Rowena Wallace Movies
- 1995
- R
In this Australian thriller set in Queensland, a writer returns from LA to Michelton, his tiny hometown, to attend the funeral of his best friend, and finds himself involved in a manhunt for a deranged serial killer. It all begins at the funeral when Matt Curran sees the sister of Andy, his late friend. Cathy, who is also an ex-lover of Matt's, and who doesn't believe the official report that Andy committed suicide. She believes that he was murdered because Andy knew that the courts convicted the wrong man for the killings of several young men. Matt is intrigued and decides to look for the truth. He is opposed by Chris, the town cop who is jealous because his wife Sandra had once loved the writer. Matt is not deterred and continues looking. Soon he finds himself following a baffling trail of clues, consisting of obscure biblical references, and body parts from the slain women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judd Nelson, Dee Smart, (more)
- 1995
The daily, 30-minute Australian soap opera Echo Point was set in the fictional town of the same title. Created by John Edwards, Sandra Levy, and Christopher Lee (not the horror film actor), the series divided its time equally between the "young" and "old" characters, whose individual trials and tribulations somehow always managed to converge. The cast included onetime child star Sean Scully (Almost Angels, The Prince and the Pauper) and the ubiquitous Rowena Wallace. A Southern Star production, the 130-episode Echo Point was seen on Australia's Ten Network from June 5, 1995 to December of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Hollywood actress Heather Thomas was center of attention in the Australian miniseries Flair. Thomas was cast as New York-based fashion designer Tessa Clarke, who in the course of events returned to her native Australia to make her mark in that country's dressmaking industry. Created by Paul Davies and Gayle Hopgood, the two-part, four-hour drama boasted an impressive Austral-American supporting cast, including Joseph Bottoms, Rowena Wallace, and Charles "Bud" Tingwell. Flair originally aired over the Seven Nework on August 1 and 8, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Written by Billy Marshall-Stoneking, "The Pawn" takes place at a Czechoslovakian test tournament. The IMF is assigned to expedite the defection of Soviet scientist and chess champion Dr. Gregor Antonov (Bryan Marshall) --- and also to rescue Antonov's daughter, who is being held by the police as "security". The success of the mission hinges upon an elaborate magic show, staged by professional prestidigitator Zorbuskaya (Rowena Wallace). Originally scheduled for January 8, 1989, "The Pawn" made its TV debut one week later, on January 15. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1989
- R
Cappuccino takes place for the most part in an Australian coffee house, where a quartet of aspiring actors confer on a regular basis. John Clayton moonlights as a cabbie and a mediocre comedian; Rowena Wallace, Clayton's ex-lover, has had some moderate stage success; Jeanie Dryden (wife of Anthony Bowman, the film's director) is a naive newcomer who never gets a break; and Barry Quin is a onetime soap-opera star who'll do anything for publicity. There really isn't much of a plot, save for a wisp of continuity involving Clayton's discovery of an incriminating videotape in his cab. Cappuccino maintains an air of comic authenticity throughout, in that its cast is comprised of genuine struggling actors. The film was adroitly filmed on a minuscule budget in Sydney, Australia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Clayton, Rowena Wallace, (more)
- 1986
Laura Branigan stars as Kate Lawrence in this insipid and cliche-ridden romantic comedy. Kate is a singer who longs to be taken seriously as an actress. Despite the misgivings of her agent, she flies to Melbourne to read for a part in a play. Kate gets the part but is grilled by film critic Robert Landau (Michael Aitkens) at a press conference. Hate for Robert turns to love until he writes an unflattering review of her performance in the play. When Kate lands a job in a Broadway play, she leaves Australia hoping never to see Robert again. He hops a plane to New York to surprise her after her performance, waiting backstage to announce his love for her. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Branigan, Michael Aitkens, (more)
- 1984
