What Do The Critics Say?
"The doco features interview snippets with celebrities, including Tarantino, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson, Barry Humphries, Sigrid Thornton and John Waters. And these snippets are interspersed with clips from the films – so expect to cop an eyeful of sex and nudity, a severe lashing of violence and horror, and an abundance of car chases and foot to the floor action. If you recall the era, you'll love it; if your film memory starts later, you are going to be entertained and enlightened."
Des Partridge BRISBANE COURIER MAIL
"At the centre of the film is die-hard fan Quentin Tarantino. Hartley interviewed many of the filmmakers involved at the time who obviously enjoyed remembering the good old days. Without a doubt it is a celebration of films that were often dismissed at the time. You have to hand it to Mark Hartley for the depth of his research and for creating a wildly entertaining film experience."
Margaret Pomeranz AT THE MOVIES
"The other thing that was fascinating from this film for me was just to see how clearly, watching the clips, you can tell when there's a really good filmmaker. I mean you see Mad Max. You know, George Miller, right from the start, knew how to make films."
David Stratton AT THE MOVIES
"Not Quite Hollywood pays homage to the Australian film industry's wayward children of the 1970s and '80s - the pictures which piled on the sex, violence and bodily fluid jokes in the hope of persuading audiences to do the unlikely and go to an Australian movie. Energy and audacity were the guiding principles of the day, says the producer and distributor Alan Finney, eyes glowing at the memory. "Not Quite Hollywood" is quite a trip."
Sandra Hall THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
"Action, horror, nudity, sex and bad taste, as seen in the cheap and cheerful genre films of the 70s and 80s, now labeled Ozploitation. Mark Hartley's approach is as irreverent as its subject matter, although it does give its many interview subjects a respectful hearing. The film is a valuable work because it not only presents these films in context, it draws on the diversity of opinions which greeted them - many of which persist but many have been seasoned by time and perspective."
Andrew L Urban URBANCINEFILE
"An exhilarating full throttle look at genre movies Oz style, when in a changing world, life seems to have no restraints where censorship, nudity, gore and splatter are concerned. Mark Hartley's candid, funny and thoroughly entertaining documentary is not only a social document, but totally captures the essence of the time when life seemed less serious and cleavage was not smut but cheek with dimples."
Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE
"This affectionate, expertly and vibrantly assembled documentary is focused on saluting and upholding the kinds of movies your parents forbid you not to watch on late-night TV. The kinds of movies that had giant people-eating pigs, rampant nudity, low-budget but inventive violence, intense obscenity and boxing kangaroos (literally). Labelled Ozploitation by long-time devotee and Not Quite Hollywood director Mark Hartley, this movement of graphic, pulpy and shocking genre films has been something of a dirty secret in Australia, cast aside in favour of more serious and "cultured" movies."
Ben McEachen SUNDAY MAIL
"Film-maker, Mark Hartley's wonderfully enthusiastic, affectionate and wildly entertaining romp is a super salute to the Aussie film industry as it burst forth from years of inaction, censorship, frustration, malaise and American dominance. Clips from these films are assembled in an exhilarating panorama that covers the period of incredible change - bra burning, the Vietnam War, feminism, legal abortion - and the end of the cinematic silence broken by the occasional overseas film made here."
