The Devil's Playground (1976)

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writer:

Fred Schepisi (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles McCallum, John Frawley, Arthur Dignam

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles McCallum	...	Brother Sebastian
John Frawley	...	Brother Celian
Arthur Dignam	...	Brother Francine
Nick Tate	...	Brother Victor
Peter Cox	...	Brother James
Jonathan Hardy	...	Brother Arnold
Gerry Duggan	...	Brother Hanrahan
Thomas Keneally	...	Father Marshall
Sheila Florance	...	Mrs.Sullivan
Simon Burke	...	Tom Allen
John Diedrich	...	Fitz
Alan Cinis	...	Waite
Richard Morgan	...	Smith
Rowan Currie	...	Casey
Gary Pixton	...	Tomkin

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

swimsuit | reflection in a car window | cook | sex | pool table | 

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Taglines:

Growing up hurts. If you're 13, you know what we mean. If you're older, come and be reminded.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

A gonosz melegágya

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Commission, The, The Film House

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This picture was one of fifty Australian films selected for preservation as part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Kodak / Atlab Cinema Collection Restoration Project.

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Connections

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

User Reviews

A good lesson.

I have this film as part of my home video collection and have not seen it in awhile. However, I can remember the feeling of misgiving I felt for these young men who were entering puberty. It brought back memories of my entrance into the same. It brought to mind that those things for which we are regularly exposed to do not cause so much curiosity. These young boys were required to remain sexless without feelings or hormones, just when their bodies were beginning to take off. I kept thinking that it could have helped them if they were taught about the normal body development they could expect, the urges and ideas which may spring to mind. The allowance of the natural arrangement of public showering, with the nudity exposure indicated, but allowance for one's privacy and dignity as the person is comfortable, could also have helped in their adjustment to puberty. Of course, this was a movie, but it is a good lesson to anyone dealing with pubescent kids. Simon Burke was excellent in his portrayal of his character.