Malcolm (film)
Encyclopedia
Malcolm is a 1986 Australian cult film
, written by David Parker
and directed by Nadia Tass
. The film stars Colin Friels
as the titular tram
enthusiast who becomes involved with petty crime. The film won the 1986 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film
.
At the start of the film Malcolm is working for the then operator
of Melbourne's trams
. He builds himself a "tram", which leads him to losing his job. With his mother dead and no income, he is forced to take a boarder, Frank (John Hargreaves). Frank is a petty criminal, and Malcolm turns his mechanical mind to helping him pursue his career. Malcolm creates a number of surreal inventions, including a getaway car which splits into two independently powered halves and devises a bank robbery done by remote control.
A facade was constructed in Napoleon Street for the exterior scenes of the Milk Bar. The interior scenes were filmed at the former milk bar located on Wellington Street near Napoleon Street.
The Leinster Arms Hotel, located in Gold Street Collingwood, was used for filming the inside scenes at the pub Frank often frequents.
The scenes of the headquarters of the fictional Anglo Swiss Bank were filmed at two locations. The building where Frank and Judith deliver a number of ashtrays is the Commonwealth Bank in Collins Street, near the intersection with Queen Street. All signage related to the Commonwealth Bank was removed for the purpose of filming.
The overhead bridge featured in the robbery of the bank is located at the William Angliss TAFE, on LaTrobe Street.
The tram depot featured in the beginning of the film is the former South Melbourne Depot which was located on Kingsway at the corner of Dorcas Street (and is now a BMW dealer). Kew Depot features briefly in a dawn scene of a tram depot, prior to Malcolm taking his own tram for a test run. The Foreman's office in which Malcolm is sacked is located in the Body Shop at Preston Workshops. The scene in which Malcolm, Frank and Judith switch from a getaway van to Malcolm's tram was filmed near the Workshops in Miller Street, Thornbury.
Workshops in Melbourne
, Australia. After the film was completed, the tram was donated to the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria.
In the late 1990s, a man bought a furnished house (which also contained a lot of junk) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. To his surprise, the garage contained the yellow getaway car from this movie. The car had not been seen since the film wrapped.
The remote controlled car used by Malcolm to rob his first bank is a Tamiya Sand Scorcher, model number 58016.
All the remote control cars including the ashtrays were assembled by Kenneth Liddiard (deceased).
, the clever mix of technical sounds and gentle rhythms evoked the nostalgia of the Melbourne tram and the quirky, lonely life Malcolm followed in the film.
This unique and joyous music still finds its way into a number of films and television documentaries.
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
, written by David Parker
David Parker (director)
David Parker is an Australian cinematographer, film producer, screenwriter and film director.Films written by Parker include Malcolm, Rikky and Pete, The Big Steal, and Amy. He has directed two films, Hercules Returns and Diana and Me.He is married to Nadia Tass-External links:* at...
and directed by Nadia Tass
Nadia Tass
Nadia Tass is a film director, producer and actress, originally from Macedonia, northern Greece, who moved to Australia in the 1960s. She began her career as an actress appearing in the television series Prisoner. Ms...
. The film stars Colin Friels
Colin Friels
-Background and training:Friels was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland. His mother was a mill worker and his father a joiner. He lived in Kilbirnie until 1963, when his family moved to Australia, arriving in Darwin, Northern Territory before settling in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows...
as the titular tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
enthusiast who becomes involved with petty crime. The film won the 1986 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film
This page lists the winners and nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film since its institution in 1958. The award is presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts , an organisation which promotes the Australian film industry. Since the 1958 Australian Film Awards the...
.
At the start of the film Malcolm is working for the then operator
Metropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated suburban passenger trains,trams and buses in Victoria, Australia. It was set up under Section 15 of the Transport Act 1983 and commenced operation on 1 July 1983...
of Melbourne's trams
Trams in Melbourne
The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
. He builds himself a "tram", which leads him to losing his job. With his mother dead and no income, he is forced to take a boarder, Frank (John Hargreaves). Frank is a petty criminal, and Malcolm turns his mechanical mind to helping him pursue his career. Malcolm creates a number of surreal inventions, including a getaway car which splits into two independently powered halves and devises a bank robbery done by remote control.
Filming locations
The scenes of the exterior of Malcolm's house were filmed at 23 Napoleon Street, Collingwood. The house has since been demolished and the land is currently vacant. The interior scenes are believed to have been filmed at a house in Elm Street, Flemington, an inner city suburb of Melbourne.A facade was constructed in Napoleon Street for the exterior scenes of the Milk Bar. The interior scenes were filmed at the former milk bar located on Wellington Street near Napoleon Street.
The Leinster Arms Hotel, located in Gold Street Collingwood, was used for filming the inside scenes at the pub Frank often frequents.
The scenes of the headquarters of the fictional Anglo Swiss Bank were filmed at two locations. The building where Frank and Judith deliver a number of ashtrays is the Commonwealth Bank in Collins Street, near the intersection with Queen Street. All signage related to the Commonwealth Bank was removed for the purpose of filming.
The overhead bridge featured in the robbery of the bank is located at the William Angliss TAFE, on LaTrobe Street.
The tram depot featured in the beginning of the film is the former South Melbourne Depot which was located on Kingsway at the corner of Dorcas Street (and is now a BMW dealer). Kew Depot features briefly in a dawn scene of a tram depot, prior to Malcolm taking his own tram for a test run. The Foreman's office in which Malcolm is sacked is located in the Body Shop at Preston Workshops. The scene in which Malcolm, Frank and Judith switch from a getaway van to Malcolm's tram was filmed near the Workshops in Miller Street, Thornbury.
Vehicles
The model tram that Malcolm "built" ran on a motorbike engine, the rest having being put together with spare parts by workers at PrestonPreston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
Workshops in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, Australia. After the film was completed, the tram was donated to the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria.
In the late 1990s, a man bought a furnished house (which also contained a lot of junk) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. To his surprise, the garage contained the yellow getaway car from this movie. The car had not been seen since the film wrapped.
The remote controlled car used by Malcolm to rob his first bank is a Tamiya Sand Scorcher, model number 58016.
All the remote control cars including the ashtrays were assembled by Kenneth Liddiard (deceased).
Music
The music used in the film, although not specifically written as a score, perfectly matched the inventiveness of its main character. Composed by Simon Jeffes and performed by him and fellow members of the Penguin Cafe OrchestraPenguin Cafe Orchestra
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra was a collective of performing musicians created by classically trained British guitarist, composer and arranger Simon Jeffes...
, the clever mix of technical sounds and gentle rhythms evoked the nostalgia of the Melbourne tram and the quirky, lonely life Malcolm followed in the film.
This unique and joyous music still finds its way into a number of films and television documentaries.