Stan James THE ADVERTSIER REVIEW
Mark Hartley Writer & Director
As a member of the X-generation growing up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, I never got to experience 70s Australian genre cinema in the theatres or drive-ins. I discovered it late at night on TV. After-dark TV screenings of films such as "THE MAN FROM HONG KONG" (1975), "PATRICK" (1978) and "SNAPSHOT" (1979) thrilled excited and downright scared me. They were filled with familiar Aussie faces, but spectacular content: a fist fight and chopper chase around Ayer’s Rock; a comatose killer with telekinetic powers; a murderous Mr Whippy van. To a kid who loved movies it was the perfect blend, films with action, suspense and horror that were full of iconographic homegrown brands, landmarks and accents. Interestingly, when I tried to read about these films in borrowed library books on Australian Cinema I discovered most ofthe time they weren’t even listed; let alone discussed or critiqued. My documentary feature, "NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD", finally tells the tale of these often overlooked and neglected films and their maverick filmmakers. It’s a story that begins in 1971 when the R-certificate classification was first introduced. This rating ended an era of savage censorship and allowed Australian cinema to break the shackles of a staid, highly conservative society and start producing films such as "STORK" (1971) starring Bruce Spence as Graham 'Stork' Wallace, Graeme Blundell, and the gorgeous young actress named Jacki Weaver; "THE ADVENTURES OF BARRY McKENZIE" (1972) starring Barry Crocker & Barry Humphries and the iconic "ALVIN PURPLE" (1973) which was directed by Tim Burstall. These films achieved unprecedented commercial success and demonstrated that local audiences were willing to pay to see local product. What followed, hand-in-hand alongside the revered "SUNDAY TOO FAR AWAY" (1975), "THE GETTING OF WISDOM" (1977) and "MY BRILLIANT CAREER" (1979), was the production of an abundance of sex romps, terror tales and action extravaganzas. For every "CADDIE" there was a "FELICITY". For every "PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK" there was a "STUNT ROCK". For every "JIMMY BLACKSMITH" there was an "ALVIN PURPLE". These films found enthusiastic audiences not just locally but all around the globe. Back home we didn’t realize it, but "THE MAN FROM HONG KONG" (1975) was setting box office records in London and quickly becoming the all time box office champ in Pakistan and PATRICK (1978) was soon to become the highest grossing film ever released in Italy! The story of these 'Ozploitation' films is brimming with outrageous anecdotes and you have to see it to believe it footage, but it is also full of many cultural themes and issues that are equally enthralling. The High-Art versus Low-Brow 70s culture wars and our image abroad. Nudity in 70s Australian cinema: was it a case of sexual liberation or simply titillation? Our pioneering stunt and special effects work: unparalleled in quality and extreme danger. Australia’s embrace of car culture and drive-in culture: our white-line obsession. The making of local genre movies: often dismissed in Australia, but finding strong and responsive audiences overseas. Over the past few years I have been researching/directing featurettes and feature-length documentaries for the local and international DVD release of many Australian films. I have been fortunate to have forged strong relationships with the cast and crews of many key films featured in this documentary.
It is the brutally frank recollections of these people that are the most important element of "Not Quite Hollywood". These are the real stories from the people who were there in the cinematic trenches. The wild, trailblazing mavericks who found private finance, snubbed their nose at authority, made their own rules and in the process introduced the car chase, karate kick, BMX bike and water bed to Australian cinema. These candid interviews have been interwoven with remastered film scenes, promotional trailers and never before seen behind the scenes footage from over eighty Aussie genre pictures. Energetic montages have been created from rare film stills and colourful local and international poster art, and this is all accompanied by a soundtrack of seminal radio hits from the period. It is my hope that these are all the ingredients needed to serve up a thrilling theatrical experience! So, please leave your political correctness in the foyer, crack a tube and settle in for a fast-moving journey back to an unjustly forgotten cinematic era when our big-screen heroes were possessed with white-line fever, our heroines were well-stacked and sexually liberated and our truly death-defying stunt work just had to be seen to be believed!
Facts You May Not Know
"Alvin Purple", which starred Graeme Blundell, recouped its $200,000 budget in its first few days of release in 1973 and by 1976 had grossed over $4.7 million at the local box office (that equates to over $35 million today). In New Zealand it earned more money in its first two weeks than any other film ever theatrically released there. By the time "Alvin Rides Again", starring Graeme Blundell, Abigail and Chantal Contouri (whose character was called Boobs la Touche) premiered in December 1974, an estimated 10% of the Australian population had paid to see "Alvin Purple". In 1975, "The Man From Hong Kong" starring George Lazenby, Yu Wang and Rebecca Gilling, broke box office records in London, taking the highest opening week since "Midnight Cowboy" six years earlier. In Pakistan "The Man From Hong Kong" became the all time box office champ for four years. It ran for six months, out-grossing previous record holders, "The Guns Of Navarone", "Cleopatra" and "Where Eagles Dare". Screening alongside "Picnic At Hanging Rock" "and Caddie", "Mad Dog Morgan" starring American import Dennis Hopper became one of the most successful Australian films ever shown at Cannes. It was purchased for release in North America with an advance of $300,000 on US sales plus profit share, the largest overseas advance to that time. "Patrick" starring Robert Thompson, was the highest priced Australian film ever sold to Canada and South East Asia. At Cannes in 1978 it notched up world sales of more than $500,000: more than the other competing Australian films, "The Chant Of Jimmy Blacksmith" and, "Newsfront" which starred Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, Bryan Brown and in which "Home and Away" star Ray Meagher was cast. In the first week of its U.S. release "Patrick" topped the $1 million mark on the Variety box office chart, rocketing to 10th place among the top 50 major releases. In 1978, "Patrick" became the highest grossing film ever released in Italy and, in 1979 spawned an unauthorized spaghetti-sequel,"Patrick Vive Ancora" (a.k.a. "PATRICK IS STILL ALIVE"). In May 1979, the Australian Crime Prevention Council President, Mr P Johnson, declared that "Mad Max", starring a young actor named Mel Gibson as 'Mad' Max Rockatansky, should be banned because of its excessive violence because "It contains scenes of pack rape, barbecuing traffic policemen and running down children, which only a very small minority of Australians could consider worthwhile entertainment." Johnson said George Miller's "Mad Max" was the sort of film the Commonwealth Censorship Board should make an example of so that other Australian producers would not portray the same scenes. New Zealand censors banned "Mad Max" informing the distributor that the film contained "too much antisocial behaviour". "Felicity" the tale of a young girl longing to fullfil her sexual desires, and "Mad Max" were the only two Australian moneymakers in 1979; and the only two Australian releases that year without major investment and/or loans from federal and/or state government sources.
