Jacqueline Kott Movies
Underrated leading man Jeff Fahey carries most of the dramatic weight of the Australian Wrangler. Fahey plays a handsome, athletic businessman who vies for the hand of rancher's daughter Tushika Bergen. Our hero must not only contend with his romantic rival, a dashing but dangerous cattleman (Steven Vidler), but also with a villainous creditor who craves the land left to Bergen by her late father. By nature of its plotline and setting, Wrangler can't help but invite comparisons to the popular The Man From Snowy River. Still, the stars and director Ian Barry keep up the appearances of freshness and originality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Fahey, Tushka Bergen, (more)
Set in Australia in the 1930s, this drama stars Nicholas Gledhill as P.S., a six-year-old boy who lives with his Aunt Lila (Robyn Nevin) and Uncle George (Peter Whitford). P.S.'s mother died in childbirth, so her sister Lila took him in, and while George and Lila don't have a lot of money, they've always done the best they can to give the boy a good home. One day, Lila's other sister Vanessa (Wendy Hughes) arrives after spending several years touring the world; Vanessa is quite wealthy, and upon her return to Australia, she expresses an interest in taking custody of the child. Lila is willing to let Vanessa visit with P.S., and his rich aunt is able to turn his head with limousine rides and lavish gifts. But when Vanessa decides she wants the boy full time, Lila decides to fight her in court. The case is complicated by the arrival of P.S.'s long-absent father, Logan (John Hargreaves), an alcoholic who loves his son but is incapable of caring for him. Careful He Might Hear You won eight Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Hughes), and Best Supporting Actor (Hargreaves). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, (more)
- 1978
Magee and the Lady was filmed for Australian TV, where it was shown as She'll Be Sweet. Steamer captain Tony Lo Bianco, with nary a penny to his name, is about to lose his vessel. He tries to stave off foreclosure by kidnapping the daughter (Sally Kellerman) of the man holding the mortgage. From here, the film veers off into a quasi-African Queen direction, with both captain and captive learning to respect, and then love, each other. Acceptable in 1978, The Magee and the Lady might run into trouble from the Political Correctness Brigade these days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In this detective drama, a private investigator looks into a murder and finds himself involved with blackmail, drugs, and beautiful women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Thompson, Judy Morris, (more)
