The Night Nurse is a 1978 Australian television film about the relationship between a former opera star and her night nurse.[1]
| The Night Nurse | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Igor Auzins |
| Written by | Ron McLean |
| Produced by | Robert Bruning |
| Starring | Kate Fitzpatrick Kay Taylor |
| Cinematography | Russell Boyd |
| Edited by | Trevor Ellis |
| Music by | Peter Clark Jimmy Sloggett |
Production company | Gemini Productions |
| Distributed by | Seven Network California Pictures |
Release date | 5 November 1978 |
Running time | 75 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $105,000[1] |
It was produced by Bruning's Gemini Productions.[2]
Plot edit
Prudence wants to become independent of her artist ex-boyfriend Rick, and so she arrives at the grand home of The Diva, a once famous opera singer, to interview for a night nurse position. Instantly hired by the septuagenarian, she soon begins to experience odd things. And the other staff member, stone faced Clara, shows Prudence nothing but resentment, and clearly wants her gone. Prudence soon learns that all is not what it seems in this household, leading her to a ghastly discovery and to unearth dangerous secrets from the past.
Cast edit
- Davina Whitehouse as the Diva
- Kay Taylor as Clara
- Gary Day as Rick Barrett
- Kate Fitzpatrick as Prudence Simpson
- Reg Gillam as Marsden
- Edward Howell as Morphett
- Max Meldrum as Dr Leeds
Production edit
Bruning had made four TV movies for Channel Seven which had rated well. This prompted the network to commission six more from Bruning of which The Night Nurse was the first.[3] These were made for a cost of $750,000. "It's the largest order of locally made product ever," said Greg Brown of Seven "and we are sure viewers will be impressed."[4]
Reception edit
Don Groves of the Sydney Morning Herald called it "an old fashioned blood curdling thriller" and "a first rate yarn".[5]
References edit
- ^ a b Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p112
- ^ Beilby, Peter; Murray, Scott (September–October 1979). "Robert Bruning". Cinema Papers. pp. 517–519.
- ^ "Selling our films to the world". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 May 1977. p. 47.
- ^ "Gather around for a 'woman's picture'". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1977. p. 105.
- ^ "Critics Corner". Sydney Morning Herald Archive. 20 January 1980. p. 74.
External links edit
- The Night Nurse at IMDb
- The Night Nurse at AllMovie
- The Night Nurse at Letterboxd
- The Night Nurse at Oz Movies
- Review at Video Tape Swap Shop
- The Night Nurse at IMDb
- The Night Nurse at Peter Malone Site
- The Night Nurse at AustLit
- The Night Nurse at National Film and Sound Archive
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