A young couple, living in a campus apartment complex, are repeatedly harassed by an eccentric plumber, who subjects them to a series of bizarre mind games while making unnecessary repairs to their bathroom.
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Title: The Plumber (TV Movie 1979)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Judy Morris | ... | Jill Cowper | |
| Ivar Kants | ... | Max | |
| Robert Coleby | ... | Brian Cowper | |
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Candy Raymond | ... | Meg |
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Henri Szeps | ... | David Medavoy |
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Yomi Abioudan | ... | Dr. Matu (as Yomi Abiodun) |
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Beverley Roberts | ... | Dr. Japari |
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Bruce Rosen | ... | Dr. Don Felder |
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Daphne Grey | ... | Caretaker's Wife |
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Meme Thorne | ... | Anna (as Mémé Thorne) |
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David Burchell | ... | Professor Cato |
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Paul Sonkkila | ... | Reg the Cleaner |
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Pam Sanders | ... | Ananas |
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Rick Hart | ... | Detective |
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Giovanni Giglio | ... | Italian Singer |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
In Adelaide, the wife of Dr. Brian Cowper, Jill Cowper, is writing her thesis at home for her Master's in Anthropology. When the plumber, Max, arrives unexpectedly to do a routine check and maintenance of the the bathroom pipes, Jill is stuck alone at home with the strange, talkative stranger. That day, he mentions spending some time in prison, frightening Jill. She talks about this to her friend Meg, her husband Brian and the superintendent's wife, but they all believe the plumber to be a simple, but nice man. Jill does not agree. There is a problem in the bathroom that brings Max back again, this time even longer. Over time, the tension between them increases. Finally, Jill finds a way to get rid of the plumber. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Taglines:
When your waterworks come back to haunt you! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
AustraliaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
November 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Wenn der Klempner kommt See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
AUD150,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.75 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The disease, Kuru, that Brian Cowper is investigating is a real disease. It is a form of spongiform encephalopathy, like 'mad cow disease". It is only found in Papua New Guinea and is caused by the habit of eating the remains of deceased ancestors, particularly the brains. The disease is incurable and affects the nervous system, leading the sufferers to lose control of their voluntary muscles. It is believed to have died out, with the last known sufferer dying in 2005. See more »Goofs
In the last shot of the plumber playing his guitar, there is music but he isn't moving his hands. See more »Connections
Referenced in South Australian Film Corporation 20th Birthday Celebration (1993) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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It's this line that they mean well and are kidding but they might not be, depending on the way which they push you, and how you react. So the constant revulsion eggs the wrong side of him. I do feel bad for him and understand him but terrorizing the woman is pure sociopathy. It's class envy. 'What is so special about her with these fixings and pretensions.' And he is actually smarter than being a plumber, but also a deviant so fits in nowhere. It was common then as basically all the rebellion and folk struggles of the 70s were not conducive to success in the same way as the squares and yuppies who didn't protest, but rather, paid their dues, rose the ladders institutionally and took the blows. Rebellious kids should be taught which of the two lead to better outcomes. Of course coming from opposite tracks rigs it as well. But it's also her specifically, which is the nightmare of the film. One day someone will come, read you and oppose you, and it won't be fair. She does yoga and such. Studying tribal cultures from their ivory tower. She wins, underhanded but fair. It's all very on point and funny, bordering on too much, but nicely weaved in this genre package.