''Demolition'' is an Australian TV movie.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p42 It was produced by Robert Bruning's Gemini Productions and screened on Channel 7. Director Kevin Dobson recalled it as an attempt by Bruning and Grundys "to make mid-Atlantic films for the US market. It was pretty ill-fated."

Plot

British Intelligence have been conducting sound tests in different countries on techniques to increase the ability of long-distance truck drivers to stay awake - sounds were pumped into their ears to see the results. They discover that one method could completely erase memory. An intelligence officer, Ainsley, blackmails Peter Clarke, an Australian who used to work for him as an agent, Peter Clarke, into returning to Sydney as a courier. Clarke is to take an audio tape of recordings that will erase the memory of the listener. Ainsley wants the tape to lure an enemy agent, Korcheck - the plan is to trap Korchek into listening to the tape and have his memory wiped. An American friend introduces Peter to Faith Camden and they begin an affair.

Cast

John Waters John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including '' Multiple Maniacs'' (1970), '' Pink Flamingos'' (1972) and '' Fe ...

as Peter Clarke *

Belinda Giblin Sue Belinda Giblin (born 2 March 1950) professionally billed as Belinda Giblin, is an Australian actress. Prominent in theatre and television soap operas, and several feature films. Giblin's small screen roles include '' The Box'' as Kay Webst ...

as Faith Camden *Fred Steele as Eddie *

Vincent Ball Vincent Martin Ball OAM (born 4 December 1923) is an Australian retired character actor of radio, stage and screen, active in the industry for nearly 55 years (with a brief return) firstly in Britain and then his native Australia. He has also ...

as Ainsley *Keith Lee as Korcheck *Donald McDonald as Henderson *

Paul Chubb Paul Dunford (14 January 1949 – 9 June 2002), professionally billed as Paul Chubb, was an Australian film, television and stage actor and scriptwriter primarily in genres of comedy and drama. Early life He was born in Arncliffe, a suburb of S ...

as Harry *

Tracey Lee Tracey Lee (born October 22, 1970) is an American Hip-Hop artist and entertainment lawyer. He became known in 1997 when his single "The Theme (It's Party Time)", which settled on Billboard’s Top 100 for thirty-seven weeks became an overn ...

as Drag Queen *The

Don Burrows Donald Vernon Burrows (8 August 1928 – 12 March 2020) was an Australian jazz and swing musician who played clarinet, saxophone and flute. Life and career Donald Vernon Burrows was born on 8 August 1928, the only child of Vernon and Beryl and ...

Quartet *

Tony Barry Tony Barry (28 August 1941 – 21 December 2022) was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles. Personal life Barry was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 28 August 1941. He had one son. Barry was an environme ...

as Contact at Warehouse *Allan Penney as Hudson * Mercia Deane-Johns

Production

Filming started in Sydney on 14 November 1977.

Release

Although the film was made in 1977 it did not air in Sydney until 1979. The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' called it "of poor quality... rather than the plot justfying itself, it seems to be an ill-constructed frame that ties together, rather clumsily, less important aspects of the film that don't stand up by themselves." ''Filmink'' magazine later wrote:

he movie hasa very James Bond set up, but the treatment is surprisingly downbeat and film noir-y – Waters’ character gets beaten up a lot. However, the climax does involve Waters running through a wildlife safari park and stumbling into a lion enclosure, so that’s pretty Bond-y. The script is far too confusing for this to be effective.

References

External links

*
''Demolition''
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

''Demolition''
at AustLit (subscription required)
''Demolition''
at National Film and Sound Archive 1978 television films 1978 films Australian television films Australian action thriller films 1979 films Films directed by Kevin James Dobson 1970s English-language films {{action-thriller-film-stub