End Play is a 1975 Australian thriller film directed by Tim Burstall and starring George Mallaby, John Waters and Ken Goodlet. It was an adaptation of the 1972 novel End Play by Russell Braddon. It was made by Hexagon Productions.
Contents
Plot
Hitchhiker Janine Talbot is picked up and murdered by an unseen assailant. Mark Gifford, a merchant sailor on leave, then disposes of the body, attracting the suspicion of his wheelchair-using brother Robert. The police become suspicious of both brothers, who are rivals over their half-cousin, Margaret.
Cast
George Mallaby - Robert Gifford
John Waters - Mark Gifford
Ken Goodlet - Superintendent Cheadle
Delvene Delaney - Janine Talbot
Charles Tingwell - Doctor Fairburn
Belinda Giblin - Margaret Gifford
Robert Hewett - Sergeant Robinson
Kevin Miles - Charlie Bricknall
Walter Pym - Stanley Lipton
Sheila Florance - Mavis Lipton
Reg Gorman - TV Reporter
Adrian Wright - Andrew Gifford
Jan Friedl - Policewoman
Vicki Raymond - Robbie's Mother
Elspeth Ballantyne - Welfare Officer
Terry Gill - Ticket Collector
Production
Russell Braddon's novel was originally set in England but was relocated to Australia. Burstall made the film as part of a deliberate effort to move away from "ocker material". He was attracted to Braddon's novel because it would be simple to film as it was basically a two hander, while also preparing Eliza Fraser (1976). The movie was budgeted at $244,000 but eventually cost $294,000. Shooting commenced in January 1975.
The two leads, George Mallaby and John Waters, were familiar faces on Australian television at the time.
Reception
The film performed reasonably at the box-office, and in 1979 reported that it had just broken even. It also rated highly on television, the rights for which earned Hexagon $70,000. Burstall admitted the film might have been more effective as a TV movie, but says it would have been harder to make a profit that way.
The film is rated M in New Zealand for violence and cruelty.