Tina Bursill Movies
- 2008
A trio of sailors about to be sent off to war hit the town for one last party in this semi-improvised drama from actor and filmmaker Matthew Newton. Sam (Ewen Leslie), Dean (Toby Schmitz), and Harry (Matthew Newton) are members of the Australian Navy who have orders to board the HMAS Dignity and set sail for duty that will eventually send them to Iraq. With 24 hours of liberty before they report for duty, Harry suggests they hit Sydney and party. However, despite plenty of booze and a visit from some friendly hookers, it's hard for the men to relax and enjoy themselves. Sam isn't sure he can handle the stress of war, and has a one-night stand with a waitress (Gracie Otto) while wondering if he'd be better off deserting. Dean takes some time out for a dinner with his wife-to-be and her folks, but drinking loosens his tongue and he says some things he should have kept to himself. And Harry, the wild man of the group, doesn't seem so jovial when his day comes to a close. Three Blind Mice received its world premiere at the 2008 Sydney Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Newton, Toby Schmitz, (more)
- 2000
In this first episode of the three-part story "Look at the Princess," the crew lands on the Royal Planet, one of the Breakaway Colonies that has declared independence from the PeaceKeepers. In order to save the rest of the crew from an unpleasant fate, Crichton (Ben Browder) must agree to wed the planet's Princess Katralla (Felicity Price). No matter what his decision, Crichton may never make it to the altar -- not if PK captain Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) has anything to say about the matter. "A Kiss Is But a Kiss" first aired on July 21, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
In this final episode of the three-part story "Look at the Princess," Crichton (Ben Browder) has been transformed into a statue -- and his head has been removed. Elsewhere on the Royal Planet, Aeryn (Claudia Black) finds her priorities shifting in favor of a new man in her life. And the murder of Prince Clavor, the brother of Crichton's "fiancée" Katralla (Felicity Price), may spell doom for Moya and the crew unless a rapidly weakening Zhaan (Virginia Hey) can come to the rescue. "The Maltese Crichton" originally aired on August 4, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
In this second episode of the three-part story "Look at the Princess," Crichton (Ben Browder) is still slated to wed Katralla (Felicity Price) of the Royal Planet. If he doesn't go through with the wedding, the consequences will be fatal for Moya and the crew -- and if he does, he faces the prospect of being transformed into a statue for the next 80 cycles. Meanwhile, Jena (Bianca Chiminello), fiancée of Katralla's brother Prince Klavor (Felix Williamson), reveals herself to be a PeaceKeeper assassin. "I Do, I Think" first aired on July 28, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Since the breakup of his marriage, Billy Apples (Max Cullen), the stocky, middle-aged owner of a hardware store in Sydney, Australia, hasn't had much going on in his life. Billy has one hobby, singing with a jazz band in a club in his neighborhood; he knows that he's not much of a vocalist and that his teenage daughter Casey (Rachael Coopes) considers him an embarrassment, especially since she's convinced that he's to blame for her parents' divorce. But late one night, Billy sees several comets dotting the night sky, and something miraculous occurs -- suddenly, Billy is capable of singing like Billie Holiday! While many people are puzzled by this development (Billy himself is near the top of the list), his new sound packs them in at the club, and soon Billy's career as a singer takes off and he signs a recording contract. His ex-wife even suggests that she might give their marriage another try, but success goes to Billy's head and he becomes difficult to get along with; then Billy's voice starts to change back, prior to his appearance in a major music contest. This musical fantasy won the Australian Film Institute award for Best Adapted Score in 1995. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Cullen, Kris McQuade, (more)
- 1994
This Australian road movie avoids melodrama and mush as it depicts the relationship between a feisty old woman and the young misanthropic ambulance driver who must take her home. The film opens with the sight of an old woman wandering a country road. She is in deep shock. The camera then moves to the scene of a fatal crash caused by her husband who dozed at the wheel. As a result of the tragic accident Rose was hospitalized for a year. The film moves to the present as she is finally ready to leave and go home to her farm. It is a six hour drive. She will be taken by Spider, an obnoxious young man disgruntled at the prospect of spending his last day driving an old bat home. The two opposites begin irritating each other from the moment the journey begins. Eventually they do become more receptive to one another. Thanks to an errant kangaroo, their journey is suddenly paused. This leads them to a series of adventures, including one involving Jack, an aged beekeeper. He and Rose find themselves attracted to each other. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ruth Cracknell, Simon Bossell, (more)
- 1989
The Australian Afraid to Dance features two young social misfits who seek to make their lives "worthwhile" via crime. Nique Needles plays a loser with few prospects for a decent life. After committing a few petty crimes, he graduates to the "big time" by attempting to steal a car. The car's owner turns out to be a chronic pickpocket, played by Rosey Jones. Needles and Jones fall in love, then embark on a Bonnie-and-Clyde series of misadventures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nique Needles, Rosie Jones, (more)
- 1987
Al (Richard Moir) lands a job as chef at a resort in Fraser Island in this situation comedy. He has been fired several times for accusing fellow employees of sleeping with his wife. Al finds comfort in the arms of the waitress Cindy (Helen Mutkins), which makes the hotel manager Bob (Steve Jacobs) jealous. Jennifer Cluff and Tina Bursill co-star with Ken Radley as more characters who end up at the resort to overcome their previous romantic disappointment. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Moir, Jennifer Cluff, (more)
- 1984
Australia's longest-running sitcom, Hey Dad...! premiered in 1984. Robert Hughes starred as Martin Kelly, a widowed architect who forsook his lucrative business to raise his four kids: Simon (played first by Paul Smith, then by Christopher Mayer), Debbie (Simone Buchanan), and Jenny (Sarah Monahan). The series' "breakthrough" character was Simon's best pal Nudge (Christopher Truswell), who was given most of the big laugh lines. Simultaneously adored and reviled by the Australian viewing public (and, curiously, an enormous success on German television), Hey Dad...! remained on the air for ten years, racking up an astronomical 300 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hughes, Mark Owen-Taylor, (more)
- 1984
The Australian Foreplay is a belated continuation of the "Alvin Purple" movie series of the 1970s. The hero is a feckless 18-year-old named Alvin Purple (Gerry Sont). He gets into all sorts of trouble because of his irresistibility to the opposite sex. Evidently, Foreplay was popular enough "down under" to compel distributors to retitle the 1974 series entry Alvin Purple Rides Again as Foreplay the Prequel. Unrated, but chock full of sexual situations and strong language, Foreplay made its American debut via cable television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
In this sequel to the Australian smash hit comedy Alvin Purple (1973) and Alvin Rides Again (1974), the story centers on Alvin's 18-year old son, who just like his dad, attracts women like flies to honey, but is terrified of them. He is only comfortable with one woman, a young usherette at the local cinema. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerry Sont, Lenita Psillakis, (more)
