Dogs in Space (1986)

Director:

Richard Lowenstein

Writer:

Richard Lowenstein (written by)

Release Date:

1 January 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The film is set in a house occupied by a collection of social misfits. The main storyline is that of a strange musician's relationship with a girl...

Plot Keywords:

Punk | Melbourne Australia | Australia | New Wave Music | Drug Addiction

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Hutchence	...	Sam
Saskia Post	...	Anna
Nique Needles	...	Tim
Deanna Bond	...	The Girl
Tony Helou	...	Luchio
Chris Haywood	...	Chainsaw man
Peter Walsh	...	Anthony
Laura Swanson	...	Clare
Adam Briscomb	...	Grant
Sharon Jessop	...	Leanne
Edward Clayton-Jones	...	Nick
Martii Coles	...	Mark
Chuck Meo	...	Charles
Caroline Lee	...	Jenny
Fiona Latham	...	Barbara

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (re-rating: 2009) | Australia:R | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Burrowes Film Group

Trivia:

After Anna and Sam's fight, Anna goes to her Mum's house and watches an old movie on TV with her. That movie is My Man Godfrey (1936).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film is set in 1978 but involves a sub-plot focusing on debris from the space station Skylab, which didn't crash until 1979.

Quotes:

Tim:That's TV, Sammy. That's what you watch when you've got no brain -- like you and me.

Movie Connections:

Features "Thunderbirds" (1965)

Soundtrack:

Rooms For the Memory

Interesting document of a forgotten era.

I had fond memories of this movie for years, but on a recent re-viewing I was put off by the obnoxiousness of many of the characters here. They all seem shallow and self-obsessed, but that is probably an accurate portrayal of this period in Melbourne music history, and my reaction most likely has a lot to do with getting older, and being less sympathetic to the follies of youth.

'Dogs In Space' documents a fairly obscure but important period of Australian music history - the "little bands" scene, when punk turned weirder, artier, and generally more electronic. No other music scene in the world was EXACTLY the same, but the New York 'No Wave' era is the closest equivalent. Out of this melee came cult heroes The Birthday Party, but also many other acts that were hardly recorded, if recorded at all. This movie attempts to redress that. Director Richard Lowenstein lived in the house that inspired this story and hung out with the real band that is fictionalized here.

While not perfect, this movie has a lot of energy, some great music on the soundtrack (Iggy, Boys Next Door, Eno, Gang Of Four, Marching Girls), and there's enough of interest going on to make it highly recommended to anyone curious about late 70s/early 80s music. The late Michael Hutchence (INXS) may have rough acting chops, but he exudes enough charisma to make you wonder what might have been movie-wise for him.

By the way, keep an eye open for an early appearance of Noah Taylor now seen in more mainstream Hollywood fare like Tomb Raider!