The Facts of Life Down Under (1987) (TV)

Director:

Stuart Margolin

Writer:

Gordon Cotler (writer)

Release Date:

15 February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Blair, Tootie, Natalie, Jo, Beverly Ann, and Andy visit the land down under. Blair and Jo are warned...

Plot Keywords:

College | Vacation

Cast

Cloris Leachman	...	Beverly Ann Stickle
Lisa Whelchel	...	Blair Warner
Kim Fields	...	Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey
Mindy Cohn	...	Natalie Green
Mackenzie Astin	...	Andy Moffett
Nancy McKeon	...	Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek
Mario Van Peebles	...	David Johnson
Joss McWilliam	...	Nick Aintree
Jay Hackett	...	Kevin Colton
Andrew McKaige	...	Ren Calley
Noel Trevarthen	...	Roger Pitt
Misty Bernard	...	Jane Willis
Barbara-Jane Cole	...	Miss Carstairs
Garry Waddell	...	Hugo
Kristoffer Greaves	...	Denny

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Ashton Park, Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Crawford Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Golden Girls: Strange Bedfellows (#3.7)" (1987)

A lighthearted caper in the southern hemisphere

After having already invaded Paris, The Facts of Life girls head to Australia. Their international misadventures may seem innocent and sweet, but they were in reality a cover-up for a secret Communist plot to upset the world order by sending New York schoolgirls to sway wavering countries to the comrade cause.

Er, not really! :-) The Facts of Life Down Under has nothing to do with Communism or world domination, but it does involve a harrowing jewelry theft of global proportions...which in essence doesn't jibe with the show's premise of showcasing adolescent & college-aged women coping with life's problems. Not too many young women I'm familiar with find themselves being chased by tricky thieves and bumbling secret agents. Still, though, this TV movie does manage to capture most of what made the series so totally awesome - Tootie and Natalie get lost in the Outback, only to meet handsome men who set them back on the right path, while Beverly Ann and Andy spend some bonding time at a sheep farm (not bonding with the sheep, but with each other). With these subplots, it makes overlooking the ridiculous jewel heist main plot that much easier.

I have to give props to The Facts of Life Down Under for portraying some very gorgeous Australian scenery, both the geographical and the hottie hunk kind (including an early appearance by Mario Van Peebles). While it doesn't stay totally true to the spirit of the series, for the most part it does make an effort to find its heart.