OUTBACK BOUND

US, 1988, 89 minutes, Colour.
Donna Mills, Andrew Clarke, John Meillon, Colette Mann, John Schneider.
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.

Outback Bound is an enjoyable action romance telemovie. An American production with Donna Mills and John Schneider (and Nina Foch in a guest role as Donna Mills' mother), the film was made in Australia with a large Australian supporting cast led by Andrew Clark and John Meillon. Direction is by John Llewellyn Moxey, an English director of thrillers who moved to the United States and directed many telemovies.

The film has the usual plot: the rich American who comes to Australia, discovers the difficulties of the Outback, suddenly finds herself in danger and unable to cope, adjusts to the difficulties of the Outback and finds Australia most congenial. (Another film in this vein was A Place to Call Home, where Linda Lavin came to Australia with her children and gradually settled down.)

The film is magazine-style rather than anything profound - has its tongue in its cheek, shows a lot of humorous Australian customs for the benefit of the American audience. Donna Mills looks like a Barbie doll in the Outback but has to adapt. Andrew Clark is a dashing hero. John Meillon acts in the befuddled style at which he is expert.

1. Enjoyable telemovie? American- Australian collaboration? American- Australian images? For what audience?

2. Chic Los Angeles, chic Sydney? The contrast with Lightning Ridge, the desert, the opal mines, the town? Musical score?

3. The title and its reference to Sam, to her father, to the opal mines, to Australia? And the theme of the transformation of the American by the Australian Outback?

4. Sam and her life, relationship with Dave, discovering the girl? Financial difficulties at the gallery? Her mother and the dinner, her mother's interference? Her dead father? The decision to go to Australia, arriving at the siding? Bill running over her case, the lift into town? Her expectations, the shop and the cosmetics? The clash with Fiona? Going into the men's bar and being thrown out? Relying on Bill, the lift to the mine? Seeing one of his books and reading it - her comments without knowing who wrote it? The meeting with Jim and his company, not signing the contract? Examining the mine, finding her father's journals? Nobby and Rog and the gun, friendship, their memories? Bill discovering the poisoned grass? The dangers? Her life in the town, the aerobics class and the women helping? Her jealousy of Bill, seeing him with his secretary? The dance? The getting of the documents from Jim's firm, the abduction? Bill and the women freeing her? The happy ending? Settling in Sydney?

5. The opening fight and the introduction to Bill, his being knocked out? The novels? Meeting Sam, his research, the car breaking down, having to stay, staying with Sam, helping her, the investigations, his secretary and the information? The clash with Jim? Being shot at? The dance and the flowers, going with Sam, their relationship? The rescue? Fighting Jim? To Sydney and the revelation of the truth?

6. Nobby and his friendship with Sam's father, his way of speaking, cosmic energies? Roger as part Aboriginal? Nobby’s mate? The macho attitudes? In the fight? The end and their bickering on TV?

7. Fiona, her shop, jealousies? The women at the aerobics, the humour of the town, their participation in the rescue? Driving the truck into the men's bar?

8. The company, their discovery of uranium, the contract? Smooth talk? Jim's style? The clash with Sam, the shooting at Bill, the final abduction?

9. The men in the town - Australian macho? The bar?

10. The Australian themes for the American audience (and home audience): the opening fight, tough, hard work, drinking, humour? And the heroine converted to the Australian way of life?