Tim (1979)

Director:

Michael Pate

Writers:

Colleen McCullough (novel)
Michael Pate (writer)

Release Date:

13 July 1979 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A chance meeting. An impossible love story come true.

Plot:

Tim is a young man with below average intelligence. He works as a builder's labourer, and is often taken...

Plot Keywords:

Innocence | Swimming | Directorial Debut | Brother Sister Relationship | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Piper Laurie	...	Mary Horton
Mel Gibson	...	Tim Melville
Alwyn Kurts	...	Ron Melville
Pat Evison	...	Em Melville
Peter Gwynne	...	Tom Ainsley
Deborah Kennedy	...	Dawnie Melville
David Foster	...	Mick Harrington
Michael Caulfield	...	John Harrington
Margo Lee	...	Mrs. Harrington
James Condon	...	Mr. Harrington
Brenda Senders	...	Mrs. Porter
Kevin Leslie	...	Curly Campbell
Allan Penney	...	Mr. Thompson
Brian Barrie	...	Dr. Perkins
Geoff Usher	...	Minister

Also Known As:

Colleen McCullough's Tim (Australia) (complete title)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:S | UK:PG | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

When Piper Laurie's character comes outside to read while Tim is working in the yard, the book she is reading is "The Thorn Birds", written by Colleen McCullough, the same author as "Tim". When Tim joins her for tea he asks if the book is any good, and she responds that it is very interesting.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The boom and the shadow of the boom operator follow Mary out of her kitchen in the bottom right of the screen at the beginning of the film.

Movie Connections:

Version of Mary & Tim (1996) (TV)

Possibly the most unknown film Mel has done...

"Tim" is possibly the most unknown and under-rated of all the films Mel Gibson has done. It is certainly one of the best and proved, quite early in his career, that he knows his craft very well and is well able to carry off a challenging role to perfection. The title character, Tim, is seeking to know the adult world around him without an adults' understanding of the subtilties of life. Mel Gibson plays the part to perfection, neither feeling sorry for himself nor being so crass as to portray this child/man as "cute and silly". He is simple, "Not the full quid", as Tim puts it. But he feels all of an adults needs and finds the person to explain life to him in a way he can understand. Piper Laurie, as Mary, becomes the most important person in Tim's life; and she plays the role with a kindness and compassion usually not seen in today's actors. This film is a must for anyone concerned with raising and educating a child with the challenge of a mental handicap. One could hope that Mel will do more movies of this type, with the love and understanding and true actor's ability he shows in this, his second movie.