From en.wikipedia.org:
[date=July 2015] [date=August 2021] {{Infobox film | name = End Play | image =
| caption =
| director = Tim Burstall
| producer = Tim Burstall<br>Alan Finney (associate)
| writer = Tim Burstall
| based_on = [_End Play_]
| narrator =
| starring = [George Mallaby]
| music = Peter Best
| editing = David Bilcock
| cinematography = Robin Copping
| studio = Hexagon Productions
| distributor = Roadshow
| released = [1976]
| runtime = 114 mins
| country = Australia
| language = English
| budget = A$294,000<ref name="murray"/>
| gross = A$800,000 (Australia)<ref name="stratton"/>
}}
_END PLAY_ is a 1975 Australian thriller film directed by Tim Burstall and starring George Mallaby, John Waters and Ken Goodlet. It was an adaptation of the 1972 novel _End Play_ by Russell Braddon. It was made by Hexagon Productions.[1]
** Plot
Hitchhiker Janine Talbot is picked up and murdered by an unseen assailant.
Mark Gifford, a merchant sailor on leave, then disposes of the body,
attracting the suspicion of his wheelchair-using brother Robert. The police
become suspicious of both brothers, who are rivals over their half-cousin,
Margaret.
** Cast
- George Mallaby - Robert Gifford
- John Waters - Mark Gifford
- Ken Goodlet - Superintendent Cheadle
- Delvene Delaney - Janine Talbot
- Charles Tingwell - Doctor Fairburn
- Belinda Giblin - Margaret Gifford
- Robert Hewett - Sergeant Robinson
- Kevin Miles - Charlie Bricknall
- Walter Pym - Stanley Lipton
- Sheila Florance - Mavis Lipton
- Reg Gorman - TV Reporter
- Adrian Wright - Andrew Gifford
- Jan Friedl - Policewoman
- Vicki Raymond - Robbie's Mother
- Elspeth Ballantyne - Welfare Officer
- Terry Gill - Ticket Collector
** Production
Russell Braddon's novel was originally set in England but was relocated to
Australia.[2] Burstall made the film as part of a deliberate effort to move
away from "ocker material". He was attracted to Braddon's novel because it
would be simple to film as it was basically a two hander, while also preparing
_Eliza Fraser_ (1976). The movie was budgeted at $244,000 but eventually cost
$294,000.[3] Shooting commenced in January 1975.
The two leads, George Mallaby and John Waters, were familiar faces on
Australian television at the time.[4]
** Reception
The film performed reasonably at the box-office, and in 1979 reported that it
had just broken even. It also rated highly on television, the rights for
which earned Hexagon $70,000.<ref name="stratton"/> Burstall admitted the film
might have been more effective as a TV movie, but says it would have been
harder to make a profit that way.<ref name="murray"/>
The film is rated M in New Zealand for violence and cruelty.
** References
[Reflist]
** Bibliography
- Moran, Albert & Viethm, Errol. _Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema_ . Scarecrow Press, 2005.
** External links
- [0072938]
- _End Play_ (see http://www..ozmovies.com.au/movie/end-play) at Oz Movies
[Tim Burstall]
Category:1976 films Category:Australian thriller films Category:Films directed
by Tim Burstall Category:Films scored by Peter Best (composer) Category:Films
based on Australian novels Category:Films set in Australia Category:1970s
English-language films Category:1970s Australian films
[1970s-Australia-film-stub]