Shame (1988/I)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Steve Jodrell

Writers:

Beverley Blankenship (written by)
Michael Brindley (written by)

Release Date:

15 July 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Their town has a secret . . .

Plot:

Asta Cadell, a lawyer traveling through the Australian Outback on holiday, stops in a small Western...

Plot Keywords:

Wet T Shirt | Rape | Nipples Visible Through Clothing | Lesbian Subtext | Sergeant

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Bill McCluskey	...	Ross (as Bill McClusky)
Allison Taylor	...	Penny
Deborra-Lee Furness	...	Asta Cadell
Tony Barry	...	Tim Curtis
Simone Buchanan	...	Lizzie Curtis
Gillian Jones	...	Tina Farrel
Peter Aanensen	...	Sgt. Wal Cuddy
Margaret Ford	...	Norma Curtis
David Franklin	...	Danny Fiske
Phil Dean	...	Gary
Stig Wemyss	...	Bobby (as Graeme 'Stig' Wemyss)
Douglas Walker	...	Andrew
Matthew Quartermaine	...	Brian
Matt Hayden	...	Wayne
Warren Jones	...	Bruce

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia

Company:

Barron Entertainment Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Shame (1992) (TV)

Shame about the small release

An excellent and absorbing Australian drama made and released in 1987, SHAME featuring Deborah Lee Furness is a genuine surprise powerhouse thriller. She plays a lawyer having a solo motorbike riding holiday when to her alarm, she gets trapped in a misogynistic country town. Local louts see her as "fair game" and then find the tables turned when her legal talons return to jail them for their brute behavior. A great role for any woman SHAME is well played by the talented and tough Furness. Interesting teen actor Simone Buchanan seen in the wonderful kids movie RUN REBECCA RUN is a local girl also terrorized by the boys.It is a combination of events against town women that sees Furness take a very tough legal stand, making the Civic leaders and their boozy blokes world accountable for this social damage. Possibly inspired by news items and well directed by Steve Jodrell, a (later) TV-only director SHAME did not get a big release thus crippling its initial available audience. Not screened on TV or profiled much after 1989, SHAME might benefit from a remake if the dynamics of this small taut film were slightly enlarged. Furness is the happy wife of Broadway performer and cinema X Man Hugh Jackman which is possibly why she is not seen on screens very often anymore.. A DVD release for SHAME is long overdue. A remake is also welcome. It is a good story and great pieces for strong unknown new actors. Other Australian films as strong similar references are THE BOYS and THE CARS THAT ATE Paris.