A modern-day politician is faced with an incomprehensible in this mystical-fantasy. Senator Rast is a very powerful man. But his is nothing compared to the extraordinary power of the ...
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Title: Harlequin (1980)
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4 wins & 6 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Powell | ... | Gregory Wolfe | |
| David Hemmings | ... | Nick Rast | |
| Carmen Duncan | ... | Sandra Rast | |
| Broderick Crawford | ... | Doc Wheelan | |
| Gus Mercurio | ... | Mr. Bergier | |
 |
Alan Cassell | ... | Mr. Porter |
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Mark Spain | ... | Alex Rast |
| Alyson Best | ... | Alice | |
|
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Sean Myers | ... | Benny Lucas |
|
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Mary Simpson | ... | Zoe Cayce |
|
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Bevan Lee | ... | Mr. Robinson |
|
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Neville Teede | ... | Dr. Barthelemy |
|
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Mary Mackay | ... | Miss Edith Twist |
|
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John Frawley | ... | Dr. Lovelock |
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Nita Pannell | ... | Mabel Wheelan |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
A modern-day politician is faced with an incomprehensible in this mystical-fantasy. Senator Rast is a very powerful man. But his is nothing compared to the extraordinary power of the enigmatic stranger who mysteriously comes to "visit" him. Possessing uncanny magical prowess and miraculous psychic abilities, the peculiar, but seemingly benevolent, visitor quickly gains a spell-binding hold over the senator and his family. But a power-lusting political backer is also vying for control over the up-and-coming senator. And he would kill the influential stranger, without question, for that power. But he and the senator are about to be enlightened. Written by Rone Barton Lokarr <sandbox2@ix.netcom.com>
Taglines:
Frightening, fascinating, evil or good? [DVD Australia] See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
AustraliaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
28 March 1980 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
Dark Forces See more »Filming Locations:
Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaEdit
Box Office
Budget:
AUD 850,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Production Co:
Farflight Investments, The Australian Film Commission, West Australian Film Council See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This film is a modern-day re-telling of the classic Rasputin story. The names of the main characters are named after Rasputin and the last family of the House of Romanov. The historic events of these real people in the early 1900s inspired the film's story. The monk Rasputin was assassinated when he had gained to much influence on the Royal Russian Romanov Court after having (it appeared) cured the Tsar's son of hemophilia. In this movie, Gregory Wolf (Robert Powell) cures Senator Nick Rast's son Alex (Mark Spain of leukemia. Politically, Senator Rast is being groomed as a future president of the country. See more »Connections
Referenced in Roadgames: A lecture by Richard Franklin, Barbi Taylor, and Brian May. 20 November 1980 (1981) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Despite a potentially rich premise and the presence of David Hemmings (a personal favorite of mine) , this was a rather disappointing and overly confusing film. The plot more or less is a bizarre re-working of the Rasputin legend and revolves on a charismatic magician who infiltrates in a political family to cure the son of his leukemia, but then continues with interfering in the husband's career as a replacement-senator. This terrifically mystic idea is pretty much ruined by a bad script, a whole lot of supernatural mumbo-jumbo and a wooden performance by Robert Powell. I was hoping to see some exciting horror effects and eerie make up but "Harlequin" is very tame and lifeless. David Hemmings is okay, and so is the young actor Mark Spain. Especially after his cure, he turns into a spooky and mysterious little brat. In short: this easily could have been one of the most ingenious fantasy-tales of the eighties but it became a failure instead. Director Wincer went on directing less ambitious and more comic movies such as "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man", "Free Willy" and "Crocodile Dundee in LA".