SURFER

Australia, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Gary Day, Gosia Dobrowolska, Rod Mullinar, Tony Barry, Gerard Maguire, Kris McQuade?.
Directed by Frank Shields.

Surfer has potential as a Queensland private eye thriller. But it develops its potential only partially. Gary Day is effective enough (if not charismatic) as Sam Barlow (combination of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe?), an ex-Vietnam veteran who runs a beach service at Surfers. The placidity of his life is interrupted when his best friend is killed and there is involvement in blackmail, police and political corruption. He tries to investigate, is framed for murder and has to go to Townsville with the mysterious Gina (Gosia Dobrowalska - Silver City, Around the World in 80 Ways).

Much of the film is spent in stunt work for their pursuit and the interesting ingredients of the first part of the film are lost and barely taken up at the ending. Which means then that Surfer is similar to many television episodes of Australian and American series. The Queensland locations are attractively used, there is good photography by documentary-maker Michael Edols. A strong supporting cast does what it can in limited time with the supporting roles.

The film is based on an idea and directed by Frank Shields who directed the vigorous Hostage.

1. Interesting and entertaining private eye type thriller? Queensland settings? Police and political corruption? The smuggling of Yellow Cake to Asia?

2. Location photography: Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Queensland forests, Townsville? Special effects and stunt work? The musical score, songs?

3. The title and its focus on Sam Barlow? His age, ex-surfer? Experience in Vietnam? Friends? His job on the beach? The change to his life? The final slow motion sequence of him running - to what?

4. The character of Sam: age, experience, casual, ex-wife, friendship with Jack and Trish, the party, getting him to deliver the letter, the involvement in Jack's problems, his death, the Courier Mail and news services, the investigations, Calhoun and his interrogations? The-air of mystery, the visit to the Vietnamese club? The visit to the casino and the encounter with Hagan? Calhoun taking Gina and himself? The fight and Calhoun's death? The mystery with Slaney and his murder? Sam having to escape, going with Gina, her help? The car-ride, the pursuit and the crashes, the helicopter, the forest? The attraction towards Gina, waterfall sequences, the beach the night together? Hagan's pursuit? The getting of the second hand car? The sequences on the wharf, the discovery of the truth, the confrontation with Hagan, his death? Gina’s choices? Sam's choice?

5. Gina and her mysterious background, European, their need for money? Entanglement with Jack - how responsible for his death? Entanglement with Hagan? Her flight with Jack, the Capture by Calhoun, his death? Dangers experienced? In love with Jack? The final confrontation, her need of the money, her leaving, her stopping?

6. Hagan and his work in Saigon, mercenary, links with the politicians, paying the police? The smuggling of the Yellow Cake, Vietnamese connections? Pursuing the couple, his power, his death?

7. Jack and Trish, past friendships, the, shaky marriage, Trish's dependence on Sam, her dislike of Gina? Jack and his contacts, blackmailing the politician, contacts with the Vietnamese, his death?

8. Slaney being in jail, past friendships, the death of his wife, his murder?

9. Calhoun as the corrupt cop, the parties, being paid off by Hagan, doing his job, covering up. his death? The theme of the corrupt mines Minister, Vietnamese women connection, with Hagan, at the wharf? The political implications of the smuggling of Yellow Cake? This thread not being pursued?

10. Popular ingredients of the private eye thriller? The chase thriller? The film relying on convention rather than originality?