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
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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:
A new Australian Film from the Director of The Last Wave and Picnic at Hanging Rock 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:
AUD 150,000 (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
Peter Weir based the movie on two real-life incidents. The first involved two of Weir's friends, who suffered through a number of house-calls made by an incessantly talkative yet incompetent plumber. The second involved Weir himself riding in a cab in the late 1960s with a driver who appeared to be a hippie. When the pair began discussing the Vietnam war, the driver espoused numerous fascist and pro-war sentiments, concluding his diatribe by expressing a desire to see the entire nation of Vietnam destroyed with an atomic bomb. 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 »Frequently Asked Questions
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A married graduate student takes some time off to work on her thesis and play housewife to her doctor husband while living in a University apartment complex. One day, a plumber shows up unannounced claiming he needs to do routine maintenance but ends up making a terrible mess of her bathroom. Soon, she finds the plumber is always around, a bit snoopy, and may have ulterior motives. The Plumber is pretty good, especially considering it was apparently a TV movie, but it is a bit on the dull side. As seems to be a theme with Mr. Weir, this film explores the concept of The Other within the framework of a horror-thriller. I'd argue this is even more successful to me than Wave or Paris were, perhaps because it's main focus was on two individuals. It explores both sides and the ambiguity serves the narrative instead of causing confusion.