Some Of The Many Faces From Not Quite Hollywood
They faced accusations from moral crusaders, The Festival of Light, who proclaimed many of their early films "Government sponsored pornography". They battled through claims from theemerging feminist movement that their films featured the worst instances of Australian sexism and misogyny. They took a stand against Actors Equity who introduced new tougher guidelines limitingthe number of foreign actors that could beimported for an Australian film. They soldiered on when critics and politicians alike demanded a less vulgar, more culturally elevated filmmaking in an attempt torepresent Australia abroad as refined, genteel and sentimental. They offered an alternative to the wave of nostalgic films produced during Australian cinema’s elegiac period of the late 1970s and ultimately, they produced Aussie genre films that were playing in hundreds o American theatres and breaking box office records inthe most unlikely countries. As a film producer, Phillip Adams ("Don's Party") was responsible for splashing the technicolor yawn across the big screen with "The Adventures Of Barry McKenzie". He passionately lobbied for freedom from censorship and then called for the banning of "Mad Max". His least favourite film is "Turkey Shoot". After establishing herself as cinema’s reining scream queen with roles in "Halloween", "Terror Train" and "Prom Night", Jamie Lee journeyed down-under to appear alongside Stacy Keach in the outback thriller, "Roadgames" (where she found herself stuffed in a sleeping bag off-screen for much of the film’s duration!). Since then she has appeared in such money-making blockbusters as "Trading Places", "A Fish Called Wanda" and "True Lies". Starting her acting career as a frequently undressed fixture in seminal Ozploitation fare ("No. 96 – THE MOVIE", "Stone" and "The Man From Hong Kong"), Rebecca Gilling skyrocketed to Aussie TV icon status after appearing as 'the Skinny Milk girl' in a popular TV commercial and being disfigured by a rogue crocodile in the mini series "Return To Eden". Producer and Director Richard Franklin A student and protege of Alfred Hitchcock, made the critically acclaimed local Hitchcockian thrillers "Patrick" and "Roadgames" before heading to the US to helm "Psycho II", "Cloak & Dagger" and "FX2". Sadly, Richard passed away only three weeks after being interviewed for "Not Quite Hollywood". Playboy playmate and disco star turned best-selling white witch author Deborah Gray appeared in TV'S "NO. 96" (as a woman with a phobia about wearing clothes, no less) and John Lamond’s cheeky romp, "Pacific Banana". After single handedly demolishing the Hollywood studio system with "Easy Rider", 1969 Cannes Film Festival Award winner Dennis Hopper became a burnt-out Hollywood outlaw: perfect casting for the role of the rum-swilling psychopathic bushranger, Mad Dog Morgan. Over thirty years later, he is still not legally allowed to drive; or be a passenger, in a car in Victoria. After appearing in such seminal films as "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter", "Brewster McCloud" and "Fat City", Stacy Keach appeared alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and a dingo in "Roadgames". He has recently had a high-profile career resurgence thanks to his role as Warden Henry Pope in TV'S "Prison Break". A finalist in the Annual Miss West Coast bikini beauty pageant in Perth, Cheryl Rixon was cast in the nudie detective spoof, PLUGG – a film in which no money was wasted on costumes. She subsequently moved to the US and became a genuine bonafide disco queen and Penthouse 'Pet of the Year' in 1980.
