Michael Caton Movies
Lead actor Caton first appeared on screen in the '80s. ~ All Movie Guide
Some folks will do anything to pinch a penny, and when a pair of lifelong friends discovers that they can evade the taxman by pretending to be a loving gay couple, their worries are just beginning in this comedy starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton. Though their simple plan seems to go off without a hitch at first, the arrival of a by-the-books tax inspector threatens to blow the lid off of their inventive scheme. Now, with the IRS on their back and the pressure mounting, the stage is set for a series of comic misadventures you won't forget in this warmhearted tale of friendship and the eternal quest to beat the taxman at his own game. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Hogan, Michael Caton, (more)
- 2002
The Australian sitcom Dossa and Joe represented the long awaited return to TV of writer/director Caroline Ahern, who'd sworn that she was through with the Tube after several years' toil on the British comedy weekly The Royle Family. Anne Charleston and Michael Caton starred as Dossa and Joe, a Sydney couple who'd been married for 40 years. But though they'd lived together for four decades, the couple never really knew each other until Joe retired from his job. Quickly getting on one another's nerves, Dossa and Joe retreated to the offices of a marriage counselor in hopes of retrieving whatever it was that had brought them together in the first place. Produced by the Australian branch of Granada Television, Dossa and Joe premiered Down Under in the spring of 2002, with a British TV premiere promised a few weeks later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The eight-episode Australian seriocomedy Bad Cop, Bad Cop used police corruption as a target for savage satire. The series took place in a fictional Sydney suburb, where plainclothes cops Lilywhere (Michael Caton) and Knutt (Daniel Wylie) held sway over both the local citizenry and their fellow peacekeepers. Ever looking out for themselves, Lilywhite and Knutt were more interested in financial perks and creature comforts than in rounding up criminals. And besides, some of their best friends were on the wrong side of the law. Created by Ian David, Bad Cop, Bad Cop was seen on Australia's ABC network in early 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caton, Daniel Wylie, (more)
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider stars in this comedy as Marvin Mage, a wimpy nebbish whose lifelong dreams of becoming a police officer are thwarted by his diminutive stature. But when Marvin is critically injured in an auto wreck, deranged scientist Dr. Wilder (Michael Caton) uses various animal body parts to save his life, leaving the patient with the stamina and physical skills of the organ donors. Marvin quickly gains fame as a supercop, but he's also left with all of the embarrassing animal instincts and urges that accompany his new powers -- a serious threat to his blooming romance with new girlfriend Rianna (Colleen Haskell). The Animal co-stars John C. McGinley, Edward Asner, Norm Macdonald, and Cloris Leachman. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Schneider, Colleen Haskell, (more)
- 2000
At one point the most-watched TV series in Australia, Hot Auctions was loosely described as a "reality" program. In truth, it was a weekly auction session, distinguished by kaleidoscopic camerawork and lightning-paced direction. The series was taped in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, "the auction capitals" of the world. Hosted by Michael Caton, Hot Auctions premiered in 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caton
Craig Monahan made his directorial debut with this Australian police drama in which unemployed, poverty-stricken Eddie Rodney Fleming (Hugo Weaving), after losing his wife and home, is dragged from his apartment by police and subjected to a brutal interrogation. Eventually, it becomes terrifyingly apparent to Eddie that the police consider him a serial-murder suspect. Detective Sgt. John Steele (Tony Martin) and his assistant, Detective Sgt. Constable Wayne Prior (Aaron Jeffrey), make audiotapes of their efforts to get Fleming to confess. However, they are unaware that they themselves are being investigated and are being videotaped by an internal affairs unit. The question of Eddie's guilt or innocence is effectively concealed for most of the movie. Gordon Davie, Monahan's co-scripter and the film's technical consultant, was a police officer with the Victoria Crime Squad for 16 years. The Interview was shown at several 1997-1998 film festivals (London, Montreal, Melbourne). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin, (more)
In this small Australian comedy, Michael Caton stars as Darryl Kerrigan, a contented, mildly eccentric family man with an easy laugh and a quick compliment for his wife's cooking. Darryl, his wife, and his four children live in domestic bliss in a ramshackle yet proud domicile neighboring the airport. But that serenity is threatened when the government issues a compulsory acquisition order, which means the Kerrigans must vacate their home to make way for an airport expansion project. And even though he makes a hobby of buying useless junk as long as he gets it for bargain price, no amount of compensation money will convince Darryl to relinquish his "castle," which stores the family's collective memories and symbolizes their unique character. Darryl organizes the other affected neighbors, hires a bumbling attorney/family friend, and pursues his battle in court. However, he soon discovers he needs more than gumption and spitfire earnestness to support a case in front of the magistrates of Australia's high courts. The Castle was the first feature for director Rob Sitch (The Dish), who rose to prominence directing episodes of the satirical Australian television series Frontline. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
- 1985
