''Homesdale'' is a 1971 Australian film directed by

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ''Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witness ...

. ''Homesdale'' is a black comedy about visitors at a guest-house acting out their violent private fantasies and games under the control of the house staff.

Plot

Several people gather at the Homesdale Hunting Lodge including butcher/rock singer Mr. Kevin, war veteran Mr. Vaughan, an octogenarian Mr. Levy. All are tormented by Homesdale's staff and forced to participate in a series of games about death and murder in which the true character of the guests starts to emerge.

Cast

* Geoff Malone as Mr.Malfry *

Grahame Bond Grahame John Bond AM (born 21 November 1943) is an Australian actor, writer, director, musician and composer, known primarily for his role as Aunty Jack. Early career Bond began his career in entertainment at University of Sydney in the 1960s ...

as Mr. Kevin *

Kate Fitzpatrick Kerry Kathleen Fitzpatrick (born 1 October 1947) known as Kate Fitzpatrick, is an Australian television, film, and theatre actress. Early years Kate grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Dover Gardens, and it was in Adelaide that her love for cl ...

as Miss Greenoak *Barry Donnelly as Mr. Vaughan *

Doreen Warburton Doreen Warburton (22 March 1930 – 19 July 2017) was an Australian actress, director, and theatre co-founder. Biography Evelyn Doreen Warburton was born in London on 22 March 1930. At 18 she began her theatre career with the Theatre Worksho ...

as Mrs. Sharpe *James Lear as Mr.Levy *James Dellit as Manager *Kosta Akon as Chief Robert *Richard Brennan as Robert 1 *

as Robert 2 *Shirley Donald as Matron *

Phillip Noyce Phillip Noyce (born 29 April 1950) is an Australian filmmaker. Since 1977, he has directed over 19 feature films in various genres, including historical drama ('' Newsfront'', '' Rabbit-Proof Fence'', '' The Quiet American''); thrillers (''Dead ...

as Neville

Production

The movie was influenced by horror films such as '' The Cat and the Canary''.Richard Brennan, "Peter Weir", ''Cinema Papers'', January 1974 pp. 16–17 The budget was covered by a grant from the Experimental Film and Television Fund. The film was shot at Peter Weir's own home in Sydney in March 1971.

Release

The film premiered at the

Sydney Film Festival The Sydney Film Festival is an annual competitive film festival held in Sydney, Australia, usually over 12 days in June. A number of awards are given, the top one being the Sydney Film Prize. the festival's director is Nashen Moodley. Histo ...

in June 1971 and won the Grand Prix AFI Award in November. It was screened in universities, schools, film societies and occasionally commercial cinemas, as well as on the Seven network.

References

External links

*
''Homesdale''
at Oz Movies 1971 films 1970s black comedy films Australian black comedy films Films directed by Peter Weir 1971 directorial debut films 1971 comedy films 1971 drama films 1970s English-language films 1970s Australian films {{1970s-comedy-film-stub