Synopsis
 The Wild, Untold Story of OZPLOITATION Cinema.The true story of how Australian cinema made it to the international cinema stage, thanks to films such as The Adventures Of Barry McKenzie, Patrick, Mad Max, The Long Weekend, The Man From Hong Kong and more. Jam packed full of outrageous anecdotes, lessons in maverick filmmaking, a smattering of international names, including 'Ozploitation' devotee Quentin Tarantino, and a genuine, infectious love of Aussie movies, Not Quite Hollywood is a fast moving journey through Australian genre cinema of the '70s and early '80s, a forgotten cinematic era unashamedly packed of revelations, nudity, spilling the dirt, horror and lucious stars of stage and screen revealing everything. Free-wheelin’ sex romps! Blood-soaked terror tales! High-octane action extravaganzas! They’re the main ingredients of NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, the first detailed examination and celebration of Australian genre cinema of the 70s and 80s, full of pubes, boobs, tubes and kung fu.
The Verdict
"A film for degenerates that focusses on violence, the sexualization of women, stereotyping, poofter bashing (a.k.a Homophobia), full frontal nudity, tittilation, mocks Christianity and belittles everything that decent Australian's hold near and dear. Why any aussie cinemagoer would want to see a film that idolizes violence, features lashings of full frontal nudity, confronts every moral value held up to society and, champions sexplotionation, beats me. Sure it's informative. Yes, it is extremely entertaining, but did they have to show all that full frontal nudity. I for one, wonder how, generally conservative, anal retentive Australian cinemagoers, will react to viewing footage that features so many well known iconic Australian actress who, thirty plus years ago are seen eagerly getting their gear off and proudly flashing their once firm breasts, tight flawless bums and hairy crotches. One actress, Wendy Hughes, is seen talking about "how everybody reviewed her tits instead of her performance." Crikey! How were they ever allowed to get away with it! Back in my dear old dad's day, women were seen as sacred creatures. Women were treated decently, adoured, reveared and it never entered a mans mind that they were sexual objects. And, they certainly weren't used in cinema for pornographic purpose, or for the sexual gratification of devients. Believe it or not, Director and Writer Mark Hartley now wants us to take in a 'cinematic experience' that throws together films which feature, full frontal nudity, tittilation, violence, explotation, homophobia, kung fu, amazing stunts, while dropping the dirt on the local film industry. Hartley even takes the explotion off-shore, with self-confessed Ozploitation nut Quentin Tarantino gushing on and on about how great the 'era' was and how it helped shape his film career. Does he really expect astute, savvy Australian cinemagoers to fall for that old trick? I'm sure they will! Why do I think that? Because we're a bunch of simpletons who everyone exploits. I urge you all to gird your loins, take cold showers, keep your King James clutched to your hearts, steer clear of cinemas and avoid the urge to give in to temptation. Don't weaken like I did ... twice. "Not Quite Hollywood" is a must. A must for OZ cinema fans. Don't miss it! 5 STARS."
The Celebrity List
Quentin Tarantino
Jamie Lee Curtis
Dennis Hopper
George Lazenby
Henry Thomas
Leigh Whannell
Russell Mulcahy
Stacy Keach
James Wan
George Miller
Gregory Harrison
Greg Mclean
Susannah York
John Jarratt
Jack Thompson
Barry Humphries
Steve Railsback
Sigrid Thornton
Ted Kotcheff
Fred Schepisi
Joanne Samuel
Steve Bisley
Simon Wincer
Brian Trenchard-Smith
Susan Penhaligon
John Waters
John Seale
Rebecca Gilling
Cassandra Delaney
Richard Franklin
Judy Morris
Jamie Blanks
Roger Ward
Glory Annen
Jeremy Thomas
Donald McAlpine
Philippe Mora
William Margold
Everett De Roche
Graeme Blundell
Christine Amor
Antony I. Ginnane
Rod Mullinar
Cheryl Rixon
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
David Williamson
Russell Boyd
Lynette Curran
Ian Barry
Deborah Gray
Ross Matthews
Sandy Harbutt
Belinda Giblin
Tom Burstall
Norman Yemm
Grant Page
Barry Crocker
Briony Behets
Lynda Stoner
David Eggby
Ken Shorter
Alan Hopgood
John D. Lamond
Candy Raymond
Nina Landis
Arna-Maria Winchester
Phillip Adams
David Hannay
John Michael Howson
Bob Ellis
Alan Finney
Dan Burstall
Richard Brennan
Chris Löfvén
Rod Hay
Carla Hoogeveen
Tony Williams
Vincent Monton
Hal McElroy
Bob McCarron
Ross Dimsey
Victoria Anoux
Robin Copping
Greg Lynch
Uri Windt
Garry Wapshott
Barry Jones
Brian Jones

Run Time 103 minutes
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
Copyright ©2008 - City Wide Films - All Rights Reserved
©2008 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.