Romper Stomper (1992)

Director:

Geoffrey Wright

Writer:

Geoffrey Wright (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 1992 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

You've never seen anything like it.

Plot:

A group of skinheads become alarmed at the way their neighbourhood is changing.

Plot Keywords:

Skinhead | Vietnamese | Nazi | Medication | Dance Scene

Awards:

8 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Hando
Daniel Pollock	...	Davey
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Gabe
Alex Scott	...	Martin
Leigh Russell	...	Sonny Jim
Daniel Wyllie	...	Cackles
James McKenna	...	Bubs
Eric Mueck	...	Champ
Frank Magree	...	Brett
Christopher McLean	...	Luke
Josephine Keen	...	Megan
Samantha Bladon	...	Tracy
Tony Lee	...	Tiger
John Brumpton	...	Magoo
Don Bridges	...	Harold
Janei Anderson	...	Jacqui
Stephen Hall	...	Flea
Tri Phan	...	Nguyen
Thuan Le	...	Nguyen's Eldest Son
Minh Lu	...	Middle Son
Thach Le	...	Youngest Son
Craig Mercer	...	Chris
Angus Cummings	...	Rob
Yvonne Lawrence	...	Davey's Grandmother
Edwina Exton	...	Skinhead Girl
David Tredinnick	...	Gabe's Boyfriend
Steve Millichamp	...	Pommy Bill
William K. Halliwell	...	Derro
Vu Le	...	Tiger's Mate
Vu Nguyen	...	Francy
Paul Nguyen	...	Long
Thanh Trinh	...	Vinh
Vy Nguyen	...	Tiger's Sister
Ann Morell	...	Barmaid
Neil Foley	...	Skinhead in Plaster
Nigel Baptist	...	Strangled Man
Jenny Lin	...	Kitchen Hand
Johnny Raaen	...	Plain Clothes Policeman (as John Raaen)
Anthea Roordink	...	Policewoman
Russell Frost	...	Young Policeman
Keiko Clarke	...	Girl on Cliff Top
Ria Yazaki	...	Girl on Cliff Top
Neil Foster	...	Skinhead in Plaster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Ienna	...	Young Skinhead (uncredited)

Directed by
Geoffrey Wright

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Geoffrey Wright		writer

Produced by
Phil Jones	....	associate producer
Ian Pringle	....	producer
Daniel Scharf	....	producer

Original Music by
John Clifford White

Cinematography by
Ron Hagen

Film Editing by
Bill Murphy

Casting by
Gregory Apps		(as Greg Apps)

Production Design by
Steven Jones-Evans

Set Decoration by
Colin Robertson
Lisa Thompson

Costume Design by
Anna Borghesi

Makeup Department
Mike Gaudsen	....	makeup facilities: Reel Wheels
Jane Gregory	....	assistant hair stylist
Jane Gregory	....	assistant makeup artist
Sue Kelly-Tait	....	hair stylist
Sue Kelly-Tait	....	makeup artist
Christine Miller	....	hair stylist
Christine Miller	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Elisa Argenzio	....	production manager
Stephen Brett	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Odgers	....	first assistant director
Monica Pearce	....	second assistant director
Andrew Power	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Graham Blackmore	....	stand-by props
Justin Conkey	....	art department assistant
Debra Goldsmith	....	set finisher (as Deborah Goldsmith)
Danae Gunn	....	art department runner
Sheridan Neilson	....	assistant buyer
Colin Robertson	....	set buyer
Walter Sperl	....	construction
Chris Styles	....	props maker
Lisa Thompson	....	set buyer
Jasmine Wigley	....	set finisher

Sound Department
Peter Burgess	....	adr editor
Steve Burgess	....	foley artist
Steve Burgess	....	sound mixer
Helen Field	....	sound liaison: Soundfirm
Catherine Gross	....	boom operator (as Cathy Gross)
Scott Heming	....	sound mix assistant
David Lee	....	sound recordist
Frank Lipson	....	sound designer
Gerry Long	....	foley artist
Steve Murphy	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Stephen Murphy)
Paul Pirola	....	assistant sound engineer
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Eugene Wilson	....	sound transferer

Special Effects by
Jeff Little	....	special effects: Film Trix
Angelo Sahin	....	special effects assistant
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects: Film Trix
Kevin Turner	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Colin Tyler	....	opticals/rostrum camera

Stunts
Russell Allen	....	stunts
Brett Anderson	....	stunts
Lance Anderson	....	stunts
Szumai Anderson	....	stunts
Graham Collis	....	stunts
Wally Dalton	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Dean Gould	....	stunts
Chris Peters	....	stunt coordinator
Johnny Raaen	....	stunts
Anthea Roordink	....	stunts
Reg Roordink	....	stunts
Steve Roper	....	stunts
Ron Sheepers	....	stunts
Russell Frost	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Bottomley	....	focus puller
Warik Lawrance	....	clapper loader
Peter Leiss	....	still photographer
Tom Moody	....	gaffer
Battista Remati	....	third electrician
Trevor Ripper	....	best boy electric
Leigh Tait	....	key grip
Gene Van Dam	....	grip

