#MovieoftheDay: The Picture Show Man (1977) Movies I Want to See: 44/50 In the 20s, motion picture exhibitor Maurice Pym (John Meillon) tours rural Australia with his mobile cinema. He faces difficulties from a rival American exhibitor, Palmer (Rod Taylor), and his own son Larry (Harold Hopkins). But Pym is ready for the fight; as he says of Palmer, "If he wants war, we shall give him war." My beloved National Board of Review has a soft spot for films about film, with The Day of the Locust, The Last Tycoon, and Movie Movie all making appearances on their Top 10 lists in the 70s. This was the #9 film on their 1977 list, by far the most awards attention the film ever received outside of its native Australia. I'm not sure if it ever has received any kind of home video release in this country. (UPDATE: Apparently there is a Region 1 release out there, though it seems to be out of print.) Too bad, as I've seen the trailer several times and it looks like a charming little romp through cinema's adolescence. The critical reputation of the film is on the mixed sideβsome reviews chastise the film's lack of narrative driveβbut as an NBR buff (and solid fan of Australian cinema), it's definitely of interest to me. #ThePictureShowMan #JohnPower #JoanLong #JohnMeillon #RodTaylor #Australiancinema #70sfilms
