Break of Day (film)
| Break of Day | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ken Hannam |
| Produced by | Patricia Lovell |
| Written by | Cliff Green |
| Starring |
Sara Kestleman Andrew McFarlane |
| Music by | George Dreyfus |
| Cinematography | Russell Boyd |
| Edited by | Max Lemon |
Production company |
Clare Beach Films |
| Distributed by |
Greater Union Umbrella Entertainment |
Release dates | 31 December 1976 |
Running time | 112 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$500,000[1] or $615,000[2] |
Break of Day is a 1976 Australian film set immediately after World War I.
Plot
In the 1920s, young war veteran Tom Cooper lives in the small town of Tetlow with his pregnant wife. He falls in love with visiting artist Alice Hughes, but their relationship is threatened by the arrival of Alice's bohemian friends from the city.
Cast
- Sara Kestelman as Alice Hughes
- Andrew McFarlane as Tom Cooper
- Ingrid Mason as Beth
- Tony Barry as Joe
- Eileen Chapman as Susan
- John Bell as Arthur
- Ben Gabriel as Mr Evans
- Dennis Olsen as Roger
- Geraldine Turner as Sandy
- Maurie Fields as Lou
- Malcolm Phillips as Robbie
Production
The script was an original by Cliff Green who had adapted Picnic at Hanging Rock for Pat Lovell. Green gave her a copy of the script on the last day of Picnics shoot and she was immediately interested. Lovell:
While it isn't a 'women's film', it is the sort of film – like 'Picnic' – that women would like to go to with their husbands. We've had a lot of pornography and a lot of violence, and I think people are ready for a love story. This is a very real one. and even though it's set in 1920, it could happen at any time. It's a story with a tremendous amount of charm. Essentially what it says is that people can love more than one person, but be out of communication with one of them. I think a lot of people will identify with it.[3]
The budget was raised from the Australian Film Commission, the Victorian government, the Nine television network and Greater Union. Shooting began in April 1976 near Maldon in central Victoria.[1] The Gallipoli flashback scenes were shot at Portsea.[4]
Hannam's wife Wendy Dickson worked as production designer.[5]
Reception
The film received some good reviews and was popular in Melbourne but performed poorly in Sydney and failed to recoup its budget.[4]
Cliff Green later published a novelisation of the script.[6]
Home Media
Break of Day was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in January 2010. The DVD includes the theatrical trailer as a special feature.[7]
References
- 1 2 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 310
- ↑ "Production Survey", Cinema Papers, June–July 1976 p61
- ↑ "HOPES ARE HIGH AT 'BREAK OF DAY'.". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 11 August 1976. p. 42. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- 1 2 David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p106-107
- ↑ "DRAPER'S STORE A GOLDMINE FOR "Break of Day" DESIGNER.". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 22 December 1976. p. 9. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "THE PEAK THAT TIPS THE STARS.". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 22 December 1976. p. 122. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "Umbrella Entertainment". Retrieved 16 May 2013.
External links
- Break of Day at Australian Screen Online
- Break of Day at the Internet Movie Database
- Break of Day at Oz Movies