"Bangkok Hilton" (1989) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Ken Cameron

Writers:

Ken Cameron (story) &
Terry Hayes (story) ...

Release Date:

9 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Nicole Kidman stars as Katrina, a young Australian woman whose very life is threatened by the deception of a man she loves

Plot:

The story of Kat Stanton (Kidman), an Australian woman searching for her father who, whilst travelling back from London to Australia via Thailand...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Father | Police | Drugs | Prison

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Katrina Stanton
Denholm Elliott	...	Hal Stanton
Hugo Weaving	...	Richard Carlisle
Joy Smithers	...	Mandy Engels
Norman Kaye	...	George McNair
Jerome Ehlers	...	Arkie Ragan
Noah Taylor	...	Billy Engels
Gerda Nicolson	...	Lady Faulkner
Lewis Fiander	...	James Stanton
Richard Carter	...	Detective King
Tan Chandraviroj	...	Major Sara
Judy Morris	...	Catherine Faulkner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Alansu	...	Thai Police Sergeant
Vincent Ball	...	British Attache
Ambika Baxter	...	Immigration Officer, GOA
Lucy Bayler	...	Sarah
David Bennett	...	Sick Hospital Prisoner
Jonathan Biggins	...	O'Keefe
Amir Blazey	...	Indian Policeman
David Bookalil	...	Minister
Somsak Boonpetch	...	Thai Immigration Officer
Colin Borgonon	...	English Journalist
Brian Bovell	...	Postman
Terry Brady	...	Mechanic
Pauline Chan
Cary Cowling	...	Major Sara's agent #1
Adolfo Cruzado	...	Senior Guard
Joseph Dibbayawan	...	Airport Security #2
Quang Dinh	...	Priest
Kat Ditthavong	...	Prison Governor
Wallas Eaton	...	Gordon Fleming
Mishi Fukinishi	...	Japanese Officer #2
Lachelle Gaymon	...	Astra's Friend
Ron Hackett	...	Senior British Officer
Amber Haidar	...	Kat Aged 5
Norman Hodges	...	Taxi Driver #1
Sally Hudson	...	Qantas Ticket Clerk
Elliot Jurd	...	Scruffy Boy
Tavit Karmolphachak	...	Judge #1
Vachira Karmolphachak	...	Airport Security #1
Ali Kay	...	Carlisle's Servant
Clarissa Kaye-Mason	...	Mrs. Cameron
Bogdan Koca	...	Picture Editor
Forin Kool	...	Thai Policeman
Lois Larimore	...	American Woman at Airport
Deidre Lassau	...	Miss Howell
Lin Chin Lee	...	Gnut
Sinan Leong	...	1st Ticket Clerk, Bangkok
Tony Lo	...	Night Guard
Gandhi MacIntyre	...	Hotel Manager, GOA
Charlie Mallanoo	...	Thai Court Officer
Lindsay McCormack	...	Male Prisoner
Raina McKeon	...	Cashier Luxury Hotel, GOA
Van Michael	...	Thai Guard
Richard Moss	...	Scotland Yard Inspector
Kazuhiro Muroyama	...	Japanese Officer #1
Helen Mutkins	...	Jane
Thieu Mai Ngo	...	Old Prison Warder
Patricia Ng	...	Boarding Clerk
Patrick Ng	...	Storeholder
Maureen O'Shaughnessy	...	Law Office Receptionist
Kirsten Overend	...	Blonde with Arkie
Chris Panasbodi	...	Executioner
Tipee Panchee	...	Court Typist
Grace Parr	...	Thai Thief
Arthur Percival	...	Taxi Driver #2
Jay Pillay	...	Air India Assistant, GOA
Don Reid	...	Doctor
Monroe Reimers	...	Indian Major
Jaime Robertson	...	War Records Office, Private
Vasant Sanpardith	...	Judge #2
John Sheerin	...	Qantas Manager
Michael Sinclair	...	Sir Richard
Angeline Sinthavachiva	...	Carlisle's Secretary
Zahrina Snell	...	Departure Clerk, GOA
Ron Stephenson	...	War Records Office Corporal
Saravut Tantiprasut	...	Maj. Sara's agent #2
Michael Tauro	...	Prison Patient
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Astra (as Deborah Unger)
William Usic	...	British Corporal
Vanessa Walton	...	Arkie's New Girl
Ram Worton	...	Anat
Chin Yu	...	Thai Doctor
Sylvia Yuen	...	2nd Ticket Clerk, Bangkok

Runtime:

Sweden:251 min | USA:240 min | Australia:270 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Balmain High School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Movie Connections:

References The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Impressive...

When I first saw the series, I was 15 years old. Ever since I saw it, the first thing that came to mind whenever I heard the name Nicole Kidman was this series. And it was also something that tended to come up at the dinnertable when we were going back discussing television-shows.

Now, some 17 years later I accidentally stumbled upon the DVD and I was rather reserved about the thought of seeing it again because what else but disappointment was there to gain from seeing something which held a good memory but was surely going to be completely outdated.

Imagine my surprise that although it was rather dated, it had actually aged so well. Another surprise was finding no one less than Hugo Weaving playing a major role in it. An actor I had grown to love ever since I saw him in 'The Interview' and the later classics such as LOTR and the Matrix.

Bangkok Hilton has survived the test of time basically because of the really great acting performances, script, story and ambiance. And apparently this was all that it needed to remain the classic that it has become. And by no means the cinematography, which wouldn't stand a chance against even the average soap opera we see today.

When you compare the story and the screenplay to modern similar tales such as the prison-series OZ, you will find that it is really hopeless out of date. The hell-hole of a jail in which Kidman is kept, is like a Disneyride compared to what the men in Emerald City had to endure in OZ. You will find no 'spooning' practices in Bangkok Hilton if you know what I mean.

Perhaps this is what makes this mini series so great, that it's the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat rather than a form of (graphic) violence which seems to be todays primary ingredient for a success film-wise. Just see Labirinto Del Fauno if you want to check my point. That was a so called 'message movie' with really no message at all but in stead featured a been there done that war-drama and cardboard characters. Nonetheless, that movie was hailed by the public and professional movie critics when all it had to offer was a vapid contrast between fable and really graphic violence replacing what used to be a tale between good and evil and its 'grey zone'.

Bangkok Hilton confirmed what I suspected all along, namely that cinema (although achieving greater technical marvels day by day) is becoming increasingly more banal and formula driven, even in the successful, so called 'art house films'.

I'm sorry for letting this review turn out to be such a rant. Thanks for reading and see Bankok Hilton whenever you get a chance.

cheers!