Because He's My Friend
1978 Australian film
- 1978 (1978)
Running time
Because He's My Friend, also known as Love Under Pressure, is a 1978 Australian TV movie about a married couple and their mentally disabled son. It was one of six telemovies made in Australia as co-productions between ABC and Transatlantic Enterprises.[1] It was the final film of veteran American director Ralph Nelson.
Plot
Eric, a Canadian naval officer serving with the Royal Navy is transferred to Australia for a submarine training exercise. He moves to Sydney with his wife Anne and their 12-year-old mentally disabled son Petey.
Anne takes her son to a special school, who encourage her to take a firmer line with her son. This results in a clash with Eric.
Cast
- Karen Black as Anne
- Keir Dullea as Eric
- Jack Thompson as Geoff
- Tom Oliver as Ian
- Barbara Stephens
- June Salter
- Warwick Poulsen as Petey
Production
Ralph Nelson signed to direct in July.[2]
Shooting took place in Sydney starting August 15 through to October 1977 over six weeks.[3][4] Scenes were shot at Karonga House Special School in Epping in August. Permission had been obtained from the Subnormal Children's Welfare Association. The association was happy to co-operate because the activity of the film unit would be good therapy for children.[5]
Jack Thompson filmed his scenes while on a break shooting his role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.[6]
Reception
The critic from the Sydney Morning Herald said the character of the son was "winning and repulsive at the same time."[7]
Another reviewer for the same paper called it " warm, touching and utterly honest... a darned good movie, and its climax will not disappoint you."[8]
Warwick Poulsen's performance earned him a Logie for Best Performance by a Juvenile.[9]
References
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p12
- ^ FILM CLIPS: Chabrol Will Direct Sutherland Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times 18 July 1977: f11.
- ^ ""There's more to life than a few feet of celluloid"". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 19 October 1977. p. 23. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "Karen Black — she just has foibles". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 12 October 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "US stars coming here for retarded child film". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 July 1977. p. 73.
- ^ Groves, Don (28 August 1977). "Jack's 80 Year Spread". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 92.
- ^ Hogan, Christine (5 June 1978). "The Realm of the Retarded". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
- ^ Groves, Don (11 June 1978). "Fine Movie to Grip the Heart". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 64.
- ^ "Bert Newton wins Gold Gogie". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 March 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.
External links
- Because He's My Friend at IMDb
- Because He's My Friend at Letterbox DVD
- Because He's My Friend at BFI
- Because He's My Friend at Screen Australia
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Films directed by Ralph Nelson
- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960)
- Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)
- Lilies of the Field (1963)
- Soldier in the Rain (1963)
- Fate Is the Hunter (1964)
- Father Goose (1964)
- Once a Thief (1965)
- Duel at Diablo (1966)
- Counterpoint (1967)
- Charly (1968)
- Tick, Tick, Tick (1970)
- Soldier Blue (1970)
- Flight of the Doves (1971)
- The Wrath of God (1972)
- The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)
- Embryo (1976)
- A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich (1977)
- Because He's My Friend (1978)
- Christmas Lilies of the Field (1979)
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