| Send a Gorilla | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Melanie Read |
| Written by | Melanie Read |
| Produced by | Robin Laing Dorothee Pinfold Peter Sainsbury |
| Starring | Carmel McGlone Katherine McRae Perry Piercy |
| Cinematography | Wayne Vinten |
| Edited by | Paul Sutorius |
| Production company | Energy Source |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
Send a Gorilla is a 1988 New Zealand comedy film directed by Melanie Read.
Synopsis
Valentine's Day is the busiest day in the year for three young women and their singing telegram service. Their Send A Gorilla Singing Telegram Company has started badly they are short-staffed and drowning in orders. The boss is missing, and one of the singers has lost her voice.
Cast
- Carmel McGlone as Clare
- Katherine McRae as Joy
- Perry Piercy as Vicki
- John Callen as Chris Dean
- Lani John Tupu as Ian Hunter
- William Kircher as Ned
- Jim Moriarty as Joe
- Nathan Waldron as Jason
- Rima Te Wiata as Lisa
- Daniel Benseman as Toby
- Michael Haigh as Mr. Tack
- Stephen Clements as Carl / Fireman
- Kim Buchanan as Charlene
- Stanley Findlay as Anthony
- Ann Pacey as Mrs. McKinley
- Miranda Harcourt as Kerry-Anne
- Ian Watkin as Sir Richard Olphert
- Mark Wright as Kitchenhand
- Joy Watson as Daphne
- Wiki Oman as Donna
- Jane Waddell as Janine
- Dulcie Smart as Jane
- Renita Chan as Lois Wing
- Peter McAllum as Policeman
- Ross Jolly as Stranger in Grams Office
- Danny Mulheron as Owner of Boxer Dog
- Whillow Patterson as Ani
- Turei Reidy as C.O.
- Katy Platt as Female DJ
- Christianne Phillips as Twin
- Marianne Govaerts as Twin
- Ian Rae as Darryn the hairdresser
- Stephen Lovatt as Darryn's Friend
- Liz Mullane as Hairdresser
- Felicity Samuel as Female Customer
- Brian Carbee as Male customer
- Lorae Parry as Sender of revenge gram
- Jon Brazier as Dave - the filnger
- Theresa Healey as Anne - the mistress
- Duncan Smith as Keith
- Joanna Briant as Linda
- Alice Fraser as Keith's mother
- Gerald Bryan as Ian's lawyer
- Kate Harcourt as Lawyer's secretary
- Onehau as Clare's lawyer
- Peter Dennett as Construction worker #1
- Ralph Johnson as Construction worker #2
- Helen Lagen as Policewoman with dogs
- Michael Wilson as John
- Tony Box as Mechanic
- Vivienne Brown as Woman selling ice cream
- Sandra Coory as Ticketseller
- Joanne Simpson as Woman in cupboard
- Louise Graham as Friend of woman in cupboard
- Keiko Kirk as Yoko Matsumara
- Andrei Albulescu as Yoko's secretary
- Heather Benfield as Music examiner
- Murray Keane as Youth outside P.O.
- Keith Richardson as Police Constable at P.O.
- Stephen Gledhill as Function organizer
- Bill Walker as Drunk on stage
- Guy Boyce as Drunk on stage
- Michael Heath as Drunk at table
- Shelly Luxford as Radio station receptionist
- Kara Kavers as Woman in coffee bar
- Vicky Hunwick as Messenger
- Debbie Gee as Policeoman
- Leon de Villalier as Elderly car thief
- Natalie Wong as Sue
- Alan Jollifie as Ralph
- Ralph Williams as Man from Shalimar
- Richard Lawrence as Motorcyclist
- Gerald Brian as Radio voice
Reviews
- 1988 Variety
- 1994 The Women's Companion to International Film - "...the film has a lot of crazy energy..."
- 2000 Reframing women: a history of New Zealand film - "...a feminist critique of the commercialisation of romance..."
Awards and nominations
- Nominated for 3 New Zealand Film and TV Awards
- 1989 Montreal Women's Film Festival - Audience Choice - Second Place.
References
- Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). "New Zealand film, 1912-1996". Trove. Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558336-1. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Send a Gorilla". NZ On Screen. 1988. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Send a Gorilla". British Film Institute. 1988. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- "Send a Gorilla". New Zealand Film Commission. 1988. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- "Send a Gorilla review". Variety. 18 May 1988. pp. 44, 46.
- Kuhn, Annette; Radstone, Susannah, eds. (1994). The women's companion to international film. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 335–336. ISBN 0520088794.
- Shepard, Deborah (2000). Reframing Women. New Zealand: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 1-869503-14-7.
External links
| Films directed by Melanie Rodriga | |
|---|---|
| Features |
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| Shorts/Documentaries |
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