''The Delinquents'' is a 1989 Australian
coming-of-age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can ...
romantic drama
Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...
film directed by Chris Thomson from a screenplay by Clayton Frohman and Mac Gudgeon, based on
Criena Rohan's 1962 book of the same name. It stars
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...
(in her feature film debut) and
Charlie Schlatter
Charles Thomas "Charlie" Schlatter (born May 1, 1966) is an American actor who has appeared in several films and television series. He is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Jesse Travis, the resident student of Dr. Mark Sloan (played by Dick Van ...
as the main characters Lola and Brownie, and was filmed in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
,
Maryborough and
Bundaberg
Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's regional area has a population of 70,921, and is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bun ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
.
The film was released in Australia on 21 December 1989 to mixed reviews from critics. It grossed $3,370,650 at the box office in Australia.
[''Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''](_blank)
/ref> An accompanying soundtrack was also released.
Plot
Lola and Brownie are teenagers in 1950s Bundaberg
Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's regional area has a population of 70,921, and is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bun ...
, Australia. They fall in love, but because of their age they must fight their parents and welfare, who try to keep them apart. Lola falls pregnant and the couple run away so they can keep their baby. However, Lola's mother and the police find them and take Lola home.
Brownie joins the crew of a ship so he can sail the coast and look for Lola. He befriends a sailor called Bosun, who offers him a job.
Meanwhile, Lola is forced to have an abortion by her mother in Brisbane. After an argument with her mother, Lola moves to Melbourne, becomes a waitress and bleaches her hair. Lola is reunited with Brownie after he visits the bar where she works whilst on shore leave. They return to his ship and they spend the night together. The next day, Bosun discovers Lola in Brownie's cabin and asks her to leave. After an argument between Brownie and Bosun, the latter agrees to Lola staying, on the condition that she is kept "out of sight" from the other sailors.
After the ship docks, Lola and Brownie attend a party held by a young couple, Lyle and Mavis. They are squatting in the property with their daughter, Sharon. Both couples quickly become friends and Lola and Brownie move into their spare room.
One night, both couples are socialising in a local pub when Lola and Brownie are arrested for underage drinking and vagrancy.
Lola is sent to stay with Aunt Westbury, a caretaker
Caretaker may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''The Caretaker'' (film), a 1963 adaptation of the play ''The Caretaker''
* '' The Caretakers'', a 1963 American film set in a mental hospital
* Caretaker, a character in the 1974 film '' ...
in the countryside for a fixed-term of 12 months. She and Brownie are told that they are not allowed to see or contact each other for one year. Brownie was also issued with a fine.
During Lola's stay in the community placement, a former charge of Aunt's visits the house. Lola collects the mail and, after a brief conversation with the postman, realises that Aunt Westbury has disposed of Brownie's letters. An argument follows, and Lola runs away.
Finding her mother drunk and unsympathetic, Lola heads to Lyle and Mavis's house, only to be arrested and taken to a reform school to restart and complete her sentence.
During this time, a riot is started by the other inmates.
After her 18th birthday, Lola has completed her sentence and is immediately reunited with Brownie. Upon returning to the house, Lola discovers Mavis is heavily pregnant with her second child.
Lola wants Brownie to quit his job as a sailor, and stay with her. However, Brownie is in a quandary and confides in Bosun about his dilemma. Meanwhile, Mavis goes into labour; the birth does not go well and both Mavis and the baby die.
Although Lola and Brownie offer to adopt Sharon (Lyle & Mavis' surviving daughter), they are unable to as they are unmarried. Lyle leaves the child with Lola to give to social services as she will be placed into foster care and Lyle is unable to bear the thought of giving up his only child. Lyle subsequently leaves after telling Lola he plans to travel the world, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet.
Lola leaves the house, suitcase packed, ready to take Sharon to the welfare office before heading back to Bundaberg. Brownie sees Lola and Sharon in the taxi and runs after them. Eventually, Brownie catches up with the taxi and he is reunited with Lola and Sharon. The film ends with their wedding with their families and friends in attendance.
Cast
* Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...
as Lola Lovell
* Charlie Schlatter
Charles Thomas "Charlie" Schlatter (born May 1, 1966) is an American actor who has appeared in several films and television series. He is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Jesse Travis, the resident student of Dr. Mark Sloan (played by Dick Van ...
as Brownie Hansen
* 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 Bosun
* Todd Boyce
Todd Boyce (born July 1, 1961) is an American film, television and theatre actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Stephen Reid in the successful soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 1996 to 1997, 2007 and again from 2022.
Early life
Todd ...
as Lyle
* Desirée Smith as Mavis
* 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 Mrs. Lovell
* Melissa Jaffer
Melissa Jaffer (born 1 December 1936) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her stage and television roles, but has also appeared in many films.
Career
Jaffer started her career in theatre productions in the mid 1950s has made many a ...
as Aunt Westbury
* Lynette Curran
Lynette Curran is an Australian actress known for many roles in Australian television series and films, including the soap opera '' Bellbird'', and the films ''Country Town'' (1971) and ''Bliss'' (1985).
