Les Foxcroft Movies
- 1994
Heads are a poppin' everywhere in this Australian private-eye movie that combines elements of horror and science fiction. Dirk Trent is not the classic movie PI. He fat, clumsy, and nerdy. While tracking down a woman's unfaithful husband, his assistant films what at first seems to be the husband murdering his secretary in a cheap motel. Upon closer examination, Trent deduces that the husband didn't kill her because his head exploded first. Soon he discovers a whole series of people whose heads have blown-up. His investigations lead him to Dr. Henderson who has been conducting odd experiments to cure brain tumors. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Chubb, Les Foxcroft, (more)
- 1994
The significance of a single, inspirational word, eternity, is explored in this fascinating Australian documentary that profiles the troubled life of Arthur Stace, a man considered the modern father of graffiti. He was behind the mystery that puzzled Sydney's residents for over 40 years. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Les Foxcroft, Dorothy Hewett, (more)
- 1990
- R
A man sets out on a dangerous journey in order to save the life of the woman he loves in this politically charged drama from South Korea. Yeong-su (Cha In-pyo) was once a noted professional soccer player, but since his career came to an unexpected halt, he's struggled to support his wife and family, which has become all the more difficult since his wife developed a serious illness. Yeong-su learns of a drug that could help his wife, but while it's available in South Korea, he's living in North Korea. Throwing caution to the wind, Yeong-su pays a smuggler to sneak him into South Korea with hopes of finding the needed medicine, but his plan takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. As Yeong-su struggles to make his way home, his son Jun (Shin Myeong-cheol) is locked up in a prison camp for juveniles, and when a handful of other kids try to make a break for freedom, Jun joins them. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Spencer, Russell Crowe, (more)
- 1988
Outback Bound is a made-for-TV film tailored to the talents of Donna Mills. She plays a pampered Beverly Hills resident whose cash flow bottoms out. Learning that her late father owned an opal mine in Australia, Mills packs what's left of her things and heads for the Outback. The mine is virtually tapped out, but that won't stop our dauntless Mills. Filmed on location in late 1987, Outback Bound made the syndication and cable rounds in the US in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- R
This suspensful drama chronicles the life of a despicable killer who along with his brother, was involved in the slaughter of several Australian journalists in 1975. The film is based on a true story. Both brothers survived the killings. Afterwards, one of them settles down in a small New Zealand town where he leads a peaceful life. His peace is disturbed when his brother comes to call. The visiting brother tries to get him to hit the road again. When not trying to convince him, the restless brother falls for a hooker. She falls for him too. After he dumps her for another, the call girl attempts suicide. Meanwhile he keeps after the pretty urban woman until she is killed in a car crash. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chard Hayward, Ivar Kants, (more)
- 1983
Phar Lap, the legendary New Zealand-bred racing horse, is as well-known today for his mysterious death as for his fabulous accomplishments in life. Beginning at the end, the film flashes back to the day that Phar Lap, despite his lack of pedigree, is purchased on impulse by trainer Harry Telford (Martin Vaughan). Phar Lap loses his first races, but Telford's faith in the animal is unshakable. Suddenly the horse becomes a winner, thanks to the love and diligence of stableboy Tommy Woodcock (Tom Burlinson). American-promoter Dave Davis (Ron Leibman) arranges for Phar Lap to be entered in several top races, where his "long shot" status results in heavy losses for the professional gamblers. Just after winning an important race in Mexico, Phar Lap collapse and dies; though the film never comes out and says as much, it is assumed that the horse was "murdered" by the gambling interests. The film is based on a book by Michael Wilkinson. The real-life Tommy Woodcock appears in the film as an elderly trainer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Burlinson, Martin Vaughan, (more)
- 1982
This is a low-budget horror movie about a psychopathic gardener with a penchant for killing off young women, undoubtedly due to some twisted psycho-sexual malfunction that leads him to rape his first victim before drowning her in a fish tank. His second female victim is dispatched when she catches sight of him carrying off corpse #1. Victim #3 is targeted -- she is the sister of #1 -- but she manages to escape into a beach house as a temporary defense of sorts. Meanwhile, two security police spot the demonic psycho trying to smash into the house, and when they go to capture him, one is killed and the other battles the psycho in a swimming pool. Just when the end seems near, however, the crazed killer rises again -- the menace, it seems, has not been laid to rest. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chard Hayward, Louise Howitt, (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)
- 1981
Melanie (Angela Punch McGregor) is a television talk-show hostess who is missing the excitement of a new romance in her life -- and has been in that state for a few months now. When she and her good buddy Tom (Graeme Blundell) get together for a dinner at her place to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their friendship, they have enough wine to accidentally end up together in her bed, and nature takes over from there. When they wake up in the morning, Melanie wants to forget everything and go back to their easy-going friendship, while Tom disagrees -- he rather likes the new situation. It does not take long for Melanie to discover that her solitary slip-up has gotten her pregnant. She wants the baby but is definitely averse to marriage, while Tom wants to make the baby legitimate. In the end, the two compromise by moving in together -- though the truce does not last for long. As their relationship bounces back and forth, Melanie -- in her sixth month -- agrees to get married. But then the couple have a dust-up on the night before the wedding and they split -- will that be for good? Will their final choice be marriage or friendship or a steady animosity -- or all three? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Punch McGregor, Graeme Blundell, (more)
Set between the years 1949 and 1956, Newsfront tracks the destinies of two brothers, their adventures and misadventures placed in the context of sweeping social and political changes in their native Australia. Both of the protagonists are newsreel photographers. Frank (Gerard Maguire) is constitutionally resistant to change, while Len (Bill Kennedy) welcomes any alterations in his own life and in the world around him. The film fluctuates between black and white and color, between actual news footage and reconstructed events. Newsfront is what The Way We Were might have looked like on a tiny budget with a cast of unknowns. The film represented a laudable feature-film directorial debut for one-time documentary filmmaker Philip Noyce. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, (more)
- 1978
In this fact-based drama, when Stephen Walls (Nathan Dawes), a four-year old, goes missing in the outback near his home in rural Australia, the population of the entire town (and several nearby towns) turns out to search for him. Unfortunately, they raise such a ruckus that they scare the little tyke, and he hides himself even more thoroughly. For four days, the townsfolk search for him, and during that time, the lad not only avoids capture, but begins to thoroughly enjoy his dangerous game of hide-and-seek. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This Australian fox-and-hounds melodrama concerns an intensive manhunt for a suspected murderer. Polish immigrant Mark Gaweda is accused of killing a rancher's wife. Heading the posse is police officer Wyn Roberts, who hopes that by catching Gaweda he'll be able to live down an earlier tragedy caused by his negligence. John Waters, one of Roberts' men, begins to believe in Gawada's innocence, and ends up defending the fugitive against his accusers. Weekend of Shadows was based on a novel by Hugh Atkinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Waters, Melissa Jaffer, (more)
Two children ride the same pony in this Disney film, but neither one is happy about sharing the animal they both love. James Ellison is rich and wears leg braces; on the pony, she is not crippled. Scotty Pirie is a poor farm boy, and he loves to ride the pony as well. The two dispute the ownership of the pony, and the townspeople create many complications through their support of one or the other. Eventually, the two become friends, and while the ownership issue is resolved, it is not so important anymore because they have learned to share the pony between them. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Craig, John Meillon, (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
