The Great Bookie Robbery - 2-DVD Set

The Great Bookie Robbery - 2-DVD Set (DVD) (*)

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Screened, competed or awarded at:
Australian Film Institute
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
270 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
2-DVD Set
Commentary
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1986 and produced in:
Australia ( Australia, New Zealand )

Directed By:
Mark Joffe

Written By:
Philip Cornford

Actors:
Andy Anderson ..... Tony Loft
Bruno Lawrence ..... Cracka Park
Candy Raymond ..... Sonya Reynolds
Catherine Wilkin ..... Carol Power
Denis Moore ..... Russ Lockhart
Dennis Miller ..... Detective Edwards
Feon Keane ..... David Power
Gary Day ..... Coilin Reynolds
Gary Sweet ..... Chicka White
George Spartels ..... Jaffa Davis
John Bach ..... Mike Power
Margie McCrae ..... Wendy Lott
Paul Sonkkila ..... Merv Temple
Ray Meagher ..... Bob Temple
Scott Burgess ..... Robbo Robbins

Synopsis:

This three-part, six-hour Australian miniseries was based on a true story. On April 21, 1976, a band of gunmen invaded the Victoria Club in broad daylight, robbing all of the Melbourne bookmakers who congregated therein. The caper was pulled off so efficiently that no clues were left behind, thoroughly baffling the police. Inevitably, the case was solved when the thieves began to squabble amongst themselves, their arguments culminating in death and disaster. Filmed in 'reality' fashion at the actual locations where the events occurred, The Great Bookie Robbery was broadcast by Australia's 9 Network from November 15 to 17, 1986.

This 3 part made-for-television mini-series about Australia's most-famous robbery is both a contender as Australia's best-ever crime thriller and a very credible depiction of the life of the Australian career criminal. The first episode directed by Mark Joffe who had learned his trade at Crawfords in his first directorial job is easily the best and shows that he had studied Coppola and Scorsese. The second episode, directed by Cole introduces more of the familial elements, slowing the pace somewhat before the third episode although still good value presents the usual problems of youngest siblings, that of inheriting hand-me-downs. Made at a time when Melbourne was still a big provincial town, the location work is fabulous, there being few films which showcase the pre-yuppified inner suburbs so well. That it was also a time when cops had to find a phone box when they wanted to make an urgent call (and Gary Sweet had hair) and survelliance techniques were rough and ready all add to the somewhat anachronistic but to anyone of that generation, charmingly low key realism. The cast, led by English TV actor, John Bach, is uniformly excellent with many recognisable and not so recognisable faces from George Spartels who subsequently made a career hosting Playschool to stalwarts of 70s Australian cinema like Dennis Miller. Although it does lose pace somewhat over 270 minutes running time, particularly after the heist has been carried out, it really should be seen in one sitting to appreciate the full effect.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 15 November, 2005.

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