GLASS

Australia, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Alan Lovell, Lisa Peers.
Directed by Chris Kennedy.

Glass is a Sydney based thriller produced, written and directed by Christopher Kennedy. The film opens with great emphasis on Glass, especially in the skyscrapers in Sydney (giving a clue to the villain). However, there is an emphasis on big business, deals, corrupt government, the building of a casino and the destruction of buildings on an island in Sydney harbour. The film is quite entertaining - but becomes more conventional as it goes on, seeming more like an episode in a television series. However, the cast performs well, pulls out some of the melodramatic stops when necessary, and shows something of the background of business in the late 80s (and the desire to be free from its corruption and pressures).

1. Entertaining thriller? World of big business? Murder mystery?

2. The title, the reference to the murder-weapon? Images of glass, especially in the City of Sydney? The significance of glass and the destruction of the flower sellers shop?

3. The Sydney locations, the city, homes, office buildings, exteriors and interiors, the Harbour, the old mansion? Stunts and special effects? Musical Score?

4. The Vicary Foundation: the background of the company, Richard building it up, his relationship with his parents, his father's ambitions, and the old peoples home, concern for old people? His involvement with Peter Brean? The plans for the Casino, paying money to government officials? His wife leaving him and deciding to come back? His integrity? A fit man, exercise, clashes with Brean? Relationship with Veronica, her wanting to tell him the truth? Her death? His reaction? Going out quietly, Allison seeing him in the park and putting the tear on his photo? His relationship with his staff? The impact of the murders? The police and their investigation? His wife's. return, the reconciliation, her trying to get information from him? Allison coming for the job, the comedy of her interview, pursuing Julie, overhearing the plan, telling Richard? His disbelief, the plan, the attack on the Island, pretending to be dead9 His going back to his parents, selling the company, buying the boat, taking everyone on the trip? Beginning a new life? An honourable (if sometimes troubled and dour) hero?

5. Peter Brean, the clash with Julie, his corrupt connections, the threats to him, paying the money to the officials, his confidence about the casino? Clashes with Richards? with the staff? His relationship with Julie, her return, his giving her orders and her clash? The plan to get information? The idea of the murder, enticing Richard to the Island, the plan, his overhearing them, the fights, the pretence to be dead? Peter and his reaction at the office? The phone call, going to see the third victim? His disappointment with the company being sold? Going with Julie in the taxi, in the car, hitting the flower seller, the irony of the glass in the car, the pursuit by the police, the suggestion that they would be murdered by the flower seller?

6. Julie, leaving her husband, her ambitions, relationship with Peter, her return, seductive behaviour, in collusion with Peter, on the boat and being taped, Richard hearing the truth? Her agreement to the murder plan? On the Island, her bewilderment, caught there, haughty manner? Return home, the house and the company sold? With Peter, the pursuit by the police, her death?

7. Allison, skill with make-up, the company being dismissed because of lack of money? In the park and putting the tear on Peter's photo, the chat with him? Going to the interview, her lack of skills, following Julie, overhearing, warning Richard, setting up the tape recorders? Giving him the truth? The collaboration with the make-up for his fake death? The happy ending?

8. The police and their enquiries?

9. The flower seller, wandering the city, selling the flowers, in the background all the time? When did audiences suspect him? Being knocked over, in the car, the story of his shop and the destruction, the building of the glass skyscraper? His revenge? Killing the personal in the building?

10. The popular ingredients of the murder mystery: settings, characters, suspicions, clues, intrigue, revelation, Justice being done?