QUEEN OF THE ROAD

Australia, 1984, 90 minutes, Colour.
Joanne Samuel, Amanda Muggleton, Chris Haywood.
Directed by Bruce Best.

Queen of the Road is a small-budget Australian movie from the producers of the successful television series A Country Practice. The central character is based on a Country Practice guest appearance and developed into a movie. It is an Australian truckie story, much milder than its American counterparts. Joanne Samuel (Mad Max) inherits her father's truck - and, despite her assurances, drives it rather like a drip. However, she is meant to be the heroine of the movie. Amanda Muggleton as the country and western singer-truckie is far more effective. The cast has appeared in many television series.

The film is predictable and corny - but done with a kind of country and western verve.

1. Entertaining truckie story, country and western singing, a bit of crime and violence? Popular ingredients?

2. The Sydney settings, the highway to Brisbane? Tamworth? The Australian countryside? Musical score, country and western songs?

3. The title - and the touch of irony at Rosie's ineptness at driving?

4. Portrait of Rosie, the death of her father, the cemetery, trying to drive the truck - and knocking things flying? The repossessor and the money? Driving the load, the small accidents, picking up Gayle? Travelling together? Stopovers, the singing? Getting the load to Brisbane, wanting a return load? The encounter with the policeman - and the attraction? Continually meeting him? The criminals, the money, the bears, the pursuit? The final confrontation? The happy romantic ending?

5. Gayle, singing at Circular Quay, hitch-hiking, helping Rosie? The songs - and the audience reactions? Driving the truck? The bear, the clash, finding the money? Helping Rosie? Signing the cheque?

6. The policeman, his encounters with the women, strict - then romantic?

7. The truckies: owners, managers? Shady deals? The law of the road? CB? Women truck-drivers, men? The camaraderie of the road?

8. The criminals, their pursuit, violence - comic strip villains and their comeuppance?

9. A comic strip kind of story - for the broadest possible audience?