THE EMPTY BEACH
Australia, 1985, 89 minutes, Colour.
Bryan Brown, Anna Maria Monticelli, Belinda Giblin, Ray Barrett, John Wood, Nick Tate.
Directed by Chris Thomson.
The Empty Beach us based on an Australian private eye, Cliff Hardy, created by celebrated novelist, Peter Corris. Hardy appeared in quite a number of Corris' stories.
The role is tailor-made for Bryan Brown who had proven himself one of Australia's most enduring actors in such films as Breaker Morant, Newsfront and Stir. He also appeared in a number of short and small-budget films. He has also appeared in a number of American films over the decades including Gorillas in the Mist and the FX films. Unfortunately, The Empty Beach was not sufficiently successful at the box office and the series was not continued.
The somewhat seedy private eye with a black moral sense and smart answers is a particularly American type, but the dialogue here is entertainingly Australian. There is a very good local supporting cast, making it very entertaining of its kind.
1. An enjoyable thriller? Private-eye mystery? Australian style?
2. The importance of Sydney as an environment: locations, empty beach and crowded beach, surf and surfing, the harbour, boats, air and water photography? The suburbs by day and by night? The world of affluence? The world of the derelicts?
3. Bondi and its reputation, the Australian symbol of the beach? A place of vitality and cleansing? A place of violence and death? The use of Bondi and its beach as a theme throughout the film? The title song? Lyrics? Score?
4. The mystery: puzzle, clues, detection, maintenance of interest? The Australian private-eye and his skills, techniques: no voice-over, ocker character, pleasant style, tough, shrewd yet not over-tough, smart answers, humour, humanity and integrity?
5. The prologue and the clues: Marion Singer, her situation, money, her hold over Hardy, her lies, her empire-building, the final interview with Hardy and his rejection of her offer of a job? The irony about her husband being alive and her having written the note?
6. The world of Sydney crime, affluence, Mac Leary and his home, thugs, girl at the swimming pool, wheeler-dealing with Singer? The comparison with Ward and his genteel manner, home? His political connections with the government minister, Bill Winter? The contrast between the two, comparisons of the two? Sources of wealth, political and police protection, their killing Hanneberry because of the tapes? Their treatment of Hardy? MacLeary's attempts to get his thugs to kill him, chases in the Bondi streets? Ward and his abducting him, imprisoning him? The final confrontation between the two, shootouts at Bondi?
7. The background of New South Wales, corruption, crime, the Mr. Bigs, politicians and the police, the role of the National Times and its articles, exposes?
8. Cliff Hardy as the Sydney private-eye? Bryan Brown and his presence and persona: appearance, speech, wit, ocker charm? His toughness, gentleness? On Bondi beach at the opening, the interview with Mrs. Singer and his verbal fencing with her, taking on the case, his style of investigation, the visit to Mac Leary, the pursuit by his thugs, the car chase? His chasing Hanneberry and Anne during their jogging? The visit to the bar, his being bashed and Hanneberry saving him, the visit to Anne, his following Hanneberry to the beach, watching the surfing, seeing Hanneberry killed? The discussions with the police, especially his relationship with Parker? Arrangements, 48 hours? Government information? Visiting Sandy and MacLeary's thug being her boyfriend? Her link with Singer? Model, wealth? The going to the old derelicts and Leon's being shot to death? Giving information to the police again? The visit to the cemetery, the old people and the wake, the freeing of the old people trapped in the squalid conditions and the clash with the proprietors, Manny and his violent attack and death? The woman and her managing of the building? The encounter with Ward at Anne's home? The relationship with Anne, the potential for romance but her ambition and his integrity? Abducted by Ward, imprisoned, the sock and his escape? Anne not helping him? The confrontation with MacLeary?, Sandy setting up the two parties, the achievement, the new interview with Mrs. Singer and the refusal of the job, Anne and her ambitions with her expose in the National Times? Cliff Hardy as a person, principles and values, the domestic scenes and his friendship with Hildy?
9. Anne a smooth and ambitious reporter, relationship with Hanneberry, her work, the tapes, her lifestyle, her father, the political and financial introductions, the visit to the old people's building, her refusal to help Hardy ultimately, her success?
10. The portrait of the police, pressures from high up, harassed, relationship with Hardy, investigations of cases? Collaboration with the final set-up?
11. The sub-plot with the old people, the derelicts, the cemetery, their being killed? Manuel and his bar at Bondi, his help, advice? The killing of Leon? The ferocious woman and their imprisonment of Hardy and Anne? The escape?
12. The picture of Sydney thugs, violent, affluent, car chases, the humorous interlude with the outside toilet and the children? The beatings? Bodyguards?
13. A satisfying private-eye mystery? Realism fiction? An Australian hero and his characteristics?
