31:
503:
made it that much harder... There's Dean
Stockwell as an officer, Carrie Fisher running around as a warrior, Tom Burlinson as a grizzled warrior in a performance that killed his career as a leading man, Nikki Coghill being genuinely charming amidst the carnage. A film that should have a bigger cult."
402:
Producer Tom
Wilkinson said "Here at last was a special effects story that had originality, pace and a big idea. The waiting has been worthwhile. We wanted to make sure we had the right combination of leading actors and the right technical skills because those will be the real making—or unmaking—of
302:
In 4039, a city of survivors from the
Neutron Wars travels through time and space escaping the Jen-Diki, a race of cyborgs intent on wiping out humanity. Two soldiers from the city, crusty Ballard and historian Petra, are transported to the South Australian outback in 1988 to prepare a landing site
382:
early scripts contrasted present and future lifestyles, and involved, in addition to the love story, and elegiac relationship between the girl and
Prenzler, an old man in the nearby town who held the key to certain incidents in her future. There were elements of satire: conceived as descendants of
472:
The film was poorly received, commercially and critically. It failed to recoup its marketing costs in its cinema release and
Hemdale did not have the money to meet its pre-sale obligations. Hemdale then agreed to pay a reduced amount of $ 2 million but there were difficulties in obtaining this as
406:
Eight weeks before shooting, Hannant says
Hemdale presented him with a re-write of the script by an American writer. Hannant tried to incorporate changes but says he did not have enough money. John Baxter quit the project and the shoot was cut from 13 weeks to nine. Hannant left the film during
413:
was cast in the lead. "If we're successful," said
Burlinson, "if it comes off, we'll show the world we can make this sort of film... I play a tough old so-and-so which is different for me... Ballard is almost an anti-hero and not like any of those young men I used to play. He doesn't take any
491:
Films could be white-anted by the non-creative people. Hannant and Baxter might have made a memorable sci-fi drama to stand alongside classics of the genre but they had the wrong producers, the wrong deals, the wrong budget, the wrong cast and, in the end, the wrong
378:, about a geologist who, while investigating magnetic anomalies around Wilpena Pound in South Australia, encourages a man from the future, who is a scout sent back in time to find a home for his people, pursued by the Jen-Diki tribe. Baxter:
436:
There was a minimal love story, no contrast in life styles. Prenzler had disappeared. The main role, in which we envisioned a mature international actor with a reputation in science fiction and action films (the prospectus specified
306:
Ballard is dismayed when Annie's ancient cave paintings depict his city. After a police officer, MacCarthy, activated
Ballard's tracking device despite his protests, an advance party of Jen-Diki arrive in Australia.
399:
at
Hemdale Film Corporation. According to Hannant the $ 8 million budget was raised in two days but of that $ 1 million went to brokers. The film obtained pre-sales worth $ 4.8 million to Hemdale.
441:
or equivalent") was then by local boyish lad Tom
Burlinson. At the behest of Hemdale, the film began and ended in a fire-fight (explaining to my satisfaction the awkward opening of
383:
contemporary polluters, our Jen-Diki were variously the remnants of a mining conglomerate or of a labour union. The modest action climax used a minimum of special effects.
884:
548:
456:
The film was released in Australia on 3 December 1987 and in the United States on 4 August 1989. In the Philippines, the film was released by Eastern Films as
391:
grants and had their script optioned to two local production companies. They eventually sold it to Chateau Productions, and succeeded in raising finance from
859:
864:
874:
603:
573:
869:
879:
854:
695:
418:
294:
was released in Australia on 3 December 1987. The film vastly underperformed at the box office and was poorly received by critics.
374:. This inspired him to write a script with John Baxter in the early 1980s. According to Baxter the script was originally called
772:
542:
30:
656:
407:
post-production ("one step ahead of being fired," according to Baxter) and some extra scenes were shot by the editor.
388:
815:
810:
461:
157:
422:
595:
565:
331:
as Petra, a 41st-century historian with a specialisation in the 20th century's technology and customs;
269:
261:
57:
849:
822:
392:
791:
768:
396:
346:
834:
700:
552:
476:
443:
334:
281:
103:
843:
828:
410:
365:
340:
328:
322:
316:
285:
277:
273:
265:
129:
108:
98:
93:
44:
303:
for the city. Petra is wounded and Ballard seeks help from geologist Annie Lassite.
804:
796:
438:
352:
139:
370:
426:
343:
as Sergeant McCarthy, a pragmatic 20th-century Australian police officer;
785:
432:
Baxter says the final film bore little relation to the original script:
499:
wrote, "It's hard for filmmakers who want to make sci fi in Australia.
