The Journalist (1979 film)

This article is about the Australian film. For the Yugoslav film, see Journalist (1979 film). For the Malayalam film, see Journalist (1993 film).
The Journalist
Directed by Michael Thornhill
Produced by Pom Oliver
Written by Michael Thornhill
Edna Wilson
Starring Jack Thompson
Sam Neill
Cinematography Don McAlpine
Edited by Tim Welburn
Ron Williams
Production
company
FJ Promoters
NSW Film Corporation
Distributed by Roadshow
Release dates
  • 22 November 1979 (1979-11-22)
Running time
 83 minutes
Country Australia
Language English
Budget AU$400,000[1]
Box office AU $52,000 (Australia)[2]

The Journalist is a 1979 Australian sex comedy about the romantic adventures of a journalist (Jack Thompson). It has the reputation as one of the worst Australian films of all time.[3]

Plot

Journalist Simon Morris has trouble with his love life. He is separated from his wife Wendy and daughter Suzie and lives with his girlfriend Liz.

Production

Money came from Roadshow, who wanted Jack Thompson to play the lead, and the New South Wales Film Corporation. The shoot started January 1979 and went for four weeks.[3]

Reception

The film was very poorly received critically and commercially. Thornhill:

The Journalist was a misfire completely and I think it was my fault entirely. We should never have had Jack Thompson. He was just miscast. He's not a comedian. He's a serious, solid actor. We should have had Sam Neill in the lead role and you would have had a debonair roue - it was meant to be a debonair roue. It was meant to be a piece of fluff, a piece of effervescent fluff that came out feeling like lard.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Keith Connor, "The Journalist", Australian Film 1978-92, Oxford Uni Press 1993 p34
  2. ↑ "Australian Films at the Australian Box Office", Film Victoria accessed 24 October 2012
  3. 1 2 David Stratton, The Last New Wave, Angus and Robertson, 1979 p 92-95
  4. ↑ Interview with Michael Thornhill, Signist, 2 November 1998 accessed 14 October 2012


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