DALKEITH

Australia, 2002, 93 minutes, Colour.
Ray Barrett, Gus Mercurio, Judy Banks, Esme Melville, Alan Hopgood, Marilyn Maguire, Jacinta Stapleton, Geoff Brooks, James Benedict, Julie Nihill, Andrew Clarke, David Bradshaw.
Directed by Leigh Sheehan.

Dalkeith is a cheerful – perhaps over-cheerful – story of the elderly. The film was made in Ballarat, using the building of Loreto College for the home for the elderly (rather larger on the outside than is seen on the inside).

The residents are generally cheerful people. The main conflict is between Ray Barrett as a rather uppity former lawyer who reads Caesar in the Latin and Gus Mercurio as an Italian patriarch who likes to watch ordinary programs on TV. There is a very sassy performance by Esme Melville as an elderly actress who used to be on the stage. Playwright Alan Hopgood is in a wheelchair – but has a good finger for ringing up bets. There is comedy from Geoff Brooks as a handyman. James Benedict and Jacinta Stapleton are the rather staid good friends who will obviously marry. Julie Nihill is Esme Melville’s snobby daughter.

The film seems to be going along ordinary lines until David Bradshaw tries to sell Geoff Brooks a greyhound in a hotel. He refuses – and goes back to the Dalkeith minibus and finds that the elderly people have bought it. They train it, it is a champion, wins many a race (but is spurred on by the scent of lavender).

There is an antiestablishment subplot with some very arrogant members of the trustees’ board who object to the dog as unhygienic, as a pet that is not allowed, as disturbing the life of the residents. Needless to say, the residents thrive with caring for the dog, going to the races, winning.

The finale is a court case in which Ray Barrett, with most orotund resonance, pours forth the rhetoric which wins the case for the residents. There is a celebratory party afterwards – and all’s well that ends well.

1. The target audience for this film? Older audiences? Younger audiences? The Australian flavour?

2. The use of the city of Ballarat, the streets, the institution, the racecourse? The musical score?

3. A cheerful film, for older audiences? The critique of the narrow-minded trustees?

4. Dalkeith itself, the gate, the grounds, the rooms, the dining, the television room?

5. The characters, their age, accepting their age and living in the institution, their idiosyncrasies, friendships? The clashes between Tarquin and Enzo? The TV? Yet the growing bond? The effect of Dalkeith on the residents? Ownership of the dog, going to the races, the bets? The court case? The touch of death with the old lady dying?

6. The bureaucrats, meeting Suzanne, the manager of Dalkeith? The objections, her responses? Her supporting the residents? Going to court, the sacking of Dave and Ben? Tarquin and his going to court, the happy ending with the winning of the case? The party and dancing afterwards?

7. Dave and Ben, Ben fixing the lights, the kiss for Maisie? Dave working in the grounds? The chair for the betting man? The old people relying on them?

8. Tarquin St John Smythe? Ray Barrett’s style? Reading the Latin, his snobbery, talking about Caesar, the clashes at the television with Enzo, betting fifty dollars on Dalkeith, his memories visualised, his getting the opera cassette for Enzo, his tears at Enzo’s death? Coming out of retirement, his speech in the court, his rhetoric? Dancing at the end?

9. Maisie, her cheekiness, checking the mail, her life on the stage, knowing the Oliviers, Doris and her persuading her to dictate her autobiography? The story of her parents and their not being married? Her daughter’s visit, her daughter’s snobbery, allegedly protecting her mother, concerned about her mother’s will? The daughter appearing at the court scene and disappointed?

10. Doris, her energy, collecting the money for the bets, keeping the books, helping Maisie with her autobiography?

11. The betting man in the wheelchair, the mechanised wheelchair?

12. The group, in the bus, Benny not buying the dog, the old people buying it? Their outings, going to the races, the bets?

13. Benny, his reaction to the dog, caring for it, checking the rules, it being owned by all the residents? The training and the success?

14. Dave, nice young man, his caring for the dog, testing it out on the track, its response to lavender, the races, the girl and her criticisms of cheating – and that line not going anywhere? Dave bewildered? Her going to the court, the happy reconciliation?

15. Maisie’s daughter, the letter to the trustees? The trial, the judge and his admiration for Tarquin, listening attentively to him, putting down the other lawyer? His joining everyone for the party? Benny and Dave reinstated?

16. A film of goodwill and joy?