765:
The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry
596:"All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 7,301-7,400)"
488:
417:
Filming took place in South Australia at the soundstages of the
349:
as Rafferty, an alarmist 20th-century Australian police officer.
654:
Lawson, Mark. "Hemdale Holds Out on Pre-sale Payments to IFM",
745:
Vagg, Stephen (29 February 2020). "Top Ten 10BA Knock Offs".
464:
consoles raffled during the first three days of release.
704:. Kagitingan Publications. 17 February 1990. p. 12
364:
Brian Hannant had been drawn to the rock formation at
722:Lawson, Mark. "Goldfarb Reneges on Pre-sale Debt",
241:
233:
225:
217:
207:
184:
176:
145:
135:
125:
117:
86:
69:
50:
40:
23:
672:Lowing, Rob. "Sci-fi Film Set to Stun the World",
543:'Australian Films At the Australian Box office'
8:
529:"Australian Productions Top $ 175 million",
414:nonsense and he's a bit of a head-thumper."
319:as Ballard, a grizzled 41st-century soldier;
487:is an object lesson in how the deal-driven
429:. Mirage Effects did the special effects.
29:
20:
629:Baxter, John. "Box Three: John Baxter",
625:
623:
621:
885:English-language action adventure films
513:
337:as Boss, a 41st-century city official;
668:
666:
650:
648:
7:
606:from the original on 10 August 2017
576:from the original on 10 August 2017
325:as Annie, a 20th-century geologist;
14:
860:Australian action adventure films
425:and at a deserted quarry outside
419:South Australian Film Corporation
865:Australian science fiction films
387:Hannant and Baxter received two
368:in South Australia while making
875:Films directed by Brian Hannant
460:on 17 February 1990, with six
168:Chateau Production Investments
1:
870:1980s films about time travel
165:International Film Management
880:Films set in South Australia
855:1980s English-language films
724:Australian Financial Review
657:Australian Financial Review
901:
566:"The Time Guardian (1987)"
389:Australian Film Commission
272:and Hannant, and starring
767:, Pan MacMillan: Sydney.
249:$ 1.2 million (Inflation)
247:$ 548,000 (International)
193:3 December 1987
28:
811:Australian Screen Online
462:Nintendo Family Computer
158:Hemdale Film Corporation
763:Stratton, David (1990)
551:9 February 2014 at the
494:
449:
385:
35:Theatrical film poster
726:, 28 April 1988, p.36
696:"Grand Opening Today"
660:, 29 March 1988, p.34
555:accessed 28 Sept 2012
481:
434:
395:and with the help of
380:
260:is a 1987 Australian
245:A$ 97,728 (Australia)
262:science fiction film
18:1987 Australian film
676:, 8 June 1987, p.15
823:The New York Times
685:Stratton p.279–281
642:Stratton p.278–279
633:, March 1989, p.40
479:later wrote that:
393:New World Pictures
830:The Time Guardian
817:The Time Guardian
806:The Time Guardian
798:The Time Guardian
787:The Time Guardian
501:The Time Guardian
485:The Time Guardian
397:Antony I. Ginnane
292:The Time Guardian
257:The Time Guardian
253:
252:
24:The Time Guardian
892:
751:
750:
742:
736:
733:
727:
720:
714:
713:
711:
709:
692:
686:
683:
677:
670:
661:
652:
643:
640:
634:
627:
616:
615:
613:
611:
592:
586:
585:
583:
581:
562:
556:
540:
534:
533:, March 1986 p64
527:
521:
518:
268:, co-written by
200:
198:
180:Filmpac Holdings
76:Norman Wilkinson
33:
21:
900:
899:
895:
894:
893:
891:
890:
889:
840:
839:
835:Rotten Tomatoes
782:
760:
755:
754:
744:
743:
739:
735:Stratton, p.282
734:
730:
721:
717:
707:
705:
701:Manila Standard
694:
693:
689:
684:
680:
671:
664:
653:
646:
641:
637:
628:
619:
609:
607:
594:
593:
589:
579:
577:
564:
563:
559:
553:Wayback Machine
541:
537:
528:
524:
519:
515:
510:
470:
454:
362:
313:
300:
248:
246:
210:
203:
196:
194:
187:
172:
171:
150:
148:
113:
82:
79:Robert Lagettie
65:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
898:
896:
888:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
