Paperback Hero (1999)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 36min
- Comedy, Romance
- 25 Mar 1999 (Australia)
- Movie
An Australian truck driver writes romance novels. His engaged, tomboyish, crop duster best friend's name, Ruby Vale, is unasked used as author. Complications arise when his novel takes off. Will they remain friends or...?
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Claudia Karvan | ... |
Ruby Vale
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| Hugh Jackman | ... |
Jack Willis
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| Angie Milliken | ... |
Ziggy Keane
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Andrew S. Gilbert | ... |
Hamish
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| Jeanie Drynan | ... |
Suzie
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| Bruce Venables | ... |
Artie
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Barry Rugless | ... |
Mad Pete
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| Barry Lea | ... |
Policeman
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Stephen Collins | ... |
Cafe Drinker
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Randel Ross | ... |
Auctioneer
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Bill Watson | ... |
Mr. Reece
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Scott Nugent | ... |
Bag Pipe Player
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Brooke Fairley | ... |
Dancing Girl
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| Ross Marsden | ... |
Country Pub drinker
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Charles Little | ... |
Errol
(as Charlie Little)
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| Ritchie Singer | ... |
Ralph
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| Tony Barry | ... |
Mack
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Larisa Chen | ... |
Receptionist
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Vashti Pontakas | ... |
Ella
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Michael Forde | ... |
Journalist
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Catherine Miller | ... |
Contestant
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| Andrew Buchanan | ... |
City Drunk
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Simon Burvill-Holmes | ... |
M.C.
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Leon Delaney | ... |
Radio Announcer
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| Daniel Murphy | ... |
Make up artist
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Adam Ray | ... |
Clive Rooney
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Douglas Hedge | ... |
George West
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| Russell Dykstra | ... |
Stage hand
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Robyn Moore | ... |
Character Voice (voice)
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Steve Ridley | ... |
Character Voice (voice)
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Diana McLean | ... |
Harmony
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Benny | ... |
Lace
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Directed by
| Antony J. Bowman | ... | (as Anthony Bowman) |
Written by
| Antony J. Bowman | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Lance W. Reynolds | ... | producer |
| Dani Rogers | ... | co-producer |
| John Winter | ... | producer |
Music by
| Burkhard von Dallwitz | ||
Cinematography by
| David Burr | ||
Editing by
| Veronika Jenet | ||
Editorial Department
| Arthur Cambridge | ... | color timer |
| Jane Cole | ... | assistant editor |
| Maria Kaltenthaler | ... | first assistant editor |
| Laurent Seibert | ... | assistant editor |
| Matt Thomas | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| Faith Martin | ||
Production Design by
| Jon Dowding | ||
Art Direction by
| Adam Head | ||
Set Decoration by
| Paul Hurrell | ||
Costume Design by
| Louise Wakefield | ||
Makeup Department
| Margaret Stevenson | ... | hair styles supervisor / makeup supervisor |
| Maree Stuartt | ... | makeup artist (as Maree McDonald) |
| Peter Woodward | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Rosslyn Abernethy | ... | production manager |
| Troy Clarke | ... | assistant unit manager |
| David Suttor | ... | unit manager |
| Sylvia Walker-Wilson | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Marc Ashton | ... | third assistant director |
| Matthew Bartley | ... | second assistant director |
| Charles Rotherham | ... | first assistant director |
| Ian 'Thistle' Thorburn | ... | second unit director |
| Rob Visser | ... | assistant director: second unit |
Art Department
| Bob Daley | ... | scenic artist |
| Graham Dunn | ... | stand-by carpenter |
| Tony Falloon | ... | photographic artist |
| Chrissy Feld | ... | design assistant |
| Bruce Fletcher | ... | carpenter |
| Doug Franks | ... | painter |
| Andrew Gardiner | ... | construction manager |
| Quentin Hall | ... | sign artist |
| Pete Hill | ... | carpenter |
| Ben Hurrell | ... | graffiti artist |
| Dean Maguire | ... | art department assistant |
| Noel McCarthy | ... | lead man |
| Katie Nott | ... | art department coordinator |
| Adam Smigielski | ... | scenic artist |
| Michelle Sotheren | ... | set dresser |
| Chris Weir | ... | carpenter |
| Harry Zettel | ... | stand-by props |
Sound Department
| Ross Brewer | ... | dialogue editor |
| Greg Burgmann | ... | sound recordist |
| Craig Butters | ... | sound effects editor |
| John Dennison | ... | adr recordist / foley editor / re-recording mixer / sound supervisor |
| Gary Dixon | ... | boom operator |
| Luke Dunn Gielmuda | ... | sound effects assistant |
| Paul Huntingford | ... | foley artist |
| Duncan McAllister | ... | foley editor / foley recordist |
| John Patterson | ... | sound effects editor / sound effects (as John Cowper Patterson) / supervising sound editor |
| Megan Shaw | ... | dialogue assistant |
| Tony Vaccher | ... | re-recording mixer / sound supervisor |
