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Issue Details: First known date: 1973... 1973 Alvin Purple
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Film Details - Hexagon Productions , 1973

Producers:

Tim Burstall (Producer)
Alan Finney (Associate Producer)

Production Companies:

Hexagon Productions

Director of Photography:

Robin Copping

Editors:

Edward McQueen-Mason

Production Designers:

Leslie Binns

Composer:

Brian Cadd

Cast:

Graeme Blundell (Alvin Purple), Abigail (Girl in See-Through), Lynette Curran (First Sugar Girl), Christine Amor (Peggy), Dina Mann (Shirley), Dennis Miller (Mr Horwood), Jill Forster (Mrs Horwood), Frederick Parslow (Alvin's Father), Valerie Blake (Alvin's Mother), Alan Finney (Spike Dooley), Gary Down (Roger Hattam), Elli McClure (Tina), Peter Aanensen (Ed Cameron), Jenny Hagen (Agnes Jackson), Kris McQuade (Samantha), Shara Berriman (Kinky Lady), Stan Monroe (Mrs Warren), Penne Hackforth-Jones (Dr Liz Sort), George Whaley (Dr McBurney), Jacki Weaver (Second Sugar Girl), Eileen Chapman (Patience), Jan Friedl (Miss Guernsey), Barbara Taylor (Mrs Phipps), Anne Pendlebury (Woman with Pin), Danny Webb (Newsreader), Noel Ferrier (Judge), Jon Finlayson (Liz's Lawyer), John Smythe (Alvin's Lawyer), Brian Moll (Clerk of Court), Lynne Flanagan (Foreman of Jury), Peter Cummins (Cabdriver), Debbie Nankervis (Girl in Blue Movie), Elke Neidhart (Woman in Blue Movie), Les James (Leader of Angry Husbands), Tony Holtham (Skydiver Jumpmaster), Bill Bennett (Tina's Boss), Clare Balmford (First Nun), Sally Conabere (Second Nun), Carole Skinner (Mother Superior).

Release Dates:

1. Premiered in Australia on 20 December 1973. Other known release dates are USA (11 October 1974); Finland (5 September 1975).
2. Released on videocassette format in 1985 by Roadshow Entertainment. Also released on videocasette format in the USA in 1985 by New World Video. Re-released on DVD in 2004 by Roadshow Entertainment.

Location:

  • Melbourne.

Notes:

1. Also known as Ahkera Alvin, Seksikauppias (Finland); O Devasso Renitente (Portugal); O Poniros Alvin kai ta Koritsia Tou (Greece).
2. Alvin Purple was one of the first Australian films to take advantage of a relaxing of censorship laws in Australia. In late 1971, Don Chipp (Minister for Customs), set up a new classification system so as to reduce the practice of banning films outright. The new 'R' rating meant films could be restricted to people over 18.
3. Produced on a budget of $200,000, Alvin Purple was financed entirely by the Hexagon Partners. A short-term loan was provided by the Australian Film Development Corporation, but this was repaid prior to the film's release. Pike and Cooper (1980) record that by 1977, Alvin had grossed more than $1.6 million, making it the most successful Australian film released between 1971 and 1977 (p. 350).
4. Further reference: Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper. Australian Film 1900-1977, A Guide to Feature Film Production (1980, q.v.), p. 350.

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