Hunting (film)
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Hunting
| image =
| caption =
| director = Frank Howson
| writer = Frank Howson
| based_on =
| producer = Frank Howson
| starring = Kerry Armstrong
Guy Pearce
John Savage
| narrator =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| music =
| studio = Boulevard Films
| distributor = Greater Union Organization
| released = {{Film date|1991}}
| runtime =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| budget = AU$5 millionGreg Kerr, 'Hunting', Australian Film 1978-1992, Oxford Uni Press, p 318
| gross =
}}
Hunting is a 1991 Australian drama film written and directed by Frank Howson, starring John Savage, Kerry Armstrong (nominated for AFI Best Actress) and Guy Pearce.{{cite web|title= Internet Movie Database entry on Frank Howson (I)|publisher= IMDb |url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0398271}}
Cast
- John Savage as Michael Bergman
- Kerry Armstrong as Michelle Harris
- Jeffrey Thomas as Larry Harris
- Guy Pearce as Sharp
- Rebecca Rigg as Debbie McCormick
- Rhys McConnochie as Bill Stockton
- Nicholas Bell as Piggott
- Jacek Koman as Bergman's Butler
Plot
An American business tycoon, Michael Bergman, arrives in Melbourne and has an affair with Michelle, a married secretary, who works for the stockbroking firm of which he is a client.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/huntingrkempley_a0a29d.htm Review in the Washington Post] Michelle is drawn in by his rich and glamorous lifestyle and charismatic manner, but the more involved she gets, the more she realises how ruthless and morally bankrupt he is. https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/hunting-1991/802/
Production
Frank Howson says it was a requirement of the investors that he cast an American in the lead.Paul Kalina, "Frank Howson", Cinema Papers, November 1989 p46 Filming began in Melbourne in April 1989, with the movie being called "Australia's Wall Street (1987)".[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19890430&id=4DRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4577,9282000 Rob Lowing, "New Aussie Film on Media Tycoon", The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 1989 p 8] accessed 18 October 2012
Howson had made three films with Pino Amenta directing but wanted to direct Hunting himself.{{cite web|url=https://cultfilmalley.com.au/2019/07/13/producer-writer-director-frank-howson-on-laura-branigan-the-boulevard-of-broken-dreams-the-art-of-creation-and-more/|title=Producer and Writer Frank Howson on Laura Branigan, the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, the Art of Creation and more…|website=Cult Film Alley|date=13 July 2019}}
Reception
Filmink thought the movie had "a sensational performance by Kerry Armstrong" but was "totally undermined by the casting of John Savage, whose role should’ve been played by Guy Pearce."{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|title=Frank Howson: The Unsung Auteur|date=February 21, 2024|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/frank-howson-the-unsung-auteur/}}
Soundtrack
As well as appearing in the film, Guy Pearce recorded a single called The Promise. The music video featured scenes from the film.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0102076|title=Hunting}}
- [http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/hunting Hunting] at Oz Movies
{{Frank Howson}}
Category:Australian independent films
Category:Films set in Australia
Category:1990s English-language films
Category:1990s Australian films
{{1990s-Australia-film-stub}}