Prisoners is a 1982 American-New Zealand drama film directed by Peter Werner and starring Tatum O'Neal, Colin Friels and David Hemmings.[2]
| Prisoners | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Peter Werner |
| Screenplay by | Meridith Baer Hilary Henkin |
| Story by | Meridith Baer |
| Produced by | Antony I. Ginnane John Barnett |
| Starring | Tatum O'Neal Colin Friels Shirley Knight David Hemmings Bruno Lawrence Ralph Cotterill |
| Cinematography | James Glennon |
| Edited by | Adrian Carr |
| Music by | Peter Sullivan |
Production companies | FGH Keith Barish Productions Gupta Film Services |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | New Zealand United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $NZD 4,288,719[1] |
For unclear reasons, the film has never been released.[3] The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound states that a financial dispute was allegedly the reason for the shelving of the completed film.[4] According to New Zealand film historians Helen Martin and Sam Edwards, "One rumour has it that a relative of one of the actors bought the film to prevent its release."[1]
Plot
editAn American moves his family to New Zealand where he takes charge of a prison in Wellington. His young daughter begins to have a love affair with one of the prisoners in his charge.
Cast
edit- Tatum O'Neal as Christie
- Colin Friels as Nick
- Shirley Knight as Virginia
- David Hemmings as Wilkens
- Bruno Lawrence as Peeky
- Ralph Cotterill as Holmby
- John Bach as Bodell
- Michael Hurst as Sciano
- Reg Ruka as Monkey
- Rob Jayne as Maslow
- Norman Fairley as Lewitt
- Peter Rowley as Hapstood
- Karl Bradley as Steel
- Richard Moss as Dunham
- Timothy Lee as Watts
Production
editThe movie was announced in March 1982. It was to be the first of four films made in New Zealand by 20th Century Fox.[5] The deal for Prisoners was reportedly arranged by Fox executives Michael Nolin and John Davis, son of the new Fox owner, Marvin Davis.[6]
The film was shot in Auckland from 29 June to 14 August 1982.[7][8] Its budget was approximately $4.2 million.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). New Zealand Film, 1912-1996. Oxford University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780195583366.
- ^ "Prisoners (1982)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Churchman, Geoffrey B., ed. (1997). Celluloid Dreams: a century of film in New Zealand. Wellington: IPL Books. p. 111. ISBN 9780908876969.
- ^ "Prisoners". Nga Taonga – Sound & Vision. New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Fox films for N.Z." Press. 30 March 1982. p. 15.
- ^ "'The Prisoner' deal complete". Newsday (Nassau Edition). 6 June 1982. p. Part II/7.
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford University Press, 1996 p125
- ^ Thomas, Bob (15 June 1982). "Tatum Ready for Stardom". The Journal News. New York – via Newspapers.com.