THE PAPER BOY
Australia, 1984, 50 minutes, Colour.
Julia Blake, Bob Ellis, Norman Kaye, David Argue, John Flaus, Paul Cox.
Directed by Paul Cox.
The Paper Boy was written by Bob Ellis and directed by Paul Cox (Man of Flowers, My First Wife).
This is a Depression story, a family with the father out of work, the young boy trying to sell papers to bring an income to the family, clashing with his father and moving away.
The film re-creates the atmosphere of Melbourne during the Depression. It also has a gallery of character actors from Melbourne in guest roles: Julia Blake the Salvation Army convert, Bob Ellis as the man soliciting in the restaurant, Paul Cox himself as a cranky passer-by, Barry Dickens and Norman Kaye as beggars, John Flaus as the communist speaker, David Argue as the chairman of the meeting.
The film focuses with a sense of realism on the family - but, according to the philosophy of the series, shows a young boy winning through to positive stances in life.
1.Entertaining story? A winner's story?
2.Melbourne in the '30s, Port Melbourne, the inner city suburbs and streets, homes? The scenes on Port Phillip? The shops, the shelters? Musical score?
3.The background of the Depression, the effect on families, on the husband and his losing his job, the search for work, unemployment and its demoralising effect? Mothers as strengths of families? Children?
4.The portrait of the family: mother looking after the children, concern? Her husband drinking, the return home, the telling of his job loss? His angers? Tension in the family, his drinking, no gifts for Christmas? The clash with his son and the boy leaving? Mother and her pleading, his return at Christmas? The father taking the pledge? Going to Werribee to seek work? Joey's return, the parents joking with him at the end, the father lowering his qualifications and getting the job? Portrait of characters, parents, son, other children?
5.Joe and his age, doing his homework, relationship with his mother, her talking to him as a young man? The job with Mr Crabtree, selling the papers on the street, fighting with the other boys for position, the range of customers, the cranky man with his change? Joe's anger, the clash with his father, leaving home? Meeting the beggars in the street, the tramp at the shelter talking about his family, the Salvation Army, the shops, getting the money, his mother's asking him to come home, the Christmas dinner, discussion with his father, socialism and capitalism, his visit to the communist meeting, the final reconciliation?
6.Mr Crabtree, the paper shop, the job, the conditions? Concern about the father?
7.The Salvation Army and their role during the Depression, marching and singing, the lady giving her confession and her conversion - and the attack on her as being an alcoholic, her hurrying away? The positive side of the Salvation Army?
8.The beggars and their lives in the streets, in the shelters, the man soliciting Joe in the restaurant?
9.The picture of young boys during the Depression, paper boys, clashes with each other?
10.The communist meeting, the speaker and his idealising of Russia, the Russian comrades visiting? Their backing down in concern for Joe's father? The father and his ideas about the system, revolution? Collapse of the system?
11.The retrospect of the Depression?