Theatre
She started acting in the th ...
as Mrs. Hansen
* Duncan Wass as Bert
* Lyn Treadgold as Prison matron
* Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Ann Harris (born 19 September 1927) is an English actress. She is the recipient of such accolades as a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In ...
as Isobel
Original novel
The novel was published in 1962. It had been written in a TB hospital.
The novel was submitted for the Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–195 ...
.
Rohan died in 1963, having only published one other book in her lifetime.
The novel was re-published in 1986.
It was re-released again in 1989 to tie-in with the release of the film. There are some differences between the film and the novel. For example, in the novel, Lola is part Asian and suffers a miscarriage on the grounds of the all-girls school. It is uncertain whether the screenplay was adjusted or the missing parts of the book were filmed and removed to meet a lower certificate.
Production
Rights to the novel were purchased by first time producers Alex Cutler and Michael Wilcox in 1985. They had been trying to obtain the rights to another Australian novel but had difficulty negotiating with the author; someone suggested they have a look at ''The Delinquents'', which Penguin were about to reissue. They obtained finance from the New South Wales Film Corporation and Australian Film Commission
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) was an Australian government agency was founded in 1975 with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's film history. It also had a producti ...
and hired Lex Marinos
Alexander Francis Marinos (born 1 February 1949) is an Australian actor. Notable for his acting role as Bruno, the Italian son-in-law of Ted Bullpitt, on the 1980s Australian comedy television series ''Kingswood Country'' and as host of ''Late ...
to write a draft. In 1987 David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
announced in an interview he thought the book would make a good film, which re-ignited a great deal of interest in the project.[Patricia Amad & Philippa Hawker, "The Delinquents", ''Cinema Papers'', July 1989 p4-7] It was announced that he would compose the film's score but subsequently distanced himself from the film's production, and interviewed in 1990, he cited "a large artistic disagreement with heproducers" over the direction of the film as the reason he was no longer involved in the film. He said, "the book that I read and the film that they were making had nothing to do with each other", adding "it was a wonderful little book and it should have been a ''little'' film. It should have been an ''Australian'' film."
The Australian Film Commission
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) was an Australian government agency was founded in 1975 with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's film history. It also had a producti ...
provided further script development money enabling Dorothy Hewett
Dorothy Coade Hewett (21 May 1923 – 25 August 2002) was an Australian playwright, poet and author, and a romantic feminist icon. In writing and in her life, Hewett was an experimenter. As her circumstances and beliefs changed, she progressed ...
to write a second draft. Greg Coote and John Tarnoff of Village Roadshow became involved and Coote suggested Kylie Minogue play the lead. It was the first major film from Village Roadshow's film production company.[ At one stage ]Ben Mendelsohn
Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn (born 3 April 1969) is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his breakout role in ''The Year My Voice Broke'' (1987) and since then he has had roles in films such as '' Animal Kingdom'' (2010) ...
was signed to appear opposite her but eventually it was decided to go with an imported actor so the film might appeal to an international market: Charlie Schlatter was chosen.[Helen Barlow, "The Australian Film Finance Corporation", ''Cinema Papers'', August 1991 p36]
Chris Thomson was approached to direct. He did not like the script but thought the book was wonderful, so managed to persuade the producers to hire Mac Gudgeon, who had made ''Waterfront'' (1983) with Thomson, to work on the script. Village Roadshow agreed to provide half the budget and the producers applied to the FFC for further finance in October 1988.
The film was partly shot at Warner Bros studios on the Gold Coast.
Release and reception
After a London world premiere, ''The Delinquents'' opened in Australia and New Zealand on 21 December 1989 in wide release. Five days after the Australasian release date, it opened in the United Kingdom on 26 December 1989. It was later announced that the film would be released in other European countries; it was released on 1 June 1990 in Finland and Sweden under the name ''Delinquents – Nuoret Kapinalliset''. It opened in the Netherlands on 8 June.It was released on 15 June 1990 in Denmark under the name ''For ung til kærlighed''. Then Portugal on 29 June. Its last release was in Germany.
Despite having chosen an American lead actor and an American composer, with an eye to the American market, the film was never released in the United States, in part due to a problem with distribution. This led to the production company filing a lawsuit against Village Roadshow Pictures and the FFC.
Reception
David Stratton
David James Stratton (born 10 September 1939) is an English-Australian award-winning film critic, as both a journalist and interviewer, film historian and lecturer and television personality and producer.
Life and career
Born in Trowbridge, ...
of ''Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' called the story "trite stuff" and felt that Schlatter was miscast and that "as for Minogue, the verdict still is out regarding a future acting career...but it's unfair to judge her on this material".[ ''DVD.net'' later gave the movie a mixed review, scoring it 5/10. On ''Scoopy.com'', the reviewer complimented the film's cinematography, the period details and Minogue's lead role in the film. The '']Radio Times
''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' grades the film two stars out of five, calling it a "passable tale of teenage torment".
