The Last Wave (1977)

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

Peter Weir (screenplay) &
Tony Morphett (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The Occult Forces. The Ritual Murder. The Sinister Storms. The Prophetic Dreams. The Last Wave.

Plot:

A Sydney lawyer defends five Aborigines in a ritualized taboo murder and in the process learns disturbing things about himself.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Murder | Court | Aborigine | Humming

Awards:

4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	David Burton
Olivia Hamnett	...	Annie Burton
David Gulpilil	...	Chris Lee (as Gulpilil)
Frederick Parslow	...	Rev. Burton
Vivean Gray	...	Dr. Whitburn
Nandjiwarra Amagula	...	Charlie
Walter Amagula	...	Gerry Lee
Roy Bara	...	Larry
Cedrick Lalara	...	Lindsey
Morris Lalara	...	Jacko
Peter Carroll	...	Michael Zeadler
Athol Compton	...	Billy Corman
Hedley Cullen	...	Judge
Michael Duffield	...	Andrew Potter
Wallas Eaton	...	Morgue Doctor
Jo England	...	Babysitter
John Frawley	...	Policeman
Jennifer De Greenlaw	...	Zeadler's Secretary (as Jennifer de Greenlaw)
Richard Henderson	...	Prosecutor
Penny Leach	...	Schoolteacher
Merv Lillie	...	Publican (as Merv Lilley)
John Meagher	...	Morgue Clerk
Guido Rametta	...	Guido
Malcolm Robertson	...	Don Fishburn
Greg Rowe	...	Carl
Katrina Sedgwick	...	Sophie Burton
Ingrid Weir	...	Grace Burton
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Llewellyn-Jones	...	Guest at Party (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Weir

Writing credits
Peter Weir		(screenplay) &
Tony Morphett		(screenplay) &
Petru Popescu		(screenplay)

Produced by
Hal McElroy	....	producer
Jim McElroy	....	producer (as James McElroy)

Original Music by
Charles Wain

Cinematography by
Russell Boyd		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Max Lemon

Production Design by
Goran Warff

Art Direction by
Neil Angwin

Set Decoration by
Bill Malcolm

Costume Design by
Annie Bleakley

Makeup Department
Lloyd James	....	assistant makeup artist
José Luis Pérez	....	hair stylist (as Jose Perez)
José Luis Pérez	....	makeup artist (as Jose Perez)

Production Management
Ross Matthews	....	production manager
Beverly Davidson	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Penny Chapman	....	third assistant director
Ian Jamieson	....	second assistant director
John Robertson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kevin Brewer	....	property buyer: South Australia
Greg Brown	....	construction manager: New South Wales
John Carroll	....	property buyer: New South Wales
Ron Fletcher	....	stagehand
Ken Hazelwood	....	carpenter
Ken James	....	stand-by propsman
Clark Munro	....	property buyer: South Australia
Herbert Pinter	....	construction manager: South Australia
Philip Worth	....	set maker (as Phil Worth)

Sound Department
Greg Bell	....	sound editor
Helen Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Don Connolly	....	sound recordist
David Cooper	....	boom operator
Phil Judd	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Mont Fieguth	....	special effects (as Monty Fieguth)
Bob Hilditch	....	special effects
Dennis Smith	....	special effects assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Dunstan	....	best boy
David Foreman	....	clapper loader
George Greenough	....	additional photographer
Klaus Jaritz	....	additional photographer
Keith Johnson	....	electrician
David Kynoch	....	still photographer
Merv McLaughlin	....	key grip
Mick Morris	....	electrician
Paul Moyes	....	electrician
John Seale	....	camera operator
Ron Taylor	....	additional photographer
Tony Tegg	....	gaffer
Tony Tegg	....	lighting technician
Michael White	....	assistant grip
David Williamson	....	focus puller
Sam Bienstock	....	electrician (uncredited)
George Greenough	....	underwater photographer (uncredited)
Ron Taylor	....	underwater photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daro Gunzberg	....	stand-by wardrobe

Editorial Department
Peter Fletcher	....	assistant editor
Justin Milne	....	assistant editor
James Parsons	....	color consultant

Other crew
Su Armstrong	....	production secretary
Gilda Baracchi	....	continuity
Lance Bennett	....	advisor: tribal Aboriginal matters
Penny Carl	....	production accountant
Beverly Davidson	....	location manager: South Australia
Fiona Gosse	....	secretary to producers (as Fiona Reynolds)
Philip Hearnshaw	....	production assistant: New South Wales
Frank Manley	....	caterer
Rod McMorran	....	production assistant: New South Wales
Mark Patterson	....	unit runner: South Australia
Brian Trenchard-Smith	....	promotional consultant

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The
• Ayer Productions
• Derek Power
• McElroy & McElroy

Distributors

• Cinema International Corporation (1977) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (UK) (1977) (UK) (theatrical)
• World Northal (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Europa Film (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1985) (Finland) (TV) (2000)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Rhino Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (TV)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• LW Editora (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Atlab  laboratory
• Atlab  sound post-production
• M & L Casting Consultants  casting
• Optical & Graphics  optical effects
• S.A. Railways  catering
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  post-production facilities
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  set construction
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

"Black Rain" - USA

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Italian | Aboriginal

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (2006) | Sweden:15 | UK:AA | USA:PG | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

This picture was a notable contemporary departure for actor Richard Chamberlain whose last few pictures had all been period costumers such as The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) (TV), The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976) and The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975) (TV) whilst moreover, Chamberlain had been well-known at the time for also starring in such other costumer period fare as Lady Caroline Lamb (1973) and The Music Lovers (1970).

Goofs:

Continuity: Change in speed of windshield wipers: This is because Richard Chamberlain's character has entered the Dreamtime. It is a Clue - not a Goof.

Quotes:

David Burton:What did I see?
Chris Lee:A dream.
David Burton:What are dreams?
Chris Lee:Dream like hearing ... seeing ... talking ... the way of knowing things.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (#10.19)" (2003)

Incredible!

This supernatural Peter Weir thriller is truly one of the most haunting and fascinating movies ever seen. Richard Chamberlain does his best performance here as the Australian lawyer who defends a group of young Aborigins accused of murder. As he gets closer on the case, he discovers more about the main defendant, Chris, and not least about himself. Chris tells him that he is a Mulkurul, which appear to be a race of supernatural beings that lived in Australia thousands of years ago. At the same time, extraordinary high rainfall seems to confirm the Aboriginal prophecy of the coming of the LAST WAVE, the one that will drown the world.

The dream sequences and the supernatural effects enhance this movie and make it a spectacular experience. Olivia Hamnett and David Gulpilil are solid in the supporting roles, as well as the chap with the difficult name who plays Charlie, the old Aborigin who can turn into an owl. The climax and the ending don't disappoint, in contrast to many other supernatural thrillers who fall flat after a promising hour or so. However, this can not be called a pure thriller. It is a drama as well and talks about spirituality and spiritual identity in the modern world. A masterful work by Peter Weir, the master of visually stunning dramas.