Keith Aberdein Movies
A virulent strain of gonorrhea is loose in New Zealand and it is up to a nurse to find the carrier in this Kiwi thriller set in WW II. New Zealand was a popular shore-leave locale for battle fatigued American sailors. Kelly Towne is a nurse from the Hygiene Department. Her assignment is to help keep the spread of VD in check. She works with both the troops and the local brothels. In the film's beginning a Marine has been murdered and his girlfriend, a former hooker, has disappeared. Kelly becomes involved in the mystery after she finds out that both the missing girl and the wife of a local politician carry this new, deadly strain of gonorrhea. With the help of U.S. Marine Capt. Michael Starwood, she sets off to find the girl and is surprised that her trail leads to the highest ranks of the New Zealand government and the American military where a conspiracy is taking place. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kerry Fox, Tony Goldwyn, (more)
- 1990
The three-part British-Australian TV production The Paper Man could be described as the miniseries equivalent of Citizen Kane. John Bach headed the huge cast as Philip Cromwell, a canny Australian entrepreneur who through "ways of his own" became his country's most powerful media mogul. Any resemblance between Cromwell and the real-life Rupert Murdoch was, of course, purely coincidental. Telecast in 1990, The Paper Man was seen in the United Kingdom via Granada Television, and in Australia over that continent's ABC network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Bach, Oliver Tobias, (more)
- 1983
Utu is the Maori word for "Retribution," which sums up the chief motivating factor of this New Zealand-produced drama. Set in the 1870s, the film details the exigencies of British Colonial rule. A Maori scout, Te Wheke (Anzac Wallace), stumbles across a native village that has been destroyed in a British raid. Since it is the scout's own village, he deserts the British army, the better to seek "utu." Leading a vigilante force consisting of his fellow Maoris, Te Wheke kills as many British settlers as he can get his hands on. The feverish conviction of his crusade is in stark contrast to the attitudes of the British, who seem more concerned with material possessions than with human beings. Popular down under star Bruno Lawrence is cast as a vengeance-driven settler who makes it his personal mission in life to end Te Wheke's reign of terror. The most expensive New Zealand-filmed project to date, Utu was an enormous success upon its first domestic release; the American version runs some 15 minutes shorter than the original. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, (more)
- 1982
- R
When their father dies at a sports event, a two young siblings attempt to bring his corpse back to his ranch in order to collect inheritance money in this dark comedy. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grant Tilly, Kelly Johnson, (more)
- 1982
The New Zealand-filmed Wild Horses stars Keith Aberdein as an itinerant logger. Aberdein is hired by a national park to help corral a herd of roaming horses. In addition to his inability to carry out the job at hand, he also manages to scare off most of the deer in the area. This incurs the wrath of a group of venison hunters, led by Bruno Lawrence who take revenge by killing off some of the horses. Aberdein arranges a truce with Lawrence order to capture a wild stallion that he's got his heart set on. But the feud erupts again before long, leading to a violent showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Aberdein, John Bach, (more)
- 1981
- R
A key entry in the "renaissance" of the New Zealand film industry, Smash Palace stars Bruno Lawrence as an ex-racing champ. Returning home to take over his late father's business, Lawrence finds that his sophisticated European wife Anna Jemison is bored beyond measure at her new existence. She throws him over in favor of his best friend, policeman Keith Aberdein. Lawrence might have been able to weather his wife's leaving him, but it is too much to bear when she takes their daughter with her. Shoved over the edge, Lawrence kidnaps the child, precipitating a grueling cross-country chase. Co-written by star Bruno Lawrence, Smash Palace was garlanded with praise from some of the world's most influential film critics. It's not that good, but it certainly holds one's rapt attention from start to finish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruno Lawrence, Anna Jemison, (more)
- 1979
Grant Tilly stars as Colin, a fortyish New Zealand schoolteacher. Colin is promoted to principal, which normally would be cause for celebration. Unfortunately, the teacher is undergoing several midlife crises, not least of which is his obsession with gorgeous fellow teacher Judy (Donna Akersten). At a dinner party hosted by Colin and his blase wife Elizabeth (Dorothy McKegg), the truth is painfully--and hilariously--brought to the forefront. Middle Age Spread is based on a popular play by New Zealand author Roger Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grant Tilly, Donna Akersten, (more)
