Sara Bennett Movies
One disaster after another is all that the newly married Dave and Tina Dodd reap from their investment in a home to be built in a development outside of Sydney. The builder has almost gone bankrupt, largely due to his hiring incompetent job foremen (especially Kevin Grant) who can't follow a blueprint. The far from wealthy couple gradually twigs to the disatrous progress of their increasingly expensive dream home, and the strain on their marriage becomes acute as they discuss their options with their lawyers. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Venables
Geoffrey Stubbs has been ignoring his sensual wife Dorothy's sexual needs for some time now. He has a full-time job running his butcher shop and has ambitions as a right-wing politician. Meanwhile, Dorothy has met a real hunk, a rock musician named Todd, who was at a demonstration of sexual appliances that she attended. Ever since then, he has loomed large in her erotic fantasies. The determined housewife eventually gets to bed the man of her dreams, but the experience leaves her unsatisfied. She's still friendly with him though, and he consents to entertain her guests at a big shindig held at her house. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Noni Hazelhurst, Graeme Blundell, (more)
This investigative documentary explores the possible connections between the CIA and the downfall of Gough Whitlam's labor government in Australia in 1975. Some background on U.S.-Australian relations is provided, from World War II through the Cold War of the late 1940s and 1950s, and the relationships between U.S. presidents and Australian prime ministers are also illustrated through newsreels, quotes, and narration. While CIA heads deny any covert operations to tumble Whitlam from power, a convicted Australian spy maintains that the CIA was not honest in its dealings with the Aussie government. When put completely together, the documentary offers an education on U.S. attitudes toward Australia and enough evidence pro and con to indicate that we may never know for sure if Australia's government was intentionally affected by CIA activity. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
The Australian Winds of Jarrah was inspired by a "Harlequin Romance" novel. Running away from a failed romance, stunning Englishwoman Susan Lyons heads to 19th century Australia. Here she pulls a "Jane Eyre", becoming nanny for the children of woman-hating Terence Donovan. The tried-and-true formula soon kicks in, and a bodice-ripping affair commences. Sure, Winds of Jarrah is trash...but it's classy trash. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terence Donovan, Susan Lyons, (more)
Three attractive women turn into Robin Hoods in order to save a kindergarten in this routine comedy-caper. Eva (Wendy Hughes), Fiona (Chantal Contouri), and Millicent (Carmen Duncan) are ready to help out a charitable cause when they see one, but their hearts are bigger than their wallets. The only solution is to take money from those who have it to burn and judiciously redistribute it. With that thought in mind, the three recruit a few extra women to their cause -- they plan on robbing from the rich in a posh island resort. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wendy Hughes, Chantal Contouri, (more)
An Australian film directed by Ken Hannam, this is one of the lesser-recognized movies of the Australian New Wave of the 1970s. It's about an urbane schoolteacher, Simon Robinson (Nick Tate), who takes a job on a small island off the Australian coast after the schoolteacher there has mysteriously vanished. It's a spooky place, and the locals are unhelpful as Robinson tries to piece together the puzzle of his predecessor's disappearance. Robinson realizes that he's in increasing danger as he begins to discover the mystery, but he feels compelled to continue his investigation. The pace is slow and the mood is haunting in this story of an outsider's attempts to break the code of a local culture. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Tate, John Waters, (more)








