The Life of Harry Dare is a 1995 Australian film about an aboriginal detective.[1] Directed by Aleksi Vellis it stars John Moore as the titular Harry Dare who is searching for his missing Kombi Van.[2]
| The Life of Harry Dare | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Aleksi Vellis |
| Written by | Gerald Thompson |
| Produced by | Terry J. Charitsis |
| Starring | John Moore Nicholas Hope |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Hall |
| Music by | David Hirschfelder |
Production companies | Infinity Pictures South Australian Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 min |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Cast edit
- John Moore as Harry Dare
- Nicholas Hope as Kevin
- Tom E. Lewis as Harry's Father
- Ullie Birvé as Gina
- Don Barker as Sergeant
- Aaron Wilton as Jim
- Tony Briggs as Dan
- Justin Braine as Max
Production edit
The Life of Harry Dare was filmed in Adelaide.[3] It was first screened in 1995 in the leadup to that years AFI awards but at the time did not have a set commercial release.[2] In July 1997 it was released into a single theatre[4] before getting a further run in Sydney.[3]
Reception edit
In the leadup to the 1995 AFI awards the Age's Jim Schembri called it "an exceptionally funny film about an aboriginal man's obsession with a Kombi van."[5] After its 1997 release he gave it 3 stars saying "By skillfully fusing several race-related elements into a light comedy without making light of them, Harry Dare shows that being entertaining does not necessarily mean being vacuous."[6] Robert Drewe of the Sydney Morning Herald says it is "pretty hard to classify. At times it seems like a tough urban drama, at others more a bitter-sweet comedy."[7] David Stratton commenting on The Movie Show gave it 3 stars and says the film "doesn`t in the end make the most of some intriguing ideas, but nevertheless it`s engaging entertainment."[8] Adrian Martin gave it 2 stars finishing "Neither a full-blooded social satire nor a cute Aussie version of Ghost Dad (1990), The Life of Harry Dare dwells in that frustrating middle-ground where so many Australian films go to die."[4]
Awards edit
References edit
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p101
- ^ a b Cook, Margaret (2 October 1995), "Quirky look at a traditionally sensitive issue", The Age
- ^ a b Hessey, Ruth (22 August 1997), "Who Dares wins", The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ a b Martin, Adrian (July 1997), "The Life of Harry Dare", Film Critic: Adrian Martin
- ^ a b Schembri, Jim (10 November 1995), "Angel Baby thrives amid barren crop", The Age
- ^ Schembri, Jim (25 July 1995), "The importance of being Ernest", The Age
- ^ Drewe, Robert (21 August 1997), "Who dares doesn't always win", The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ Stratton, David (6 September 1995), "Life of Harry Dare, The", The Movie Show, SBS
External links edit
- The Life of Harry Dare at IMDb
- The Life of Harry Dare at Creative Spirits
- Review at SBS
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