''Spotswood'' (1:31, also known as ''The Efficiency Expert'' 1:29, in the United States) is a 1991 Australian
business
Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or Trade, buying and selling Product (business), products (such as goods and Service (economics), services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for pr ...
comedy-drama
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...
film directed by
Mark Joffe
Mark Joffe (born 1956) is an Australian film and television director. He has directed feature films, telemovies, and drama series.
Joffe "learned his trade at Crawford Productions", working on ''Carson's Law'', ''Special Squad (1984), Special S ...
. The film stars
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...
, with a supporting cast of
Ben Mendelsohn,
Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Cecil Kurts (28 October 1915 – 4 May 2000) was an Australian drama and comedy actor of radio, television and film, best remembered for his role as gruff Inspector Colin Fox in the TV series ''Homicide''.
Biography
Kurts' father, David D ...
,
Bruno Lawrence
David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia.
Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Bl ...
,
Angela Punch McGregor
Angela Punch McGregor (born 21 January 1953, in Sydney) is an Australian stage and film actress.
Film credits
Her film credits include: ''The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith'' (1978), ''Newsfront'' (1978), '' The Island'' (1980), '' The Survivor'' ...
,
Daniel Wyllie
Daniel Wyllie (born 1970) is an Australian stage, film and television actor. Wyllie began acting in theatre.
Early life
Wyllie grew up on Sydney's North Shore. He attended North Sydney Boys High School and the University of New South Wales, whe ...
,
Toni Collette
Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, includ ...
and
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...
.
Plot
In late 1960s Melbourne, Errol Wallace (
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...
) is a financial business consultant whom we meet in the course of his being hired by the board of Durmack, an automotive component manufacturer, where he assesses a large work force redundancy and recommends major layoffs.
Balls, a moccasin factory located in the Melbourne suburb of Spotswood, is his next client. Mr. Ball (
Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Cecil Kurts (28 October 1915 – 4 May 2000) was an Australian drama and comedy actor of radio, television and film, best remembered for his role as gruff Inspector Colin Fox in the TV series ''Homicide''.
Biography
Kurts' father, David D ...
), the owner of the company, is affable and treats his employees benevolently. Wallace on a factory tour finds the conditions wanting with shabbiness, old machinery and the workers lackadaisical.
A young worker at Balls, Carey (
Ben Mendelsohn), who is finding his place in the world and life, is asked by Wallace to assist in his review, compiling worker condition and performance information. Carey is reluctant until he learns that Mr. Ball's daughter Cheryl (
Rebecca Rigg
Rebecca Rigg is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles in television and film. She started out as a child actor in ''Fatty Finn'' (1980), before also being featured in the films ''Hunting'' (1991), ''Spotswood'' (1992) and ''Ellie ...
), whom he fancies, is part of the review staff.
Wallace learns that there is an instigator in the midst, his colleague Jerry (John Walton), who leaks the Durmack report, inflating the quantity of sackings as a means to demoralise the union.
Kim Barry (
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...
), a salesman at Balls who also has his sights set on the boss's daughter, shows his ruthlessness and ulterior motives when he comes to Wallace's home one night with a complete set of the company financial records that detail non-existent profit for years and reveal that Ball has been selling off company assets to keep the outfit afloat.
Wallace realises that whatever productivity improvements have been implemented are not enough to save the company even with an elimination of workers and yet that is his recommendation. Mr. Ball responds, "It’s not just about dollars and cents. It’s about dignity, treating people with respect".
Wallace's mind set starts to change when his car is vandalised and some Ball workers come to his aid, workers who then start to include him in their off-hours activities. Mr. Ball announces the work force redundancies and Wallace is clearly uncomfortable seeing them, knowing that it was his recommendation that sealed their fate.
The union at Durmack capitulates and management celebrates with a party during which Wallace becomes further disenchanted by what he sees as the rash sackings. He then realizes that Balls may have a competitive advantage that could potentially make the company profitable. If Balls stop trying to compete on price on a few products, but instead have a very large product range, then all the perceived inefficiencies (old machinery, and a large number of highly skilled experienced workers), become opportunities for growth.
Carey realises he has feelings for his work mate and friend Wendy (
Toni Collette
Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, includ ...
) and together they climb up onto the roof of the factory and hold hands as they look out over Spotswood.
Cast
*
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...
as Errol Wallace
*
Ben Mendelsohn as Carey
*
Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Cecil Kurts (28 October 1915 – 4 May 2000) was an Australian drama and comedy actor of radio, television and film, best remembered for his role as gruff Inspector Colin Fox in the TV series ''Homicide''.
Biography
Kurts' father, David D ...
as Mr. Ball
*
Bruno Lawrence
David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia.
Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Bl ...
as Robert, Carey's Father
* John Walton as Jerry Finn
*
Rebecca Rigg
Rebecca Rigg is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles in television and film. She started out as a child actor in ''Fatty Finn'' (1980), before also being featured in the films ''Hunting'' (1991), ''Spotswood'' (1992) and ''Ellie ...
as Cheryl Ball
*
Toni Collette
Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, includ ...
as Wendy Robinson
*
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...
as Kim Barry
*
Angela Punch McGregor
Angela Punch McGregor (born 21 January 1953, in Sydney) is an Australian stage and film actress.
Film credits
Her film credits include: ''The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith'' (1978), ''Newsfront'' (1978), '' The Island'' (1980), '' The Survivor'' ...
as Caroline Wallace
*
Daniel Wyllie
Daniel Wyllie (born 1970) is an Australian stage, film and television actor. Wyllie began acting in theatre.
Early life
Wyllie grew up on Sydney's North Shore. He attended North Sydney Boys High School and the University of New South Wales, whe ...
as Frank Fletcher
*
John Flaus as Gordon
* Gary Adams as Kevin
*
Jeff Truman
Jeffrey Maxwell Truman (4 November 1957 – 2 December 2014) was an Australian film and television screenwriter and actor.
Career
A member of the Australian Writer Guild for over 30 years, Truman's television credits include ''Rescue: Special ...
as Ron
*
Toni Lamond as Mrs. Lorna Ball
* Jill Murray (credited as Jillian Murray) as Ophelia, Carey's Mum
*
Lesley Baker
Lesley Baker (born 20 January 1944) is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She was well known for her early appearances on In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy. After which she went on to play several roles for Crawford Pr ...
(credited as Leslie Baker) as Gwen, Carey's aunt
*
Russell James Fairweather as Opposition Driver "JACK" Don Small Goods.
Box office
''Spotswood'' grossed $1,505,884 at the box office in Australia,
''Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''
/ref> which is equivalent to $2,348,887 in 2009 dollars.
See also
* Cinema of Australia
The cinema of Australia had its beginnings with the 1906 production of ''The Story of the Kelly Gang'', arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received internati ...
* Russell Crowe filmography
Russell Crowe is a New Zealand actor, filmmaker, musician and singer. He gained international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 epic historical film '' Gladiator'', for which he won an Academy Award f ...
References
External links
*
*
* {{Mojo title, efficiencyexpert
''Spotswood'' at the National Film and Sound Archive
''Spotswood''
at Oz Movies
1991 films
1991 comedy-drama films
1991 independent films
1990s business films
Australian comedy-drama films
Australian independent films
Films about businesspeople
Films directed by Mark Joffe
Films set in the 1960s
Films shot in Melbourne
1990s English-language films