The Great Mint Swindle (2012)

It's the beginning of the 1980s boom in Western Australia. Larrikin brothers Ray, Brian and Peter Mickelberg spend their days abalone fishing, flying planes, looking for adventure and ... See full summary »

Director:

Geoff Bennett

Writers:

Paul Bennett, Reg Cribb

Stars:

Grant Bowler, Todd Lasance, Josh Quong Tart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Grant Bowler	...	Ray Mickelberg
Todd Lasance	...	Peter Mickelberg
Josh Quong Tart	...	Brian Mickelberg
Shane Bourne	...	Don Hancock
John Batchelor	...	Tony Lewandowski
Maya Stange	...	Sheryl Mickelberg
Caroline McKenzie	...	Peg Mickelberg
Abby Earl	...	Diana (as Abbey Earl)
Talei Howell-Price	...	Fay Mickelberg
Phil Bennett	...	Detective Slipper
Adam Booth	...	Detective Burke
Troy Coward	...	Eddie Jones
Jenny Davis	...	Mrs. Lewandowski
Rhoda Lopez	...	Alison Fan
Andrew Hale	...	Malcolm McCusker

Storyline

It's the beginning of the 1980s boom in Western Australia. Larrikin brothers Ray, Brian and Peter Mickelberg spend their days abalone fishing, flying planes, looking for adventure and developing new ways of making money. Their most bizarre venture? Selling a huge fake gold nugget "The Yellow Rose of Texas" to tycoon Alan Bond. A tale about two innocent men who become embroiled in one of the most famous heists in Australia's history. It is a mysterious twenty-year saga about their fight to clear their names over a crime that has never been solved.

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Plot Keywords:

criminal justice | 

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Channel 9 [Australia] Official Facebook

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 2012 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Sundowner

Filming Locations:

Sunset Hospital, Dalkeith, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cordell Jigsaw Productions, Worldwide Production Services

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bank scene was filmed at Gloucester Park, East Perth WA across the road from the WACA. The location manager found the location by luck after the previous best choice of the WACA was rejected for appearing 'too modern'.

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Goofs

The Fremantle prison admission is wrong. Prisoners are actually first taken through "reception" where they change to prison greens, not straight into the prison block as seen in this movie.

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Soundtracks

Take A Long Line
Written By Doc Neeson, John Brewster and Rick Brewster
Performed By The Angels

User Reviews

corrupt cops

This movie exposes the corruption rife in the Western Australian Police Force using coerced, fabricated and manipulated evidence. Not only the three Mickleberg brothers, but others have suffered at their hands such as Andrew Mallard, John Button, Darryl Beamish and Lloyd Rayney, all of whom have been exonerated or acquitted.

The complex plot, involving the audacious theft of a large quantity of gold from the State Mint, seems like Hollywood on steroids and yet the twists and turns are simply and accurately developed.

The strong family bond among the three Mickleberg brothers is beautifully portrayed by Grant Bowler, Todd Lasance & Josh Quong Tart. They contrast with the ruthless detective, Don Hancock, played perfectly by Shane Bourne, from smarmy to brutal, and whose end is well deserved.

I have reason to be grateful to the dedicated men and women of the WA Police Force but one can't help wondering whether the culture of corruption has been adequately addressed. In recent years, one of the lawyers who helped put the Micklebergs behind bars rose to become the State Attorney-General