Jeff Ashby Movies
- 1986
- R
This well-made Australian blend of Jaws and Alligator is a tense, action-packed thriller involving a monstrous crocodile, a tough ranger (John Jarratt), and a team of aborigines who worship the monster as the god "Numunwari." This leads to lots of gory clashes with the reptile, interwoven with some interesting tribal lore surrounding the legendary croc and a subplot involving a psychic connection between the beast and one of the aborigines. The climactic battle puts a sympathetic spin on the plight of Numunwari, believed to be the last of his kind -- but his unpleasant habit of snapping people in half makes it a bit difficult to muster up enough empathy for the monster. Based on a novel by Grahame Webb. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Jarratt, Nikki Coghill, (more)
- 1974
Alvin Purple (Graeme Blundell), the lothario hero of the Australian low-budgeter Alvin Purple (1974), "rides again" in this slapped-together sequel. This time, Alvin has more to contend with than the requisite beautiful girls who find him irresistable. It seems that there's an American gangster around and about, "Balls" McGee (also played by Graeme Blundell), who's the spitting image of our hero. The predictability of the plotline is enlivened by the film's unending stream of vulgar sight gags and scatological dialogue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
British "Goon Show" stalwart Harry Secombe is afforded top billing in the Australian comedy Sunstruck. Secombe plays a teacher who heads Down Under after an unsuccessful romance. Yearning for the good old days when he was a choral director in his British home town, Secombe organizes his Aussie students into a children's choir. Along the way, Secombe finds lasting happiness with down-to-earth local woman Maggie Fitzgibbon. Nothing special here, but it's pleasant to see the bombastic Harry Secombe in a gentler characterization. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Walter Chiari, Jack Albertson, (more)
