Age of Consent (1969)

A grizzled Australian painter decides to jolt his stale creativity in a remote island on the Great Barrier Reef, where he meets an alluring young islander who becomes his enchanting model. Could the untamed girl be his long-awaited muse?

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

Peter Yeldham (screenplay), Norman Lindsay (novel)

Stars:

James Mason, Helen Mirren, Jack MacGowran

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Mason	...	Bradley Morahan
Helen Mirren	...	Cora
Jack MacGowran	...	Nat Kelly
Neva Carr-Glynn	...	Ma Ryan (as Neva Carr-Glyn)
Andonia Katsaros	...	Isabel Marley
Michael Boddy	...	Hendricks
Harold Hopkins	...	Ted Farrell
Slim DeGrey	...	Cooley (as Slim De Grey)
Max Meldrum	...	TV Interviewer
Hudson Faucett	...	New Yorker (as Hudson Faussett)
Peggy Cass	...	His Wife
Eric Reiman	...	An Art Lover
Frank Thring	...	Godfrey
Tommy Hanlon Jr.	...	Levi-Strauss (as Tommy Hanlon Jnr.)
Dora Hing	...	Receptionist

Storyline

An elderly artist thinks he has become too stale and is past his prime. His friend (and agent) persuades him to go to an off-shore island to try once more. On the island he rediscovers his muse in the form of a young girl.

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Plot Keywords:

painting | island | artist | dream girl | alcoholism | 

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Taglines:

Filmed on Australia's Great Barrier Reef!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Age of Consent

Filming Locations:

Ajax Filmcentre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nautilus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second of two theatrical movies that British Producer and Director Michael Powell filmed in Australia. The first being They're a Weird Mob (1966).

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Goofs

When Mirren's character strips off her frock beside the boat and dives nude, she is wearing only a pair of swim fins. However, when she gets to the bottom, she is wearing a dive mask and snorkel.

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Quotes

Cora: You only want me for the pictures.

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Crazy Credits

Lonsdale ... Godfrey the dog

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Alternate Versions

Although initially passed intact with an 'X' the distributors decided to opt for an 'A' certificate for UK cinemas and the film was cut accordingly. The nudity during the opening bedroom scene was removed, as was some suggestive dialogue and shots of the nude Cora posing for Bradley. Video releases were raised to a 15 but featured the same cut print though the 2008 Sony DVD finally saw the film restored and uncut.

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Connections

Featured in Helen Mirren a Conversation with Cora (2009)

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Soundtracks

Guilty
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting and Harry Akst
Lyrics by Gus Kahn

User Reviews

A light film, with some hilarious moments.

Compared to the many classics Michael Powell had previously directed, this Australian film is just a light, piece of fluff, but it is worth watching to see the young Helen Mirren and another solid performance by James Mason, who must have had a particular interest in playing this part as he also co-produced the film. Don't be misled by the title, the issue of sexual relations between an older man and an under-age girl is only really hinted at, the main theme being the need for an artist to find new inspiration. The tone of the film is essentially light, and, for me, the highlight is a couple of hilarious scenes in which Jack McGowran, as Mason's scrounging mate Nat Kelly, meets his comeuppance at the hands of a man-hunting neighbor of Mason's.