bc THE FJ HOLDEN MOVIE, A SLICE OF AUSSIE NOSTALGIA from the 1970s!

The FJ Holden movie, a slice of Bankstown life in the 1970s, Australian 'New Wave' cinema,
Sigrid Thornton, Paul Couzens, Eva Dickinson, Carl Stever, Gary Waddell, Karlene Rogerson, Colin Yarwood, Graham Rouse.

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THE F.J. HOLDEN
Page updated 29th October, 2019.

BANKSTOWN AS IT WAS, BACK IN THE 1970s ...

More of a documentary than a drama, a 'docu-drama' if you will, 'The FJ Holden' movie delivers up
Bankstown, NSW, Australia, as it really was for us local rev-heads in the late 1970s.

Movie 77 magazine #3 featured the only colour cover I've been able to find (see below).
The colour spread - of Ol' 55, BAD-781, with Frankie J Holden, is of a different FJ, or else it has a different plate, AXB 146.
Sprayed in the same yellow and sign-written on the side: "The FJ Holden - The groovy new movie" (see above).

Another movie with scenes of Greenacre a decade earlier available on DVD is a Screensound restored print, namely 'They're a Weird Mob'.
Highly recommended for the nostalgic content. Viewer comments regarding '
They're a Weird Mob' are listed below, separately.
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bc INDEX
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
PREMIERE
LOCATIONS
SOUNDTRACK, VIDEO and DVD
THE SCRIPT
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
VIEWERS' COMMENTS

OTHER FJ LINKS
MOTOR VEHICLES DATABASE with screen captures

IMDb FJ PAGE

 



Kevin, played by Paul Couzens.
CAST incomplete
Kevin Paul Couzens
Anne Eva Dickinson
Bob Carl Stever
Deadlegs Gary Waddell
Cheryl Karlene Rogerson
Brian Colin Yarwood
Sgt Graham Rouse
Kevin's father Roy Corbett
Kevin's mother Beryl Marshall
Wendy Sigrid Thornton
Mr Sullivan Ray Marshall
Betty Armstead Maggie Kirkpatrick
Security Guard
Harry Lawrence
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Cheryl, played by
Karlene Rogerson.

Anne, played by
Eva Dickinson.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Production company FJ Films, in association with Greater Union Distributors and the Australian Film Commission.
Producer and Director Michael Thornhill
Screenplay Terry Larsen
Photography David Gribble using Eastman Colour. Shot on 16mm.
Editor Max Lemon
Music Jim Manzie
Assoc. Producers Jenny Woods and Errol Sullivan
Art Directors Lissa Coote and Monte Fieguth
Sound Don Connolly
Production Manager Jenny Woods
Unit Manager Pom Oliver
First assistant director Errol Sullivan
Running time 101 minutes
Cost n.k.
Australian rating M in NSW, R elsewhere
Shoot Approximately 7 weeks in November-December, 1976.
Source for the above information
The Last New Wave by David Stratton,
published by A&R 1980, and the definitive
guide to Australian Film in the 1970s.

Deadlegs, played by Gary Waddell.

PREMIERE - 29th April, 1977
At Bankstown Chullora Twin Drive-In, Waterloo Road, Greenacre. The site is now occupied by a Big-W department store and shopping centre.
FJ and FX Holdens were admitted free on the opening night.
Sydney: Rapallo Cinema
Melbourne: Rapallo Cinema

FILMING LOCATIONS
Revesby, Chullora, Picnic Point, Bankstown Square and Underwood Road, Homebush ('brickpits').
(Locations as they were in 2007 - PHOTOS in YAHOO GROUP photos section.)

VIDEO - Roadshow Home Video in Australia released a PAL video tape in the 1980s. Several copies have turned up on eBay. See VIEWERS' COMMENTS on this subject.

DVD - Umbrella released the DVD in late 2005 and it's currently available, either within a multi-pack, on a 3 movies disc, or singly.

SOUNDTRACKS - Original vinyl soundtracks as follows: 33rpm 12" longplay Mushroom - L 36 222; 45rpm 7" single Mushroom - K 6748

'They're a Weird Mob' comments regarding Bankstown - Greenacre locations

Dear John
Thanks to your indications, we found the house. The address is 128 Greenacre Road Greenacre. The Chinaman's house is 130 and has not changed a bit from 1964. Some of the houses fronting have been altered but there is enough there after 40 years that are good reference points. Number 132, which is glimpsed in a scene from the movie, has been pulled down and a two-storey building is currently being erected.
Again thanks very much for your help and I look forward to your reviews on IMDB and any further messages.
Best regards
Giuseppe C
19/09/04 10:16:21 AUS Eastern Standard Time

Contributions by way of opinions on the movie, personal recollections on the making of the movie, photos, articles and other information will be gratefully received, including notification of any errors.

John at chiefchook@gmail.com 

Due to the size of the double spread at the top of the page, I had to scan it in two sections.

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