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The Devil's Playground

  • 19761976
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Devil's Playground (1976)
  • Drama
Fred Schepisi's first feature is this lushly photographed period drama detailing a young boy's coming-of-age in a strict Catholic seminary in 1950s Australia.Fred Schepisi's first feature is this lushly photographed period drama detailing a young boy's coming-of-age in a strict Catholic seminary in 1950s Australia.Fred Schepisi's first feature is this lushly photographed period drama detailing a young boy's coming-of-age in a strict Catholic seminary in 1950s Australia.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Fred Schepisi
  • Writer
    • Fred Schepisi(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Charles McCallum
    • John Frawley
    • Arthur Dignam
Top credits
  • Director
    • Fred Schepisi
  • Writer
    • Fred Schepisi(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Charles McCallum
    • John Frawley
    • Arthur Dignam
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 37
    Video 29:15
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 37

    Photos27

    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)
    The Devil's Playground (1976)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles McCallum
    • Brother Sebastianas Brother Sebastian
    John Frawley
    • Brother Celianas Brother Celian
    Arthur Dignam
    Arthur Dignam
    • Brother Francineas Brother Francine
    Nick Tate
    Nick Tate
    • Brother Victoras Brother Victor
    Peter Cox
    • Brother Jamesas Brother James
    Jonathan Hardy
    Jonathan Hardy
    • Brother Arnoldas Brother Arnold
    Gerry Duggan
    • Brother Hanrahanas Brother Hanrahan
    Thomas Keneally
    • Father Marshallas Father Marshall
    Sheila Florance
    Sheila Florance
    • Mrs.Sullivanas Mrs.Sullivan
    Simon Burke
    • Tom Allenas Tom Allen
    John Diedrich
    • Fitzas Fitz
    Alan Cinis
    Alan Cinis
    • Waiteas Waite
    Richard Morgan
    • Smithas Smith
    Rowan Currie
    • Caseyas Casey
    Gary Pixton
    • Tomkinas Tomkin
    Michael David
    • Turneras Turner
    Warren Coleman
    Warren Coleman
    • Westawayas Westaway
    Marc Gough
    • Brownas Brown
    • Director
      • Fred Schepisi
    • Writer
      • Fred Schepisi(original screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Fred Schepisi's film, 'The Devil's Playground' is an intimate portrait of Tom, a thirteen-year-old struggling in spirit and body with the constraints of living in a Catholic seminary. It is also the story of the Brothers and how they cope with the demands of their faith. —hawkeye
    • adolescence
    • pubic hair
    • male frontal nudity
    • catholic
    • male full frontal nudity
    • 282 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Young men torn between physical desire and religious discipline
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This picture was one of fifty Australian films selected for preservation as part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Kodak / Atlab Cinema Collection Restoration Project.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: The Secret of NIMH/The Devil's Playground/Gregory's Girl/TRON (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      The Anniversary Waltz
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dave Franklin and Al Dubin (uncredited)

      [sung at the picnic by the Allen family when they visit Tom at school]

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A thought provoking "coming of age" film about a teenage boy at a Catholic Boarding School run by monks
    This was a very thought provoking film for me and after several years I'd love to see it again (I've seen it twice on TV). The young hero was so natural I felt I knew him, and he had a very likable personality. The two monks in mufti enjoying a night on the town were more down to earth and likable than most of the other monks at the Catholic boarding school and after successfully picking up two women in a pub they got cold feet! It was interesting to see how another monk who seemed very emotionally cold dealt with a trip to a mixed gender public swimming baths, and the amazing erotic dream he had afterwards. The subjects of troubled adolescence and religious repression were well explored. The film hasn't dated at all. I hope someone brings this out on a DVD.
    helpful•11
    2
    • harland-ncl
    • Apr 23, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Artsploitation Films (United States)
      • Fred Schepisi Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Прибежище Дьявола
    • Filming locations
      • Werribee Park Mansion, Werribee South, Victoria, Australia
    • Production companies
      • The Film House
      • The Australian Film Commission
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • A$300,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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