Special Effects by
| Peter Keane | ... | special effects technician |
| William McLaggan | ... | special effects assistant |
| Rodney Russell | ... | special effects assistant |
| Mark Harry Ward | ... | special effects coordinator |
Visual Effects by
| Morgane Furio | ... | digital compositor |
Stunts
| Danny Baldwin | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Sean Barnes | ... | still photographer |
| Lester Bishop | ... | key grip |
| George Caramalis | ... | electrician |
| Terry Cook | ... | grip |
| Glen Dawe | ... | best boy |
| Steve Gordon | ... | best boy |
| Chris Holland | ... | generator operator |
| Mike Kelly | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
| David 'Rusty' Leckonby | ... | grip assistant |
| Richard Merryman | ... | camera operator |
| Luke Nixon | ... | video split operator |
| Graham Rutherford | ... | gaffer |
| Ricky Schamburg | ... | clapper loader / first assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Gary Shearsmith | ... | grip: second unit |
| Ian 'Thistle' Thorburn | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Jack Wareham | ... | assistant camera (as John Wareham) / focus puller (as John Wareham) |
Casting Department
| Kristen Dale | ... | casting associate (as Kristin Dale) |
| Damien Rossi | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Saffron Firkins | ... | costume cutter |
| Helen Maggs | ... | costume stand-by |
| Graham Purcell | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Sandi Allan | ... | location assistant |
| Greg Brummell | ... | location runner |
| Robin Clifton | ... | location manager: Sydney |
| Jamie McLennan | ... | location scout |
| Chris Strewe | ... | location manager |
| Jason Mack | ... | location security officer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Matthew Arnold | ... | musician: violin |
| Tanja Crouch | ... | music licensing |
| Robin Gray | ... | music recordist |
| Geoffrey Hales | ... | musician: percussion |
| David Herzog | ... | musician: electric guitar solo |
| Michael Letho | ... | music mixer / music recordist |
| Daryl McKenzie | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Gary O'Grady | ... | music editor |
| Rudolf Osadnik | ... | orchestra leader |
| Keith Thomas | ... | musician: fairlight operator |
| Burkhard von Dallwitz | ... | music producer (as Burkhard Dallwitz) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Katherine Butler | ... | script consultant |
| Jenny Quigley | ... | continuity |
| Katharine Thornton | ... | script consultant |
Additional Crew
| Damian Eggins | ... | unit assistant |
| Simon Feeney | ... | assistant to producer |
| Sean Gilligan | ... | production runner |
| Ed Jenner | ... | unit assistant |
| Daryl Jones | ... | pilot: cessna |
| Nadeen Kingshoff | ... | production accountant |
| Louisa Kors | ... | production secretary / production staff |
| Bruce McGarvie | ... | pilot: bi-plane |
| Jason O'Toole | ... | pilot: cessna |
| Gerard Shaw | ... | base runner |
| Annette Smith | ... | publicist |
| Sandy Stevens | ... | coordinator: Sydney |
| Jan Stott | ... | production coordinator (as Stottie) |
| Pam Suchman | ... | production executive: Archer Films |
Thanks
| Elle Croxford | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Becker Entertainment (1999) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- Icon Film Distribution (2017) (World-wide)
- Polygram Filmed Entertainment
- Universal Pictures (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
- Conja (digital effects)
Other Companies
- Audioloc Sound Design (sound post-production)
- Lydiard and Rossi Casting (extras casting)
- Optical & Graphics (title design)
- Spectrum Films (picture editing rooms)
- Spectrum Films (post-production facilities)
- Springett Optical Services (film opticals)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Jack Willis is a handsome roadtrain driver with a secret - he has just become a top-selling romance novelist. However, being a 'man's man' in the Australian outlook, to avoid embarrassment, he needs a name, a woman's name - and he chooses that of his best friend, Ruby Vale. He must do some fancy footwork to continue the charade when the glamorous city publisher, Ziggy, arrives in dusty outback Lucktown to sign 'Ruby Vale' to a major book deal. Ruby agrees to help Jack though it's for her own gain as well - the publisher will pay for her coming wedding (with Hamish, Jack's buddy). Accompanied by Jack, Ruby goes to Sydney to meet the media, appear on TV and cocktail parties, etc. Gradually, Jack realizes that he has fallen in love with Ruby, while Ruby is also touched by Jack's novel. However, Hamish arrives in Sydney a few days later and asks both of them to stop all these foolish things...
Written by L.H. Wong |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He's hard, tough ... and doesn't give a XXXX for anything ... except romantic novels See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Nindigully pub, prominently featured in the film as the Boomerang café, is a real life pub, essentially a town in itself (population 6), located 45 km from the nearest town. It is the oldest hotel (pub) in Queensland, operating continuously since 1864. See more » |
| Goofs | During the opening credits, the road train is filmed from the air. A helicopter's shadow (presumably the helicopter doing the filming) can be seen briefly on the ground below. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in On Thin Ice/The Memory Pill/Love Her Way (2007). See more » |
| Soundtracks | She's Taken My Words See more » |
| Quotes |
Jack Willis:
I've written a book. Ruby Vale: What kind of book? Jack Willis: A novel. Anyway, it's got your name on it. Ruby Vale: What? A book with me in it? Jack Willis: No, a book with your name on it, like on the cover. Ruby Vale: Like I wrote it? Jack Willis: Yeah. Ruby Vale: Why didn't you put your own name on it? Jack Willis: It's a... it's a... a romance novel. See more » |