Smash Palace (1981)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writers:

Roger Donaldson (written by)
Peter Hansard (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

30 April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There's No Road Back!

Plot:

Al Shaw's life revolves around motor racing and his back country junkyard, the "Smash Palace". His French wife...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage Problems | Chase | Kidnapping | Anger | Estrangement

Cast

Bruno Lawrence	...	Al Shaw
Anna Maria Monticelli	...	Jacqui Shaw (as Anna Jemison)
Greer Robson	...	Georgie Shaw
Keith Aberdein	...	Ray Foley
Desmond Kelly	...	Tiny
Lynne Robson	...	Linda
Margaret Umbers	...	Rose
Sean Duffy	...	Frank
Bryan Johnson	...	2nd Police Officer
Terence Donovan	...	Traffic Officer
Dick Rollo	...	Uncle Arthur
Ian Barber	...	Fight Leader
Mike Beytagh	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Brian Chase	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Ross Davies	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Colin Fredricksen	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Thomas King	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Chris Pasco	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Ewan Somerville	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Frank Taylor	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Ray Littlewood	...	Barman
Mike Wiggins	...	Armed Offenders' Squad
Doug McKenzie	...	Helicopter Pilot
Don Lee	...	Minister
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Parkinson	...	Commentator (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Donaldson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roger Donaldson		written by
Peter Hansard		written by
Bruno Lawrence		written by

Produced by
Roger Donaldson	....	producer
Larry Parr	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Sharon O'Neill

Cinematography by
Graeme Cowley

Film Editing by
Michael Horton

Art Direction by
Reston Griffiths

Costume Design by
Annabel Blackett

Makeup Department
Bryony Hurden	....	hair stylist
Bryony Hurden	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dorthe Scheffmann	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Cowley	....	second assistant director
Steve Locker-Lampson	....	assistant director
Derek Morton	....	assistant director

Art Department
Len Nightingale	....	props
Stephen Penny	....	props

Sound Department
Stewart Main	....	boom operator
Patrick Monaghan	....	dubbing editor
Derek Morton	....	dubbing editor
Don Reynolds	....	sound mixer
Brian Shennan	....	sound mixer
Mike Westgate	....	sound mixer
Mike Westgate	....	sound recordist (as Michael Westgate)

Special Effects by
Kevin Chisnall	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Ian Barber	....	fight coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Becroft	....	grip assistant
David Brown	....	electrician
Roland Carati	....	video tape operator
Sal Criscillo	....	still photographer
Peter Day	....	focus puller
Stuart Dryburgh	....	gaffer
Brian Kassler	....	key grip
Paul Leach	....	camera operator
Steve Locker-Lampson	....	video tape operator
Rex Rattenbury	....	additional still photographer
John Spurdle	....	grip
John Spurdle	....	video tape operator
Ian Turtill	....	video tape operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annabel Blackett	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Patrick Monaghan	....	editor: video tape

Transportation Department
Steve Millen	....	special driver
Ray Sturch	....	car crash driver

Other crew
Lorraine Clements	....	caterer
Jan Ferguson	....	caterer
Gary French	....	videotape consultant
Peter Hansard	....	script advisor
Bruno Lawrence	....	script advisor
Veronica Lawrence	....	production assistant
Robyn McGhie	....	caterer
Terry McGrath	....	production accountant
Suzi Pointon	....	continuity
Angela Zivkovic	....	runner

Production Companies

• Aardvark Films
• Moviescripts
• New Zealand Film Commission

Distributors

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Releasing Corporation (1982) (USA)
• Palace Academy Home Video

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | UK:18 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Ohakune, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Company:

Aardvark Films

Interesting exploration of complex family relations from the early New Zealand film industry.

I picked up this film in a two-pack from Anchor Bay showcasing two of director Roger Donaldson's early films. The other film, of course, was Sleeping Dogs, but this one is likely the better of the two.

The late Bruno Lawrence is the star of the movie, a rather complex performance on the whole. There's a lot to the acting parts, all well played by Anna Maria Monticelli, Keith Aberdein, and especially Greer Robson as the daughter. The scenery is very beautiful, and the movie is often great just to look at. Overall, this film has a very honest approach, and the matter-of-fact portrayal of sex and nudity may be surprising to some who are used to newer, tamer film-making. One of the things that I most appreciated was the tension and suspense of the screen writing, which opts out of big scenes of destruction for smaller-scale human conflict.

Director Roger Donaldson has interested me for quite some time. Don't let his long (and sometimes mediocre) absence from the New Zealand film industry fool you, because he is quite a capable director with the right material. I highly recommend his latest film, The World's Fastest Indian.