DEADLINE

Australia, 1982, 94 minutes, Colour.
Barry Newman, Bill Kerr, Trisha Noble, Alwyn Kurts, John Ewart, Bruce Spence, Willie Fennell, Vincent Ball, Ernie Kramer, Noel Trevarthen, Kevin Miles, Carole Skinner, Brian Blaine, Sean Scully.
Directed by Arch Nicholson.

Deadline was made for television. It was written and directed by Arch Nicholson, who directed only a few films including Fortress, A Good Thing Going, Buddies, before his untimely death at forty-nine.

The film was a star vehicle American actor Barry Newman (Vanishing Point). He seems to be the token American. The leading lady is Trisha Noble. However, the cast is compensated by a number of stalwarts from the Australian film and television industry including Bill Kerr as the head of security, Alwyn Kurts as the editor of a newspapers, John Ewart as a cameraman, Bruce Spence as a computer expert, Willie Fennell as an old prospector affected by nuclear radiation, Vincent Ball as the prime minister.

The film is interesting as coming from the 80s in the light of subsequent decades and terrorism. An extortionist group wants to hold the government to ransom while planting a bomb for the destruction of Sydney. The head of security is hard-headed, the prime minister bewildered, the question of whether Sydney should be evacuated or whether this would cause unnecessary panic and deaths is a moot question.

Barry Newman as the reporter gets wind of the story, pursues it despite all odds, government interference – and is able to enlist the help of Trisha Noble and Bruce Spence before a split-second finale. While the style of the film is that of the telemovie and the suspense is that of the popular novel, the issues, especially in the light of the 21st century war against terrorism, more real than might have been expected at the time.

1. The impact of the film? Television entertainment? The freedom of the press? Investigations into government cover-ups? Nuclear terrorism? The role and response of government?

2. The Sydney settings, the New South Wales outback, the contrast between city and the desert? The special effects for the nuclear explosion? The musical score?

3. The title, the sense of suspense, the investigation, the discovery of the truth about the bomb, the time for its explosion? The split-second ending?

4. The outback, peaceful, the prospectors? The explosion and the shock? The ‘quake? The effect on old Alf? Watching? And his later suffering from radiation and dying in hospital? His giving the information to the media? The people in the outback? The revelation of the terrorists, their plan? Their hold over the scientist? His flat, the details and information? The bomb for Sydney – and the irony of where it was placed?

5. Barney Duncan, the American, television, womanising? Jack McGinty? and his getting him to report? His travelling to the outback, getting through security, discussions with Alf, getting him to hospital? In Sydney, the backing of the media? His friendship with Jillian, enlisting her help? His team and the filming? The encounters with the government? Towie and his computer skills, deciphering the code? The visit to the professor’s house, getting the information? Working out where the bomb would be? Confrontation with officials, the final meeting with William Ashby? The suspicions of the police? Almost hindering the defusing of the bomb? The aftermath? As a character?

6. Jillian, her work, assisting Barney, going with him, her contribution? Towie, his word, computer skills, getting phone numbers, the code, his unravelling it? Working out where the bomb was? His defusing it – and being shot?

7. William Ashby, dour, in control, conservative? The reaction against terrorists? His control over the prime minister? The contrast with the prime minister and his anxieties? The issue of evacuating Sydney? His advisers, his harsh manner? The change of attitude? The information about the bomb, about the escape of the terrorists in the plane, its disappearance? His final confrontation – and the cover-up? The political implications?

8. The role of the media, Sir Eric Pearce and his reputation on the news, his refusal to broadcast the situation? Barney’s frustration?

9. The contacts, the pubs, the media, phone calls, communications – all contributing to the solving of the problem?

10. The atmosphere of suspense, the possibility of the bomb going off, the destruction of Sydney? The terrorists? The perspective from later decades and this kind of terrorist threat?