The Killing of Angel Street (Donald Crombie, 1981) prod. Anthony Buckley, Forest Home Films, wr. Michael Craig, Cecil Holmes, Evan Jones, music Brian May; Elizabeth Alexander, John Hargreaves, Reg Lye, Alexander Archdale; Hargreaves' character, Elliott, is based on Jack Mundey, and Elizabeth Alexander's character, Jessica Simmonds, is based on the Juanita Nielsen case, about the Sydney woman who disappeared in 1975 at the height of her involvement in the struggles of King's Cross residents and their supporters against a large-scale development project; political thriller; cf. Heatwave
The Killing of Angel Street is not the sort of film I seek out, which is why it’s taken me until now to see it. And it’s not at all interesting cinematically. Liz Alexander carries it, and her expression hardly changes. Even John Hargreaves’ performance is one-dimensional. As David Stratton reports the producer, Tony Buckley, saying in 1990 (215): ‘And yet you look at it now, and it’s probably just a good telemovie.’ Originally, Bill Hunter was to have played the main male role, opposite Julie Christie.
... pulls few punches, though it is a little soft at the edges. Stratton: 214.
... its many strengths ... include a sound factual basis for a thriller-type plot, convincing central performances, direction nicely balanced between reportage and drama, a suitably atmospheric harbourside location of the main action and Peter James' ingeniously contrasted photography. Keith Connolly, Murray: 77.
Garry Gillard | New: 14 October, 2012 | Now: 24 November, 2019