''Mystery at Castle House'' is a 1982 Australian film for children."Production Survey", ''Cinema Papers'', December 1982 p 555Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p109 The film was broadcast in the United Kingdom on the ITV network in 1986

Plot

With their father tied up with a long-term business contract, siblings Kate and Ben move in with their aunt. As they explore their new surroundings, they meet and befriend a local boy named Spider. They also encounter Rocco and Ah Leong, who are stealing produce from the shops and households. Kate, Ben and Spider eventually decide to explore Castle House, a mysterious huge manor that has been abandoned for 15 years. However, they soon discover that the house has inhabitants: An old lady named Miss Markham, to whose family the house belongs; her new ground caretaker Mr. Wilberforce; and his two dimwitted aides Morris and Stakovich. While Miss Markham proves to be very friendly, Mr. Wilberforce and his men strive to keep the children away from the grounds. After the children's visit, Miss Markham discovers that Wilberforce and his men are keeping her own cellar locked up; and when she decides to investigate, the men overpower her and tie her up. On their way back to the house's jetty, Ben, Kate and Spider discover a secret tunnel to the house, and in it they run into Rocco and Ah Leong. As the two boys disclose, Ah Leong's father was kidnapped by Wilberforce and his goons to help them in a break-in, since he is supposed to disable the security system, and is kept captive in Castle House's cellar. The children try to free Mr. Leong, but only succeed in alerting Wilberforce about their knowledge of his plans, and with the robbery about to take place this very day, the gangsters decide to speed up their plans. The children do what they can to slow down Wilberforce's plans, and manage to free Miss Markham. Using Miss Markham's personal high-power speedboat, they catch up with the gangsters, overpower them and free Mr Leong.

Cast

Simone Buchanan Simone Louise Buchanan is an Australian film and television actress, and television director. She is best known for her television roles as Debbie Kelly in the situation comedy '' Hey Dad..!'' and Samantha Fitzgerald in the soap opera ''Neighbou ...

as Kate * Jeremy Shadlow as Spider * Scott Nicholas as Ben *

Aileen Britton Aileen Britton (18 February 1916 in Sydney – 19 April 1986) credited also as Aileen Britain, was an Australian character actress of theatre, radio, television, and film (TV movie and theatrical), with a career in the industry spanning nearly 5 ...

as Miss Markham *

Henri Szeps Henri Szeps OAM, (born 2 October 1943) alternatively Henry Szeps, is an Australian character actor of theatre and television. He has also featured in films and worked in voice roles, and has worked in productions in the United Kingdom. Early ...

as Mr. Wilberforce * John Cobley as Morris *

Ray Meagher Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...

as Stakovich * Robert Geammel as Rocco * Tony Lee as Ah Leong * Ron Mee Lee as (Ah Leong's) Father * Robin Bowering as Mr. Gaspari, Rocco's father *

Carole Skinner Carole Skinner (born 8 May 1944) is an Australian actress, particularly known for her performances in theatre and television. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nola McKenzie in the soap opera, ''Prisoner'', in '' Sons and Daughters'', a ...

as Aunt Josephine

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mystery at Castle House 1982 films Australian children's films 1980s children's films 1980s English-language films Films directed by Peter Maxwell