The Efficiency Expert (1992)
"Spotswood" (original title)

An expert on productivity shows wacky workers in 1966 Australia how to run their moccasin factory like clockwork, despite laying off more than half the workforce.

Director:

Mark Joffe

Writers:

Max Dann, Andrew Knight

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Ben Mendelsohn, Alwyn Kurts

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Hopkins	...	Errol Wallace
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Carey
Alwyn Kurts	...	Mr. Ball
Bruno Lawrence	...	Robert, Carey's Father
John Walton	...	Jerry Finn
Rebecca Rigg	...	Cheryl Ball
Toni Collette	...	Wendy Robinson
Russell Crowe	...	Kim Barry
Angela Punch McGregor	...	Caroline Wallace
Dan Wyllie	...	Frank Fletcher
John Flaus	...	Gordon
Gary Adams	...	Kevin
Jeff Truman	...	Ron
Toni Lamond	...	Mrs. Lorna Ball
Jillian Murray	...	Ophelia, Carey's Mom (as Jillian Murray)

Storyline

Wallace is an efficiency expert, managing the high-profile downsizing of a major auto parts factory. But when he is hired to evaluate a small moccasin factory which seems from another era, Wallace has to reconsider the rapid modernization he advocates, as he is confronted by the human faces such plans hurt.

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Plot Keywords:

factory | moccasin | efficiency expert | downsizing | efficiency | 

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Taglines:

An everyday story about loyalty, betrayal, lust and footwear.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and brief mild violence

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Efficiency Expert

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Gross:

$101,307 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Commission, The, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Film Victoria

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Carey walks past two railway carriages with the word 'VLine' on them. VLine is the trading name of the State Transport Authority. It was formed in 1983 when the Victorian Railways was split into two organisations. However the film is set in the 1960s and Vline did not exist at this time.

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Quotes

Carey: Are you going to get married?
Frank: No, just engaged.

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Crazy Credits

The 1960s in Australia were a period of great upheaval, followed by downheaval and, eventually, heaval. Presiding over this indecision were great experts such as Errol Wallace and Jerry Finn. They were efficiency consultants.

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Connections

References The Sound of Music (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Catch the Wind"
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Performed by Donovan

User Reviews

They do good work "down under."

Who knew Hannibal Lector could be so subtly funny and filled with pathos. Hopkns turns in a marvelous role of the efficiency consultant who thinks nothing of recommending that half a work force be fired for better profits. Then he visits a down and out shoe company and meets his match in the Mendelshohn and Kurts characters and the rest of their workmates. Indeed, Kurts steals the film as the owner who lives back then and hopes that his efficiency expert can get him and his factory into the modern era, but does not expect it to be as brutal and painful as it is.

Kudos to all. If you want a droll comedy that gives remarkable insight into the human dilemma, rent this. You will not regret it. In closing, pay close attention to how Hopkins portrays a plethora of emotions with only his facial and non verbal reactions. He is a genius!