Don's Party

(Australia)

Double Head. Director Bruce Beresford; Producer Philip Adams; Screenplay David Williamson; Camera Don McAlpine; Editor Bill Anderson; Art Director Rhoisin Harrison

Ray Barrett
Claire Binney
Pat Bishop
Graeme Blundell
Jeannie Drynan
John Gorton

The eponymous get-together takes place in Australia on Election Night, 1969. The 11 characters are all friends who, save two, have assembled to cheer in a Labor Party victory. The election day atmosphere is added to by a walk-on appearance by John Gorton as the prime minister of the day - which, indeed, he was.

The central characters in David Williamson's play may be grotesque, uncouth, drunken louts, but they do represent a streak in the Australian character that exists. Bringing them together at that particular time and place increases the claustrophobic effect they have on the others.

Don's Party is a vicious and unrelenting attack on suburbia and a harsh look at these who help populate it. The entire cast turn in superlative performances.

(Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1976. Running time: 90 MIN.

Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.