A KINK IN THE PICASSO

Australia, 1990, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jon Finlayson, Jane Clifton, Andrew Daddo, Peter O' Brien, Michael Bishop.
Directed by Marc Gracie.

A Kink in the Picasso is a Melbourne comedy - based on an actual event, the disappearance of Picasso's Weeping Woman from the State Gallery. Tbe screen play weaves a plot involving, the directors of the gallery, a group of art students and a crooked bookmaker and his associates.

John Finlayson and Jane Clifton stand out as the art director and the manager of the gallery. They play their comic styles with some aplomb. Peter O'Brien and Andrew Daddo are the art students - conventional television series style.

The group of bookmakers look as if they have come in from another film, a Melbourne variation on Damon Runyon characters. The settings are attractive, the comedy is at times laboured - but this is an inconsequential time passing comedy.

1. Entertaining comedy? Based on an actual event? The hypothesis about various involvements in the theft of the Picasso?

2. Melbourne locations, homes and art galleries? The streets of Melbourne? Chase sequences? musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the art world, Picasso? the real events?

4. Miss Mc Cloud and Lionel, their running of the gallery? The clash with Alex? fake Picasso? The arrangements for the Japanese dealer and the millions? Joe and the exhibition, the substitution of the fake and his taking the signs, Miss Mc Cloud's haughty attitude, his taking the Picasso? Welcoming the minister, the speech, the alarm? Miss Mc Cloud and her getting the original back on the stand? Lionel putting it on upside down? The final theft and the deal with the Japanese? Their taking the money and locking Lionel in? his interviews with Mick? chases, comic touches? the confrontation, the final deals for money, for the exhibition?

5. Joe and Alex, Alex and her attitude towards Miss Mc Cloud, wanting the exhibition, government support for modern arts? her painted tapestries? Going on television and disrupting the interview? Her relationship with Joe? His going to the races, losing the money, her finding out? His painting the signs and her reaction? The taking of the Picasso and Joe's leaving the gallery? Presenting it to Alex? Its being taken - and the scheme to get the other Picasso? the threats to Mick? Their shrewdness in stealing? Alex and her going to Tony, car chases? The final confrontation - and each getting what they wanted?

6. Nick, his restaurant, friendship with Nadia? going to the races, his naivety? Joe's system? Tony and the loan, Harvey and Stan and their standover tactics? Fading the Picasso? Lionel's visit and the deal? Harvey and Stan and their threats? Teaming, tip with Joe, stealing the other Picasso? The chases and, the final confrontation, saving the restaurant?

7. The art world, the Japanese broker, the deals with the authorities?

8. The minister, the policing, fun at Government, his long speech about the history of art? His wanting a report of the incident?

9. Popular comedy, poking fun at the art world, at the bookmakers - Tony and his trying to learn English, and his corrections?

10. A Popular concoction - for Melbourne audiences? Wider audiences?