HURRICANE SMITH
Australia, 1992, 86 minutes, Colour.
Carl Weathers, Jurgen Prochnow, Cassandra Delaney, Tony Bonner, David Argue, John Ewart.
Directed by Colin Budds.
Hurricane Smith is a typical American adventure action thriller transported to Queensland’s Gold Coast. It was filmed on the Gold Coast and at the Warner Pros. studios. Action Jackson's Carl Weathers was imported as the black hero to save his sister caught up in Queensland vice. Jurgen Prochnow is the villain in what must be his worst performance. Tony Bonner is one of the local villains, David Argue is a semi-villain and a semi-hero. Cassandra Delaney is the prostitute heroin. John Ewart gives some dignity to the proceedings as a genial grandfather.
However, the action is fairly commonplace, a mixture of drug dealing and prostitution, a fair amount of gratuitous brutality - and some attractive locations with good stunt work. The brief running time is 80 minutes.
1. Australian American co-production? Action adventure? For film and video audiences?
2. The Texas locations (looking like Queensland)? The Gold Coast, the city, the sea, mansions? Vice? Stunt work, musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Smith? His American background? His behaviour in Australia?
4. Carl Weathers as Smith, his decision to search, immigration? The clash with Charlie, his work in Texas, the news about his mothers death? looking for his sister? Coming to Australia? the discussions with clues, the photograph, the taxi driver, finding the house? The eventual confrontation and Charlie's death? Howard and his control of vice rings? his sister's connections with both? The prostitute, his treatment of her? Her friendship with Selly? Being on his side? her grandfather's help? with Damian - relying on him? The brutality, the attacks? The chases? On the water? The final confrontation in the house after the explosion of the boat? the final fights, Damian helping him, death? His finding the solutions to his questions - and returning home with a new girlfriend? The American style hero of this kind of film?
5. The prostitute as heroine, on the job, friendship with Selly? Clients? Damian and his control? Her relationship with Charlie, with the rest of the girls? Trying to get in touch with Smith? The information, the help? Their affair? The final confrontation and her help? Off to America with him?
6. Damian, in the brothel? his sneering behaviour, the truth about himself? Helping with Griffo? The chases, the confrontation, his being shot, helping Smith?
7. The villains: Charlie, his brutal attitudes, the initial murder and the shark, his relationship with Howard? Confrontations with Smith, brutal treatment of the girls? His new girlfriend - and the irony of their betrayal? The explosion and the murder of Howard? His toughs? The final attack on the house, his death?
8. Howard, vice king, his use of the women? Control over Charlie? His being betrayed by his girlfriend, by Charlie, the career?
9. Griffo, genial, the ocker touch - love for his granddaughter, helping out, contacts, at the racecourse, in the chase, the guns? The happy ending?
10. The vice on the Gold Coast, police, drug bosses, gambling, night clubs and brothels? The personnel involved? Small private armies? The confrontation with the hero? The racial background - and the dialogue full of comments about Niggers and racism? Reflecting attitudes? An American Australian co-production?
