Buddies (1983 film)

Buddies is a 1983 Australian comedy/drama film directed by Arch Nicholson and written by John Dingwall. Dingwall won the Best Original Screenplay AFI Award for the script.[2][3] The film was not a great success in 1983, as no Australian distributor wanted to release it, but Dingwall took it around the country cinemas himself, where it was well received.[4]

Buddies
Directed byArch Nicholson
Produced byJohn Dingwall
Written byJohn Dingwall
StarringColin Friels
Kris McQuade
Harold Hopkins
Music byChris Neal
CinematographyDavid Eggby
Edited byMartyn Down
Distributed byHoyts (AUS)
Paramount Pictures (Worldwide)
Release date
  • June 23, 1983 (1983-06-23) (AUS)
  • July 15, 1983 (1983-07-15) (USA)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$1.9 million[1]
Box officeA$81,777

Plot

Young miners Mike and Johnny (Colin Friels and Harold Hopkins) work in the gem fields of central Queensland around Emerald. Conflict arises when their pick-and-shovel operation is threatened by a large scale bulldozer operator.

Principal cast

Production

John Dingwall wrote the script and decided to produce it himself. He raised the money with the help of Rex Pilbeam, a former mayor of Rockhampton. Most of the money was raised in Queensland, including investment from the Queensland Film Corporation. Shooting took place on location in Emerald, Queensland and lasted six weeks.[1]

Box office

According to Dingwall, the film tested extremely well with audiences but there was a difficulty in marketing it.[1] Buddies grossed $81,777 at the box office in Australia,[5] which is equivalent to $215,891 in 2009 dollars.

Awards and nominations

At the 1983 AFI awards Buddies was nominated in the Best Achievement in Sound, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Simon Chilvers), Best Actress in a Lead Role (Kris McQuade) and Best Original Music Score (Chris Neal) categories. John Dingwall won the Best Original Screenplay AFI Award for the script.[6]

References
  1. David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p88-89
  2. IMDb info
  3. "BUDDIES". Filmnews (Sydney, NSW : 1975 - 1995). Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 January 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  4. Australian screen
  5. "Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  6. IMDb awards


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