Amateur acting on the part of newcomer Svet Kovich as the deranged son of a philandering doctor, and the inexperience of first-time director Paul Harmon are partly balanced by the excellent cinematography of Paul Onorato in this unexceptional melodrama, never released theatrically. Dr. Ray Sangster (Alan Cassell) is having an affair with Nicky (Anna Jamison), a fashion designer. Sangster is unknowingly followed about and photographed by his son. The son's objective is not to blackmail the illicit couple but to bed down Nicky himself. When he finally manages to achieve that objective, under an assumed identity, he is overcome by impotence -- which sets him off into completely irrational acts. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Cassell, Svet Kovich, (more)
- 1981
- R
Director Bruce Beresford continued his tradition of putting socially disenfranchised characters front and center with this wryly observant comedy drama about middle class Australian teens that served as a stark contrast to the popular American teen films of its day. Friends from the Sydney suburb of Cronulla, Debbie (Nell Schofield) and Sue (Jad Capelja) are a pair of average schoolgirls who smoke, drink, have sex, and cheat on exams. The girls are also striving to become "surfie chicks," the groupies that hang around the surfer boy gangs of southern Sydney, pairing off with the objects of their affection. Adhering to odd rules that prevent them from eating or going to the bathroom in the surfers' presence, the girls get into trouble for their wild behavior, with Debbie eventually fearing that she's pregnant, leading to a fatal overdose of heroin for her boyfriend Garry (Geoff Rhoe). Ultimately, Debbie and Sue become disillusioned with the sexism and narrow-mindedness of their crowd. Puberty Blues (1981) was based on the book of the same name by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey, a pair of real-life Sydney teens who wrote newspaper articles under the pseudonym "The Salami Sisters." ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nell Schofield, Jad Capelja, (more)
- 1973
Somewhat reminiscent of the 1965 film The Satan Bug, And Millions Will Die is a thriller based upon the premise of germ warfare. A lunatic plans to extort millions of dollars by threatening to unleash a deadly nerve gas upon the citizens of Hong Kong. He prepares to make good his threat--but then dies before he can reveal the underground location whence the gas will be released. Richard Basehart, the villain in Satan Bug, switches sides to play frenzied scientist who races against time to unearth the lethal gas in And Millions Will Die. Given its foolproof premise, the film is disappointedly bereft of suspense, though the Hong Kong scenery is lovely. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Brother George (Walter Chiari) is the Italian monk who is the only one who knows the secret recipe of a popular liqueur. When he feels the local wine merchant won't give him a fair price, he moves to Australia. He meets Alfredo Brazzi (Jack Albertson) and the two agree to a partnership to make the liqueur. Alfredo is unaware George is a monk and that he sends 50% of the money back to his Italian monastery. Alfredo and his son-in-law Tim (Dave Allen) constantly try to steal the secret recipe. They recruit June (Rowena Wallace) for their underhanded cause, but she falls in love with George, also unaware of his religious calling. Finally, the Italian wine merchant travels to Sydney, willing to make a deal with Brother George. The merchant ends up paying double the price he had previously rejected in this amusing comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Chiari, Jack Albertson, (more)
- 1969
This feature is taken from a popular Australian television series and the novel by John Cleary. Frankie McCoy (Ken Shorter) is a cynical bookie, in a rundown bar in Sydney, who is summoned for military service. After a barroom brawl, he goes AWOL from the service and takes an apartment above the bar to resume his bookmaking operation. He has eyes for the barmaid Margie (Rowena Wallace), an old-fashioned girl who wants a traditional marriage before she lets Frankie have his way with her. Margie breaks up with him until he promises to return to the army. After he pays off too many bets, he steals some money from a butcher shop and goes on a drinking binge. He spends the night soothing the loneliness of Myra (Carmen Duncan), the pill-headed floozie who can't believe she was involved with a married man. Frankie gives her the rest of his money the next day in a gesture of who knows what. Myra charges some new clothes but hasn't spent the money when a panic-stricken Frankie bursts in wanting the money. The cops have the numbers on the stolen loot, and tragedy ensues as Myra and Frankie fight over the money. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Shorter, Rowena Wallace, (more)