862:
857:
852:
842:
841:
838:
837:
826:
813:
802:
794:
781:
780:External links
778:
777:
776:
759:
756:
753:
752:
737:
728:
715:
687:
678:
662:
644:
635:
617:
587:
557:
535:
522:
520:Stratton p 279
512:
511:
509:
506:
477:David Stratton
469:
466:
453:
450:
444:The Terminator
361:
358:
357:
356:
350:
344:
338:
335:Dean Stockwell
332:
326:
320:
312:
309:
299:
296:
282:Dean Stockwell
251:
250:
243:
239:
238:
235:
231:
230:
227:
223:
222:
219:
215:
214:
211:
208:
205:
204:
202:
201:
190:
188:
185:
182:
181:
178:
177:Distributed by
174:
173:
170:
169:
166:
163:
160:
154:
153:
151:
146:
143:
142:
137:
133:
132:
127:
123:
122:
119:
118:Cinematography
115:
114:
112:
111:
106:
104:Dean Stockwell
101:
96:
90:
88:
84:
83:
81:
80:
77:
73:
71:
67:
66:
64:
63:
60:
54:
52:
48:
47:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
897:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
847:
845:
836:
832:
831:
827:
825:
824:
819:
818:
814:
812:
808:
807:
803:
800:
799:
795:
793:
789:
788:
784:
783:
779:
774:
770:
766:
762:
761:
757:
748:
741:
738:
732:
729:
725:
719:
716:
703:
702:
697:
691:
688:
682:
679:
675:
669:
667:
663:
659:
658:
651:
649:
645:
639:
636:
632:
631:Cinema Papers
626:
624:
622:
618:
605:
601:
597:
591:
588:
575:
571:
567:
561:
558:
554:
550:
547:
546:
545:Film Victoria
539:
536:
532:
531:Cinema Papers
526:
523:
517:
514:
507:
505:
502:
498:
493:
490:
486:
483:The story of
480:
478:
474:
467:
465:
463:
459:
451:
448:
446:
445:
440:
433:
430:
428:
424:
420:
415:
412:
411:Tom Burlinson
408:
404:
400:
398:
394:
390:
384:
379:
377:
373:
372:
367:
366:Wilpena Pound
359:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
341:Tim Robertson
339:
336:
333:
330:
329:Carrie Fisher
327:
324:
323:Nikki Coghill
321:
318:
317:Tom Burlinson
315:
314:
310:
308:
304:
297:
295:
293:
289:
287:
286:Carrie Fisher
283:
279:
278:Nikki Coghill
275:
274:Tom Burlinson
271:
267:
266:Brian Hannant
263:
259:
258:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
206:
192:
191:
189:
183:
179:
175:
167:
164:
161:
159:
156:
155:
152:
144:
141:
138:
134:
131:
130:Andrew Prowse
128:
124:
120:
116:
110:
109:Carrie Fisher
107:
105:
102:
100:
99:Nikki Coghill
97:
95:
94:Tom Burlinson
92:
91:
89:
85:
78:
75:
74:
72:
68:
62:Brian Hannant
61:
59:
56:
55:
53:
49:
46:
45:Brian Hannant
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
829:
821:
816:
805:
801:at Oz Movies
797:
786:
764:
746:
740:
731:
723:
718:
706:. Retrieved
699:
690:
681:
673:
655:
638:
630:
608:. Retrieved
599:
590:
578:. Retrieved
569:
560:
544:
538:
530:
525:
516:
500:
496:
495:
484:
482:
475:
471:
457:
455:
442:
435:
431:
416:
409:
405:
403:the movie."
401:
386:
381:
375:
369:
363:
305:
301:
291:
290:
264:directed by
256:
255:
254:
237:A$ 8 million
209:Running time
186:Release date
121:Geoff Burton
15:
600:The Numbers
570:The Numbers
439:Scott Glenn
355:as Commando
353:Bruno Lucia
270:John Baxter
140:Allan Zavod
70:Produced by
58:John Baxter
41:Directed by
850:1987 films
844:Categories
773:0732902509
708:16 January
674:Sun Herald
508:References
376:Time Rider
360:Production
242:Box office
213:88 minutes
197:1987-12-03
147:Production
51:Written by
468:Reception
458:Spacetrap
371:Mad Max 2
221:Australia
149:companies
126:Edited by
610:9 August
604:Archived
580:9 August
574:Archived
549:Archived
427:Adelaide
347:Jim Holt
226:Language
136:Music by
87:Starring
758:Sources
747:Filmink
497:Filmink
492:script.
452:Release
229:English
218:Country
195: (
771:
473:well.
423:Hendon
284:, and
234:Budget
792:IMDb
769:ISBN
710:2020
612:2017
582:2017
489:10BA
311:Cast
298:Plot
833:at
820:at
809:at
790:at
421:at
162:FGH
846::
698:.
665:^
647:^
620:^
602:.
598:.
572:.
568:.
447:).
288:.
280:,
276:,
775:.
749:.
712:.
614:.
584:.
437:"
199:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.