saltmarsh." Things at the school get considerably livelier when a new man comes onto the scene. Pat (Brian Vriends) was doing just fine as a physical education instructor at a school for "normal" kids, but one day he went on a rampage against junk food, destroying the school snack bar in the process, and was quickly fired. Despite his recent reversal, he is upbeat about his new job. He decides to engage these hopelessly uncoordinated kids in soccer matches. They compete against themselves and against regular kids. Needless to say, they lose against the regular kids, but one day one of their number actually manages to score against one of them, and there are celebrations all round. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Garry McDonald, Catherine McClements, (more)
- 1977
For dubious reasons of his own, a politician hires two gunmen to help quiet down a group of religious fanatics in the Australian outback in the 1870s. When the gunmen decide they need help and recruit it from a local prison, things get a little confused as the misfits try to put down the rebel group. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gerard Kennedy, Gus Mercurio, (more)
Dennis Hopper plays the title character in this true story of a 19th-century Australian gold-digger who is pressed into a life of crime. A six-year stint in jail doesn't provide reform, but does introduce him to an Aboriginal partner-in-crime (David Gulpilil). The duo then proceed to terrorize the province of New South Wales with no lack of violence. The TV version was retitled Mad Dog. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson, (more)
- 1951
Two escaped convicts (George Macready and Glenn Anders) invade the jungle dominion of Tarzan (Lex Barker) to set up a gunrunning operation. One of the criminals has sworn to "get" Tarzan, who was responsible for his arrest, and to that end stirs up unrest between two African tribes. After narrowly escaping death at every turn, Tarzan quells the inter-tribal hostilities, rescues a voluptuous jungle queen (Dorothy Dandridge), and saves his mate Jane (Virginia Houston) from the murderous machinations of the criminals. Tarzan's Peril plays more like a serial than a feature film, but certainly lives up to its title. African-American actress Dorothy Dandridge's brief appearance as the jungle queen involves a "bondage" sequence that has been cited by several film historians (one of whom evidently had a crush on Ms. Dandridge) as being somehow symbolic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lex Barker, Virginia Huston, (more)
- 1949
A composer discovers that the inspiration for his greatest work may come at the expense of his marriage in this romantic drama with music. Richard Wilder (Michael Dennison) was a pilot with the RAF during World War II and was shot down over the Dolomite Mountains of Italy during a mission. Wilder's life was saved by Alida (Valentina Cortese), a beautiful woman working with the anti-fascist resistance who rescued him after his crash. After the war comes to a close, Wilder returns home to England and his wife Ann (Dulcie Gray), where he begins writing an opera based on the legends of Dolemite, as passed along by the peasants of the region. However, his home in England does not prove to be a conducive creative environment, so he travels back to Italy, where he spends time with Alida and is able to complete his work. However, he begins to fall in love with Alida, and he soon finds that he must choose between his muse and his spouse. Acclaimed classical vocalist Tito Gobbi appears as himself and sings several selections. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dulcie Gray, Michael Denison, (more)
- 1938
In this British comedy, a bishop is desperate to finish the restoration on his cathedral. To quickly raise the needed cash, he gives a fellow some money. The fellow promises the bishop that he will use it to make the 1,000 pounds needed to complete the job. The ingenious man uses the honest money to buy smuggled goods. Among the things he buys are silk lingerie and brandy; the latter ends up being sold at a church bazaar and the money is raised. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1937
In this crime drama, an honest clerk finds himself in a difficult situation when he refuses to help a corrupt financier cheat a group of investors. This angers the financier who then threatens to kill himself. The two men fight over his gun, and it fires. The financier falls to the floor. The panicked clerk then hides the corpse and begins running the company himself. Along the way, he cuts a deal that saves the company and the employees. Unfortunately, the body is found, and for a while, the clerk is in deep. Fortunately, the police investigation reveals the truth and he is acquitted. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1933
In this romantic comedy, a 30-year-old spinster dreams of finding a man, but finds it difficult living with her older sister. Another of her big sisters passes on and leaves her a generous inheritance which she can only collect if she leaves her other sister's home for six months. The girl does this, and when others learn of her financial worth, she finds herself surrounded by suitors. Unsettled by all this attention, the girl decides to protect herself by claiming that she is engaged to a handsome lawyer. In the end the two actually do get married and prosperous happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1932
In this comedy, an ambassador becomes terribly angry after he learns that a wealthy British financier has offered to pay a foreign despot an enormous amount of money for oil rights to his country. The clever diplomat saves the day when he masquerades as the dictator, gets the money, and ends up donating it to charity. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
