Dr. Plonk (2007)

A scientist & inventor in 1907, Dr Plonk, predicts that the world will end in 101 years, unless something is done about it. A comedy in the Charlie Chaplin / Buster Keaton tradition.

Director:

Rolf de Heer

Writer:

Rolf de Heer

Stars:

Nigel Martin, Paul Blackwell, Magda Szubanski

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nigel Martin	...	Dr. Plonk (as Nigel Lunghi)
Paul Blackwell	...	Paulus
Magda Szubanski	...	Mrs. Plonk
Wayne Anthoney	...	Prime Minister Stalk
Phoebe Paterson de Heer	...	Maltreated Maid
Bogdan Koca	...	Knock-Down Policeman
Quentin Kenihan	...	Man on Trolley
Sam Brooks	...	Chauffeur & Busking Clown
Celine O'Leary	...	Park Bench Woman
Joey Kennedy	...	Park Bench Woman
Joanna McGovern	...	Park Bench Woman
Jeff Lang	...	Irascible Old Man / City Policeman
Joshua Jaeger	...	Botanic Gardens Policeman
Pip Schapel	...	Hippy Girl
Chris Farrant	...	Dog Walker

Storyline

A scientist & inventor in 1907, Dr Plonk, predicts that the world will end in 101 years, unless something is done about it. A comedy in the Charlie Chaplin / Buster Keaton tradition.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | scientist | plonk | inventor | black and white | 

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Taglines:

Another film by Rolf de Heer

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund [Australia] Vertigo Productions

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 2007 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Doctor Plonk

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Parklands, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of about five feature film collaborations of actress Celine O'Leary (aka Celine Griffin) and director Rolf de Heer [to date, 2018]. The movies include: 'Dr. Plonk' (2007), 'The Quiet Room' (1996), 'Bad Boy Bubby' (1993), and 'Incident at Raven's Gate' (1988). The pair also worked on director Mojgan Khadem's 'Serenades' (2001) where she acted and de Heer was script editor.

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Connections

Featured in The Dr Plonk Score (2008)

User Reviews

Dr. Plonk ain't no Chaplin

Dr. Plonk is a silent black and white comedy along the lines of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin films. The story follows Dr. Plonk and his lazy drunken assistant Paulus, who in 1907 discover the world is going to end in the year 2008 and travel to the future to bring back proof when nobody believes them. For authenticity the film was shot with a hand crank camera using traditional techniques like under-cranking for the filming of chase sequences. While the film is entertaining, and features some fine acting (though the dog really steals the show in this department), what the film does most is remind everyone about how great and inimitable the masters like Keaton and Chaplin were. As an example, given a plot that brings a character from the year 1907 into the future to the year 2007, you'd think there would be some clever and unforgettable visual gags they could pull, poking fun at the absurdity of modern life. Instead, Plonk teleports into the future into such humdrum environments like abandoned warehouses and railway yards where the main gag is rather unimaginative Keystone cops type chase sequences. All in all it feels very much like a film school project, with a lot of homage to classic films, and very little genuine creativity.