Sleeping Dogs (1977)

Recluse Smith (Sam Neill) is drawn into a revolutionary struggle between guerillas and right-wingers in New Zealand. Implicated in a murder and framed as a revolutionary conspirator, Smith ... See full summary »

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writers:

Christian K. Stead (novel), Ian Mune (screenplay),

Stars:

Sam Neill, Nevan Rowe, Ian Mune

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sam Neill	...	Smith
Nevan Rowe	...	Gloria
Ian Mune	...	Bullen
Warren Oates	...	Col. Willoughby
Ian Watkin	...	Dudley
Clyde Scott	...	Jesperson
Donna Akersten	...	Mary
William Johnson	...	Cousins (as Bill Johnson)
Don Selwyn	...	Taupiri
Davina Whitehouse	...	Elsie
Melissa Donaldson	...	Melissa
Dougal Stevenson	...	News Reader
Bernard Kearns	...	Prime Minister
Raf Irving	...	Reporter
Tommy Tinirau	...	Old Maori Man

Storyline

Recluse Smith (Sam Neill) is drawn into a revolutionary struggle between guerillas and right-wingers in New Zealand. Implicated in a murder and framed as a revolutionary conspirator, Smith tries to maintain an attitude of non-violence while caught between warring factions.

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Plot Keywords:

new zealand | control | directorial debut | freedom fighter | resistance | 

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | Drama

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Details

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 April 1979 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Coup d'État

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

NZD 450,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aardvark Films, Broadbank Films, New Zealand Film Commission

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

New Zealand's then-Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, requested a private pre-release screening after hearing rumors that the film was intended as a criticism of his leadership.

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Goofs

An authentic assault rifle would be too heavy to "float" on the surface of the motel's swimming pool. (See the 'Trivia' section regarding the film's use of firearm replicas.)

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Quotes

Smith: [after discovering how he was framed as a terrorist] You bastards, you bastards.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'Sleeping Dogs' (2004)

User Reviews

i was confused

I was slightly confused by the content of this movie. From what I gathered, Sam Neill's character was a family man whose wife had an affair, and he was then mistaken for a guerrilla. There was plenty of guerrilla warfare on the streets who were trying to protest something. I couldn't quite gather what it was. There were plenty of shoot-em-up scenes on the streets and in the wilderness when Neil was trying to escape and clear his name. Other than that, I thought the movie was decent. The scene where he was imprisoned in a dank jail cell was harrowing and unforgettable, and I loved the part where he vomits on the guards to escape from the transport car. I sort of liked the movie and might recommend it.

** 1/2 out of ****