THE HONOURABLE WALLY NORMAN

Australia, 2003, 87 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Harrington, Shaun Micallef, Alan Cassell, Greig Pickhaver, Bryan Dawe.
Directed by Ted Emery.

The Honourable Wally Norman is an entertaining comedy with point about Australian battlers and Australian politics. The film was directed by Ted Emery, a veteran of much television comedy, especially the programs with Jane Turner, Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski.

The film takes place in a fictional South Australian town – which is considered to be a safe measure for the political fortunes at election time.

The film parodies the Liberals and the National Party, with a portrait of a double-dealing politician played by Shaun Micallef. Alan Cassell portrays the Labor-style veteran who blots his copybook by drunkenness and unseemly behaviour while Minister for Trade. His name is Willy Norman. Wally Norman is a worker at the meatworks, played with charm and sincere naivety by Kevin Harrington. His name is submitted by mistake as the candidate for the elections.

Much of what happens is, of course, predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. Wally Norman faints when he has to make a speech, especially after his greyhound wins the local race. However, in order to cover their mistake, Willy Norman and the associate from the city decide to coach Wally. However, Willy Norman has much shrewder ideas and wants to do deals with the opposition in order to retain his seat.

The film shows all the faux pas, the mistakes Wally makes during the campaign, especially the sneering of television interviewers (one of whom is Bryan Dawe, John Clarke’s companion on his long-time television interviews of politicians). The campaign also has repercussions on Wally’s family life, the daughter falling in love with the aide from the city, and with his fellow workers who see him betraying the cause, especially when the meatworks are closed down.

Greig Pickhaver (television’s H.G. Nelson) enjoys himself thoroughly as the co-ordinator of the campaign.

The film idealises the Aussie battlers, draws on these traditions, is critical of the ultra-sophistication and manipulation of contemporary politicians.

1. The Australian appeal? Appeal beyond Australia? The glimpse of ordinary Australian life, hard work, the battlers? Politics, politicians, deceit and honesty? The role of the media?

2. The Aussie battlers, old-fashioned, values? Integrity and honesty? The battlers being victims of politicians?

3. The blend of reality and fantasy in this creation? Ted Emery and his talent for comedy? Quirky Australian comedies?

4. The background of Australian politics at the end of the 90s and into the 21st century? The role of the National Party? Labor, Liberals? The good and the bad?

5. The situation, the election coming up, the campaign, the nominations? The chairman and his strategies in the city? The personalities, the officials, the candidates, the dirty tricks, responses and responsibilities?

6. The town, its people, ordinary, the Norman family, the preparations for the goat race, the cheering of the crowd, the bets? The parody of races, the pit stops? Winnings and losses? The commentary from the television on the race? The nature of the electorate as measured by this town?

7. The meatworks, Wally and his position, the other workers, the detail of the processing of the meat? Ken Oates and his visit, his patronising the workers, photo opportunities? His messing things? The encounter with Wally? The approach of the thugs, the financial deals, the three hundred jobs to be lost? Ken and his covering, the money gains for himself, the public announcements, the lockouts and the police? Oates and his putting on a good face?

8. Wally and his family, the boy and the goat, the daughter, the devotion of his wife? Hard work, skills at the meatworks? The win at the race, the drinks for everybody, fainting at making the speech? His reaction to Ken Oates? The rhetorical and powerful speeches on politics at home?

9. Myles, his age, his being chosen by the chairman? Going to the town, his briefing? Giving out the leaflets at the race? The rally, his admiration for Wally? His working with Willy, his being forced to drink, the mistake in the nomination? The reaction of the chairman, Myles and the rectifying of the situation? Willy and his saving face, the choice of Wally?

10. Wally, his being told of the nomination? His reaction, the family? His friends and their moods? Willy and his coaching, Wally fainting, the speeches, with the babies etc? Going on TV, making a mess of the interview? His being disheartened? The faux pas with the sign changed for ‘Tuck Shop’? His giving people the finger by mistake? The change of heart, the taunts of his mates? His decision to be honest and upfront, the irony of the goat eating his speech (and Willy’s hat)? His speech and people changing? The TV interviewers and their bet?

11. The strong wife, her support? The daughter, falling in love with Myles? Myles and his character, sincere, caught up in the political world, trying to help Wally?

12. Willy and the stories told about him, the flashbacks to his drunken behaviour? As minister, vomiting? Taking Wally to the hairdresser – and his affair with her? Going to Ken, explaining the deal, the situation of the bribe? Ken turning the tables on him at the debate? His writing Ken’s television speech – and watching it and mouthing it with him?

13. The campaign, speeches, the television, the interviews, the meat issues – and Willy suppressing them?

14. The debate, Ken giving the information about the mistake, Wally and his resigning, the wife punching the opposition, his speech, Myles’s support?

15. The chairman, going with every flow, blaming Myles, sacking him? The confrontation with Willy? Going to the debate – and Wally continuing and his opportunistic singing of the song, continued support?

16. Wally’s success, becoming Minister for Trade? His information about where the meat exports went to? Three years passing? The family, Myles’s return, the baby, putting Myles in as the nominee?

17. The points made in humorous way about people, ambitions, corruption, integrity? The irony of the politician saying truth hurts and suppressing it? Truth being a benefit rather than hurting?