Casting Department
Nick Hamon	....	casting assistant (as Nick Harmon)
Nick Hamon	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gabrielle Dunn	....	stand-by wardrobe
Mike Gaudsen	....	wardrobe facilities: Reel Wheels
Louise McCarthy	....	wardrobe assistant
Cheyne Phillips	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Tim Morgan	....	color grader
Jane Usher	....	assistant editor
Rohan Wilson	....	negative matcher

Music Department
Phillip Beard	....	musician: drums
John Hawker	....	orchestrator
John Hewett	....	musician: guitar
Peter Palankay	....	music score mixer
Chris Pettifer	....	musician: bass guitar
Mat Thomas	....	music engineer

Other crew
Ian Anderson	....	laboratory liaison
David Arundell	....	accountant
Sven Bading	....	researcher
Richard Baker	....	nurse
Matthew Bennett	....	casual assistant
Catherine Birmingham	....	location scout
Bernadette Breitkreuz	....	production accountant
Stephen Brett	....	location manager
Clare Brophy	....	nurse
Terry Cassin	....	nurse
Peter Culpan	....	safety consultant
Bruno Doring	....	casual assistant
Fiona Eagger	....	production coordinator
Keith Fish	....	caterer: Food for Film
Neil Foley	....	researcher
John Fox	....	armorer
Eva Friedman	....	production runner
Andree Gersbeck	....	casual assistant
Andrew Goodone	....	casual assistant (as Andrew Gooden)
Tony Leonard	....	insurance
Chris Lovell	....	legal
Steeves Lumley	....	insurance
James MacDougall	....	casual assistant
Lars Michalak	....	assistant to producer
Greg O'Conner	....	researcher
Serena Parker	....	nurse
Anne Pearson	....	nurse
Jacquelin Perske	....	production assistant
Holding Redlich	....	legal
Brian C. Robinson	....	script consultant
Jonathan Shteinman	....	assistant to producer
Tony Sini	....	caterer: Food for Film
Mick Stevens	....	security officer
Oliver Streeton	....	title designer
John Suhr	....	security officer
Victoria Sullivan	....	continuity
Carl Vine	....	researcher (as Karl Vine)
Tantau Wallis	....	accountant

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The
• Film Victoria
• Romper Stomper Pty. Ltd.
• Seon Film Productions

Distributors

• Egmont Film (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Academy (1993) (USA)
• Art House Video (Greece)
• Atlantic Film (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Future Film (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• LW Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Medusa Home Video (1993) (UK) (video)
• Navigator Film (2006) (Hungary) (DVD)
• New City Releasing
• P.F.A. Films (1994) (Italy) (all media)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Roadshow Home Video (Australia) (VHS)

Runtime:

94 min | South Korea:88 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Vietnamese | German | Japanese | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Germany:18 (cut version) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Australia:R | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | France:-12 | Germany:18 (nf) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (cut) | Finland:K-18 (2003) | Finland:(Banned) (1993) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

The character of Hando was originally written for Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn. However, Mendelsohn did not look menacing when his head was shaved, where as Russell Crowe had shaved his head, gotten into character, and had been persistently contacting Geoffrey Wright to reconsider his casting decision. When Wright decided Mendelsohn didn't have the look, the role went to Crowe.

Quotes:

Gabe: What's the matter with you?
Hando: You! You dumb slut!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000 (#4.2)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Les pecheurs de perles

Brutal and bleak viewing

Firstly, I'd like to start by saying that anyone who thinks this is somehow pro-racist or pro-skinhead has REALLY missed the point, thats if they've even seen it,that is. That would be like saying 'Saving Private Ryan' glorifies war, or 'Trainspotting' glorifies drugs.

It revolves around a bunch of lawless Australian skinheads, as they party to loud skrewdriver-esquire music, drink, fight (amongst each other as well as against the Vietnamese immigrants living nearby), cause mayhem..and so on so forth. They are living in a dilapidated old garage and scrounge off the system whilst hating it. They are portrayed as hopeless, angry lost kids held together by a psychopathic and violent leader;Hando Where to start with Hando, seriously, this is undoubtedly Russel Crowe's most unforgettable performance. Whether its his tattoo's, shaved head, unshaven face or cold eyed glare...you can't help but be drawn in by Hando. He is by far the most relentless and ruthless member of the gang, and during the film you wonder whether or not they'd even exist without him.

During the film, things take a turn for the worse, actually they take several turns for the worst...which has an increasingly negative effect on the gang.

I rated this film a 9, as it achieves what it sets out to do. Give the viewer a no-holds barred trip into the destructive lives of social outsiders, and the violence and hatred that follows. Not easy viewing, but I recommend this film to anyone who likes their movies gritty and upfront.