Patrick (film)
Encyclopedia
Patrick is a 1978 Australia
n horror film directed by Richard Franklin
and written by Everett De Roche. It is the pivotal movie of respected Australian director Richard Franklin's career.
private hospital. He had murdered his mother and her lover three years ago by electrocuting them in the bath. Patrick, who has psychokinetic powers, falls in love with Kathy (Susan Penhaligon
), the new nurse at the hospital, communicating with her via an electric typewriter. Patrick also uses his psychokinetic powers to control the men in Kathy's life and to defend himself against the hospital's bitter Matron Cassidy (Julia Blake
) who plots to murder him.
. Franklin also won the Best Director prize at the prestigious Sitges Fantasy Film Festival in Spain
.
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
notes the similarity between the movie's plot and that of the novel Tetrasomy Two by "Oscar Rossiter" (non de plume of Dr. Vernon H.Skeels (1918-2007) ).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n horror film directed by Richard Franklin
Richard Franklin (director)
Richard Franklin was an Australian-born film director.-Early life and career:Franklin was born and grew up in Brighton, Melbourne and was educated at Haileybury College. In the 1960s, Franklin was the drummer in the Melbourne band The Pink Finks, which also featured Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford,...
and written by Everett De Roche. It is the pivotal movie of respected Australian director Richard Franklin's career.
Plot summary
Patrick (Robert Thompson) lies in a coma in a MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
private hospital. He had murdered his mother and her lover three years ago by electrocuting them in the bath. Patrick, who has psychokinetic powers, falls in love with Kathy (Susan Penhaligon
Susan Penhaligon
Susan Penhaligon is a British actress and writer, she is probably best known for her appearances in the controversial 1976 drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and several ongoing roles in UK television series.-Early days:...
), the new nurse at the hospital, communicating with her via an electric typewriter. Patrick also uses his psychokinetic powers to control the men in Kathy's life and to defend himself against the hospital's bitter Matron Cassidy (Julia Blake
Julia Blake
Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
) who plots to murder him.
Cast
- Susan PenhaligonSusan PenhaligonSusan Penhaligon is a British actress and writer, she is probably best known for her appearances in the controversial 1976 drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and several ongoing roles in UK television series.-Early days:...
as Kathy Jacquard - Robert HelpmannRobert HelpmannSir Robert Helpmann CBE was an Australian dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer.-Early years:He was born Robert Murray Helpman in Mount Gambier, South Australia and also boarded at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. From childhood, Helpman had a strong desire to be a dancer...
as Dr. Roget - Rod Mullinar as Ed Jacquard
- Bruce Barry as Dr. Brian Wright
- Julia BlakeJulia BlakeJulia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
as Matron Cassidy - Helen Hemingway as Sister Williams
- María MercedesMaria Mercedes (actor)Maria Mercedes is an Australian actress who has many credits in television, movies, and theatre.Mercedes has had starring roles in the television comedy/variety series Greeks on the Roof as Poppy, the mother of Effie, and in the comedy series Kick as Dora Mavros...
as Nurse Panicale - Robert Thompson as Patrick
- Walter Pym as Capt. Fraser
- Frank Wilson as Det. Sgt. Grant
- John P. Boddie as the Multi-Colored Mice
Reception
The film was nominated in three categories, including Best Film, at the 1978 AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
. Franklin also won the Best Director prize at the prestigious Sitges Fantasy Film Festival in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a 1997 reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. Other contributors include Mike Ashley, Neil Gaiman, Diana Wynne Jones, David Langford, Sam J. Lundwall, Michael Scott Rohan, Brian Stableford and Lisa Tuttle.The book was well-received upon...
notes the similarity between the movie's plot and that of the novel Tetrasomy Two by "Oscar Rossiter" (non de plume of Dr. Vernon H.Skeels (1918-2007) ).
Remake
In February 2010, it was announced that Mark Hartley would direct a remake of the movie, with Antony I Ginnane as producer. It will be Hartley's genre feature film debut.External links
- Patrick at the Australian screen