Paperback Hero (1999)

Jack Willis is a handsome roadtrain driver with a secret - he has just become a top-selling romance novelist. However, being a 'man's man' in the Australian outlook, to avoid embarrassment,... See full summary »

Director:

Antony J. Bowman

Writer:

Antony J. Bowman (novel)

Stars:

Claudia Karvan, Hugh Jackman, Angie Milliken

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Claudia Karvan	...	Ruby Vale
Hugh Jackman	...	Jack Willis
Angie Milliken	...	Ziggy Keane
Andrew S. Gilbert	...	Hamish
Jeanie Drynan	...	Suzie
Bruce Venables	...	Artie
Barry Rugless	...	Mad Pete
Barry Lea	...	Policeman
Steven Colling	...	Cafe Drinker
Randel Ross	...	Auctioneer
Bill Watson	...	Mr. Reece
Scott Nugent	...	Bag Pipe Player
Brooke Fairley	...	Dancing Girl
Ross Marsden	...	Country Pub drinker
Charles Little	...	Errol (as Charlie Little)

Storyline

Jack Willis is a handsome roadtrain driver with a secret - he has just become a top-selling romance novelist. However, being a 'man's man' in the Australian outlook, to avoid embarrassment, he needs a name, a woman's name - and he chooses that of his best friend, Ruby Vale. He must do some fancy footwork to continue the charade when the glamorous city publisher, Ziggy, arrives in dusty outback Lucktown to sign 'Ruby Vale' to a major book deal. Ruby agrees to help Jack though it's for her own gain as well - the publisher will pay for her coming wedding (with Hamish, Jack's buddy). Accompanied by Jack, Ruby goes to Sydney to meet the media, appear on TV and cocktail parties, etc. Gradually, Jack realizes that he has fallen in love with Ruby, while Ruby is also touched by Jack's novel. However, Hamish arrives in Sydney a few days later and asks both of them to stop all these foolish things...

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Plot Keywords:

publisher | secret | romance novelist | love | novelist | 

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Taglines:

He's hard, tough ... and doesn't give a XXXX for anything ... except romantic novels

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1999 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Paperisankari

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 93 min (Ontario)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nindigully pub, prominently featured in the film as the Boomerang café, is a real life pub, essentially a town in itself (population 6), located 45 km from the nearest town. It is the oldest hotel (pub) in Queensland, operating continuously since 1864.

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Goofs

During the opening credits, the road train is filmed from the air. A helicopter's shadow (presumably the helicopter doing the filming) can be seen briefly on the ground below.

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Connections

Featured in 60 Minutes: On Thin Ice/The Memory Pill/Love Her Way (2007)

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Soundtracks

"I Drove All Night"
Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg
Performed by Roy Orbison

User Reviews

A refreshing setting for an 'old' story that's entertaining

A refreshing setting for an 'old' story that's entertaining and well done! The 'downunder' folks have done a fine job on this 'old' theme that makes it well worth watching. Inspite of the 'jaded' reviews of certain folks, after watching movies and thinking about them for nearly 60 years, I'd say that this is one well worth a 2nd or even third watch. Definitely worth your time, if you are inclined to have some romantic fibers still firing.