The Picture Show Man (1977)

Director:

John Power

Writers:

Joan Long (written by)
Lyle Penn (story)

Release Date:

February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

You haven't been to the movies until you've seen...

Plot:

At the beginnings of this centuary a man, his son and a piano player travel around Australia showing...

Plot Keywords:

Piano Player | Australia | Cinema | Movie Projector | Rival

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Rod Taylor	...	Palmer
John Meillon	...	Maurice 'Pop' Pym
John Ewart	...	Freddie Graves
Harold Hopkins	...	Larry Pym
Patrick Cargill	...	Fitzwilliam
Jelena Zigon	...	Madame Cavalli (as Yelena Zignon)
Judy Morris	...	Miss Lockhart
Garry McDonald	...	Lou
Sally Conabere	...	Lucy Lockhart
Jeanie Drynan	...	Mrs. Duncan
Don Crosby	...	Major Lockhart
Delore Whiteman	...	Mrs. Summers (as Dolore Whiteman)
Gerry Duggan	...	Hall Secretary
Tony Barry	...	Policeman
Ernie Bourne	...	Bookmaker

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

Three of the four films shown by Pym are not specifically identified. The first seems to be The Grand Duchess and the Waiter (1926) starring Adolphe Menjou and Florence Vidor. The other two are impossible to identify from the short clips shown. One seems to be something like a Tom Mix western. The last contains no recognisable stars and seems to be set in India. No film details nor copyright acknowledgements are included in the credits, except for the one identified film, On Our Selection (1920).

Quotes:

Maurice 'Pop' Pym: [about Palmer] Damn Yankee!

Movie Connections:

Features The Grand Duchess and the Waiter (1926)

Soundtrack:

Tap Tap On My Window

A bittersweet story of Australia's early film history

Few are better qualified than Joan Long to tell this, a story of the trials and tribulation of early Australian cinema. A renown film historian, she based the film on the recollections of real-life picture show man Lyle Penn, but also draws on the rich knowledge of the era she gained by rediscovering and interviewing many of its leading players.

Travelling picture showmen were once common in Australia. Living out of caravans or even tents, they serviced the rural areas that did not yet have their own permanent cinemas, often providing variety acts as part of the show.

The film's tone is somewhat reminiscent of these early films. The story is delineated (and performed) in the same broad strokes as every Australian classic from 'Dad and Dave' to 'The Castle'. All the usual characters are present - the uneasy young man, the eager young tomboy who can't bear to act like a proper young lady, the shifty villian. Yet the simple, enjoyable story is studded with authentic period details such as how films were presented to country audiences, and ultimately the effect that the coming of sound had on the phenomenon of the travelling showman.

Garry McDonald's performance as an opportunistic, shambolic pianist, is probably the most enjoyable, yet fans of `Muriel's Wedding' would do well to look out for an early appearance from Jeannie Drynan, who played Muriel's mother - and, as can be seen here, could once have given Audrey Hepburn a run for her money.

Though very much a product of its time, the film is still a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to Australia's rich film history - a fascinating story which, without scholars such as Long, might have disappeared forever.