Playing Beatie Bow (film)

This article is about the film. For the novel by Ruth Park, see Playing Beatie Bow.
Playing Beatie Bow

Playing Beatie Bow poster
Directed by Donald Crombie
Produced by Jock Blair
Bruce Moir
John Morris
Written by Peter Gawler (written by) Irwin Lane (writer)
Ruth Park (novel)
Based on the novel by Ruth Park
Starring Peter Phelps
Imogen Annesley
Mouche Phillips
Nikki Coghill
Moya O'Sullivan
Music by Garry McDonald / Laurie Stone
Cinematography Geoffrey Simpson
Edited by A.J. Prowse
Distributed by South Australian Film Corporation
Release dates
  • 7 August 1986
Running time
 93 minutes
Country Australia
Language English
Budget A$4.4 million[1]
Box office A$97,036 (Australia)

Playing Beatie Bow is a 1986 Australian drama film directed by Donald Crombie. The screenplay by Peter Gawler and Irwin Lane is based on the novel by Ruth Park.

Plot summary

Beatie Bow, a young Victorian-era girl, is summoned from the past to contemporary Sydney by children chanting her name. 14-year-old Abigail Kirk follows her back to 1873, in the colony of New South Wales. Beatie's family believe Abigail is the promised 'Stranger' who will arrive to save 'The Gift' for future generations of Bows. Abigail is trapped in the past until she does what she was 'sent' to do, even though she doesn't know what this is. During her sojourn, she falls in love for the first time and gains a more mature perspective on her parents' relationship.

Cast

Production

Playing Beatie Bow was directed by Donald Crombie, and produced by Jock Blair, Bruce Moir and John Morris. It is rated PG instead of the milder G because Abigail says "Oh, shit" toward the end of the film.[2]

Most of the movie was shot in Adelaide.[3] $400,000 was spent on recreating Sydney's Rocks area in a disused industrial site.[1]

Box Office

Playing Beatie Bow grossed $97,306 at the box office in Australia,[4] which is equivalent to $212,127 in 2009 dollars. However the movie was popular on video.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Greg Kerr, "Playing Beatie Bow", Australian Film 1978-1992, Oxford Uni Press, 1993 p203
  2. ↑ TV Tropes, Cosi rated PG
  3. ↑ David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p340
  4. ↑ Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
  5. ↑ "Interview with Donald Crombie", Signet, 18 December 1998 accessed 16 November 2012

External links