HUMPTY-DUMPTY MAN

Australia, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Rod Mullinar, Deborra Lee Furness, Frank Gallacher, Frederick Parslow, Sue Jones, Jim Holt.
Directed by Paul J. Hogan.

This is an early film by Paul J. Hogan who went on to become P.J.Hogan with Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friend's Wedding and Unconditional Love.

Humpty-Dumpty? Man is a small-budget Australian thriller. It is based on events of 1983-84, focusing on political lobbyist David Coomb, once secretary of the Australian Labor Party. His association with a Russian trade official, identified as a KGB agent, caused turmoil in political circles.

This film dramatises the David Coomb character, his friendship, his being used by officials in politics as well as in ASIO. The screenplay also borrows something from recent British espionage turmoil - the head of ASIO is a Soviet plant.

Frank Gallacher is effective as the Humpty-Dumpty? Man. There is a competent Australian cast in support, including a sardonic Frederick Parslow as the head of ASIO. Rod Mullinar and Deborra Lee Furness are ASIO officials involved in betrayal. Seemingly farfetched - but entertaining as a telemovie or a movie to hire on video.

1.Entertaining and interesting thriller? Australian background and setting? Politics and trade? International espionage?

2.The story based on facts? Adaptation of the factual basis? Introduction of ASIO and the KGB? Credibility of the plot?

3.The use of Canberra locations, the surrounding countryside? Authentic? The musical score?

4.The title, the reference to Gerry Shadlow, his being set up, his form?

5.Gerry and his work, involvement in trade negotiations and lobbying, waiting to access the politicians? The domestic sequences, his wife and family? The various contacts? The contacts with the journalist, questions? His friendship with the Russian official, going out together, socialising? Exchanging information? The trade alliance, Gerry and his being used, being sent to Russia? Being set up? The collapse of his plans? The journalist contact? His disappearance? The espionage officials? The puzzles, waiting at the dam for the official - and his death? The confrontation of the businessman, the explanation of his being used? The pursuit in the warehouse, the murders? The chase? His going to the head of Australian espionage? The confrontation in the garden? The second in charge, the gun, the shooting of the head? His being continually used? His future?

6.The Russian trade official, the friendship with Gerry, trade connections, the KGT and the infiltration? Government and espionage officials using the contact? Tapes? Surveillance? The government expelling the Russian official?

7.The businessman and his contacts, his being used by politicians, by espionage and intelligence? The pretext of his Filipino wife? The encounters with Gerry? The set-up? The visit to Russia? The truth, Gerry confronting him in the warehouse, his explanations, his assassination? The murders of his assistants?

8.Intelligence agents, the agency itself, the parallels with ASIO? Suave personalities, rivalries? The head of the intelligence agency and his controls, intelligence, manner, contacts? The official and the affair, her betraying her lover, photographing the documents, in the pay of the businessman? The official and his giving money to the girl? His being victimised by the head? The second-in-charge and his confrontation of the head? Taking over?

9.The girl, her role as secretary, examining the files, the affair, photographing documents, spying for the businessman, her death?

10.Symes as the head of the agency? Suave manner, smooth? Controlling? His assistant and the final confrontation, having taken him into his confidence, assassination?

11.The second-in-charge, complaints, reporting to the head, contact with the journalist, control, final ringing?

12.The portrait of the government assassins? Their methods? Assassination as `an acceptable form of censorship'?

13.The background of Australian-Soviet? relationships of the '80s? Trade contacts? Deals? Espionage and infiltration? Politicians and their future?

14.The journalist, his contacts, articles, blackmail, murder?

15.The build-up with the showdowns - in the factory, at the house, the head of the agency dead in his cabbage patch?

16.The finale, cover-up and expediency?