It is perhaps a blessing that Hannah Scott, daughter of American-born Australian settler Maggie Scott (Louise Caire Clark), had been sent off to boarding school school before the third season of Five Mile Creek got under way (this move was motivated by the departure of series regular Priscilla Weems). Financial setbacks have forced everyone in the community of Five Mile Creek, including Hannah's mom Maggie, hotel owner Kate (Liz Burch), and stagecoach drivers Jack (Rod Mullinar) and Con (Jay Kerr), to pull up stakes a seek out a new home in the Australian outback of the 1860s. The journey across the Great Divide is fraught with danger, and the settlers receive a none-too-friendly reception upon arrival in the town of Emu Plains. Even so, Maggie and Kate are able to get back to business, and Jack and Con quickly reestablish their stagecoach line. New to the series this season is handsome, callow cowboy Matt Buckland, played by Shannon Presby), and feisty, tomboyish miner's daughter Annie, enacted by a talented redheaded teenager named Nicole Kidman. Also, the character of Five Mile Creek's "boss" Charles Withers (Peter Carroll), hitherto appearing only on a recurring basis,has been elevated to full regular. Among the season's story developments: Annie sets her cap for Jack, but she proves to be a bit rough-and-tumble even for his tastes; Jack must compete with a dashing Irish sea captain (Noel Trevarthen) for the attentions of Maggie; a hotly contested election is highlighted by the arrival of a balloon ascensionist; Con has a deadly showdown with a masked bandit; and, perhaps inevitably, the female leads are imperiled in another hostage crisis. In the series finale, Con is given the opportunity to start a new stagecoach service in faraway America. How will this development affect his partnership with Jack--not to mention his romance with Kate? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, (more)
- 1984
Season two of the "Australian western" Five Mile Creek begins on a disturbing note, as headstrong stagecoach driver Jack (Rod Mullinar) is threatened with execution for killing a local bandit whom the townsfolk regard as a 19th century Robin Hood. On a lighter note, both Jack and his partner Con (Jay Kerr) find themselves vying for the attentions of the newly widowed Maggie (Louise Caire Clark) and hotel proprietress Kate (Liz Burch) with a couple of handsome newcomers. Later on, Maggie tries to establish a school in the outback that will accommodate both settlers and the local aboriginies; a bounty hunter shows up, demanding the arrest of Kate's enigmatic Irish handyman Paddy (Michael Caton); Maggie and her daughter Hannah (Priscilla Weems) are kidnapped by outlaws; a raging fire threatens to destroy everything that the settlers have built; and as the profits accrue from the current Gold Rush, bandits move into Five Mile Creek to fleece the unwary prospectors. In the last of the season's 13 episodes, financer Mr. Withers (Peter Carroll) announces that he plans to retire--which may force the closing of the Australian Express stage service and the forced relocation of every man, woman and child in Five Mile Creek! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, (more)
In the first of the 13 episodes comprising Five Mile Creek's first season, San Francisco-bred Maggie Scott (Louise Caire Clark) and her daughter Hannah (Priscilla Weems) arrive in the Australia of the 1860s, in search of Maggie's husband Adam, a prospector who'd headed "Down Under" during the territory's celebrated Gold Rush. Maggie and Hannah settle in Five Mile Creek, a community set up as a stagecoach stop, and quickly befriend local hotel owner Kate (Liz Wallace). At the same time, the Australian Express stagecoach service makes its maiden run, with co-owners Con (Jay Kerr) and Jack (Rod Mullinar) at the reigns. Despite the stiff resistance of their competitors and a variety of scurrilous "bushrangers", Con and Jack complete their first run with the help and moral support of Maggie, Kate and Kate's enigmatic Irish handyman Paddy (Michael Caton). In due time, big-hearted Kate will also rescue orphaned youngster Sam (Martin Lewis) from a life as a bandit (she'll also advertise for a husband in order to legally adopt the boy). Although overt violence is avoid during the series' inaugural season, there is action and suspense aplenty thanks to a variety of outlaws, claim jumpers and mysterious strangers. Midway through the season, Maggie becomes a widow, thereby opening up the possibility of a romance between herself and the headstrong Jack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, (more)
- 1982
A rainmaker leads the village children in a Pied Piper fashion after the villagers refuse to pay him for his services. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Jarratt, Patrick Dickson, (more)
- 1982
Monkey Grip is a frank portrayal of a year in the life of a divorced mother (Noni Hazlehurst) living in Melbourne, trying to cope with her daughter and her own relationship with a drug addict while trying to get into the music business. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Friels, Alice Garner, (more)
- 1981
Two-fisted Gerard Kennedy plays "Tarzan," the foreman of a central Australian mine who maintains his authority by virtue of his formidable fists. Michael Preston plays "Pansy," a boastful miner who irritates all of his co-workers, none more so than Tarzan. The foreman calls out Pansy, challenging him to a bare-knuckle boxing match. The climax finds virtually everyone in town gathering for this battle royale, with several bankrolls wagered on the surprising outcome. Based on a play by John Powers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerard Kennedy, Michael Preston, (more)
- 1981
Hoodwink is based on the true story of an Australian con artist who briefly won the hearts of the media (if not the authorities). John Hargreaves stars as a criminal serving time in a New South Wales prison. He's not partial to the physical labor required of the convicts, so he hits upon a labor-saving plan. Hargreaves pretends to be totally blind, thus lightening his work load....and carries off the hoax for years. Hoodwink is likely to get some cable-TV play in the near future thanks to the presence in the cast of the young Judy Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Hargreaves, Judy Davis, (more)