Box office
''The Delinquents'' opened on 98 screens in Australia, grossing A$752,800 in its opening week. It went on to gross A$3,370,650 at the Australian box office and was the most successful Australian film of 1990 on Australian soil. In the United Kingdom it grossed £399,785 in its opening weekend from 207 screens and reached number one, grossing £1,072,110 in its first week. It was the 17th highest-grossing film of 1989 there.
Home media
''The Delinquents'' was released as VHS worldwide in 1989 and released on DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
in 2005 in Australia only. The film was released internationally on digital platforms, including iTunes
iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
in 2016.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album was released in Australia and New Zealand by Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records was an Australian flagship record label, founded in 1972 in Melbourne. It published and distributed many successful Australian artists and expanded internationally, until it was merged with Festival Records in 1998. Festival Mu ...
and in the UK by PWL Records
Pete Waterman Entertainment (PWE) is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by British pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL (Pete Waterman Limited), is most famous for being the home of hit record prod ...
. The soundtrack release consisted of old standards (one of them performed by Minogue and one by Johnny Diesel and the Injectors), as well as one track from the film's score.
"Tears on My Pillow" was released as a single in November 1989, peaking at number 20 in Australia. "Please Send Me Someone to Love" was released as the second single in January 1990, peaking at number 11 in Australia. Tears on My Pillow went to number one in the UK for one week in January 1990, and was the 26th best-selling single of the year in the UK during 1990.
# " Please Send Me Someone to Love" – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors
''Johnny Diesel & the Injectors'' is the eponymous debut album by Australian rock band Johnny Diesel & the Injectors, which was released in 1989. The album peaked at number 2 on the ARIA singles chart and won two ARIA Music Awards.
Bac ...
(Written by Percy Mayfield) (4:25)
# "Slippin' and Slidin'
"Slippin' and Slidin' (Peepin' and Hidin')" is a R&B/rock 'n' roll song performed by Little Richard. The song is credited to Little Richard, Edwin Bocage (Eddie Bo), Al Collins, and James Smith.
Al Collins first recorded "I Got the Blues for Yo ...
" – Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...
(Written by Little Richard (as Penniman)/Eddie Bo (as Edwin J. Bocage)/Al Collins/James Smith) (2:33)
# "Twenty Flight Rock
"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy '' The Girl Can't Help It'', and released as a single the following year. The song was published in 1957 as written by Ned Fairchild and Eddie Cochran, by ...
" – Eddie Cochran
Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as "Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desire ...
(Written by Ned Fairchild/Eddie Cochran) (1:45)
# "Break Up" – Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock & roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis made ...
(Written by Charlie Rich) (2:40)
# " Be-Bop-A-Lula" – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (Written by Gene Vincent/Tex Davis) (2:36)
# " Lucille" – Swanee (Written by Richard Penniman
Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...
/Al Collins) (2:24)
# "One Night" – Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American pianist, singer and songwriter. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New O ...
(Written by David Bartholomew/Pearl King) (2:50)
# " Only You" – The Platters
The Platters was an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The ac ...
(Written by Buck Ram/Ande Rand) (2:38)
# "Tears on My Pillow
"Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their origi ...
" – Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...
(Written by Bradford Lewis) (2:31)
# "Theme From The Delinquents" – ''The Delinquents'' Orchestra (Composed and Conducted by Miles Goodman) (2:24)
Songs heard in the film but not on the soundtrack album:
# "Three Steps To Heaven" by Eddie Cochran (Written by Eddie Cochran)
# "Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), known professionally as Patti Page, was an American singer and actress. Primarily known for pop and country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female ar ...
(Written by King/Stewart)
# "Great Balls of Fire" by Pattie Page (Written by Otis Blackwell/Jack Hammer)
# "Since I Met You Baby" by Ivory Joe Hunter
Ivory Joe Hunter (October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid-1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recording ...
(Written by Joe Hunter)
# "Chantez Chantez" by Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...
(Written by Albert Gamse/Irving Fields)
# "My Babe" by Little Walter (Written by Willie Dixon)
# "She's My Baby" by Johnny O'Keefe (Written by Turnball/Molfast/Finch)
# "Roll With Me Henry" by Johnny O'Keefe (Written by Turnball/Molfast/Finch)
Charts
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 ...
*'' Endless Love''
*'' The Promise''
References
External links
*
''The Delinquents''
at the National Film and Sound Archive
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national co ...
''The Delinquents''
at Oz Movies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delinquents, The
1989 films
1980s coming-of-age drama films
1989 romantic drama films
1980s teen drama films
1980s teen romance films
Australian coming-of-age drama films
Australian romantic drama films
Australian teen drama films
Bundaberg
Coming-of-age romance films
Films about abortion
Films based on Australian novels
Films set in the 1950s
Films set in Melbourne
Films set in Queensland
Films shot in Brisbane
Teenage pregnancy in film
Films scored by Miles Goodman
Australian pregnancy films
Films directed by Chris Thomson (director)
1980s English-language films