The Removalists (1975)

Director:

Tom Jeffrey

Writers:

David Williamson (play)
David Williamson (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 October 1975 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

By the time they are through with Kenny Carter, he doesn't have a wife, a child or a hope in hell.

Plot Keywords:

Moving Furniture | Australia | Police Officer | Beating | Battered Wife

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Peter Cummins	...	Sergeant Dan Simmonds
John Hargreaves	...	Constable Neville Ross
Jacki Weaver	...	Marilyn Carter
Kate Fitzpatrick	...	Kate Mason
Martin Harris	...	Kenny Carter
Chris Haywood	...	Rob, The Removalist

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Margaret Fink Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: The wooden posts in the apartment room after Sergeant Simmonds has hit Kenny Carter numerous times. Different posts become broken in different scenes in the same room.

Movie Connections:

References "Sesame Street" (1969)

A priggish policeman and his naïve junior assist a battered wife in the removal of furniture from her belligerent husband's flat.

Peter Cummins is perfect as the 'by-the-book' sergeant who delights in helping the girl and her sister who sees himself as their knight in shining armor. He goes to great lengths to cure the husband's dirty- mouth and outpourings of crude vulgarity even if it means beating the defenceless man (played delightfully by Martin Harris) when tied up. He is the sort who has spent over twenty years in the force without ever directly putting himself in any danger.

John Hargreaves spends most of his time dumbfounded and `lacking `initiative'. Comical relief comes in the form of an impatient Chris Haywood, who plays the whingeing, bludging Cockney removalist - anxious to get onto his next job.

Filmed mostly in two locations - a police station and a flat - the story may sound dreary; anything but intriguing. It may also sound dark and violent. The truth is it is utterly compelling. This is an ensemble cast that plays their respective parts almost without fault. The screenplay makes an easy transfer to the silver screen and is a worthy addition the varied vaults of Australian cinema history.