The Plumber
Encyclopedia
The Plumber is a 1979 Australian film. Written and directed by Peter Weir
, The Plumber was originally made and broadcast as a television film
in Australia in 1979 but was subsequently released to theaters in several countries beginning with the United States
in 1981. The film was made shortly after Weir's critically acclaimed Picnic at Hanging Rock
became one of the first Australian films
to appeal to an international audience. The film stars Judy Morris
, Ivar Kants
, and Robert Coleby
, all of them being most notable as actors in Australian soap opera
s.
) is a plumber working in the apartment building complex into which anthropologist Jill Cowper (Judy Morris
) and her husband doctor Brian (Robert Coleby
) have recently moved. Max appears uninvited at the Cowper apartment claiming their plumbing needs repair, even though the couple has noticed no irregularities. Convincing them that the problems with their plumbing are not easily noticed, he begins work in their bathroom by dismantling some pipes. Max's work on the bathroom drags on for days and it becomes increasingly obvious that he is only doing more damage by tearing out walls and pipes and rendering the bathroom useless. Over time, Max begins to frighten Jill by taking the liberty to use their shower without permission and playing guitar and singing songs in the bathroom while he was supposed to be working. He also makes his way into the apartment through the roof when the door is not opened for him. The damage he caused to the bathroom eventually leads to a serious injury to a house guest who happens to be an official from the World Health Organization
. The Cowpers are able to rectify the situation but Max, a self-declared "rock-and-roll rebel", is unrelenting.
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
, The Plumber was originally made and broadcast as a television film
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
in Australia in 1979 but was subsequently released to theaters in several countries beginning with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1981. The film was made shortly after Weir's critically acclaimed Picnic at Hanging Rock
Picnic at Hanging Rock (film)
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian feature film directed by Peter Weir and starring Anne-Louise Lambert, Helen Morse, Rachel Roberts and Vivean Gray. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name, by author Joan Lindsay....
became one of the first Australian films
Cinema of Australia
Cinema of Australia, more commonly referred to as the Australian film industry, refers to the system of production, distribution, and exhibition of films in Australia. Film production commenced in Australia in 1906 with the production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, the earliest feature film made...
to appeal to an international audience. The film stars Judy Morris
Judy Morris
Judy Morris is an Australian actress, film director and screenwriter, well known for the variety of roles she played in 54 different television shows and films, but most recently for co-writing a musical epic about the life of penguins in Antarctica which became Happy Feet, Australia's largest...
, Ivar Kants
Ivar Kants
Ivar Kants is an Australian actor who played the role of Ken Garrett in soap opera The Restless Years. Later roles include School Principal Barry Hyde in Home And Away...
, and Robert Coleby
Robert Coleby
Robert Coleby is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for Queensland Theatre Company based in Brisbane, Australia.Robert's real name is Robert...
, all of them being most notable as actors in Australian soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s.
Plot
Max (Ivar KantsIvar Kants
Ivar Kants is an Australian actor who played the role of Ken Garrett in soap opera The Restless Years. Later roles include School Principal Barry Hyde in Home And Away...
) is a plumber working in the apartment building complex into which anthropologist Jill Cowper (Judy Morris
Judy Morris
Judy Morris is an Australian actress, film director and screenwriter, well known for the variety of roles she played in 54 different television shows and films, but most recently for co-writing a musical epic about the life of penguins in Antarctica which became Happy Feet, Australia's largest...
) and her husband doctor Brian (Robert Coleby
Robert Coleby
Robert Coleby is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for Queensland Theatre Company based in Brisbane, Australia.Robert's real name is Robert...
) have recently moved. Max appears uninvited at the Cowper apartment claiming their plumbing needs repair, even though the couple has noticed no irregularities. Convincing them that the problems with their plumbing are not easily noticed, he begins work in their bathroom by dismantling some pipes. Max's work on the bathroom drags on for days and it becomes increasingly obvious that he is only doing more damage by tearing out walls and pipes and rendering the bathroom useless. Over time, Max begins to frighten Jill by taking the liberty to use their shower without permission and playing guitar and singing songs in the bathroom while he was supposed to be working. He also makes his way into the apartment through the roof when the door is not opened for him. The damage he caused to the bathroom eventually leads to a serious injury to a house guest who happens to be an official from the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
. The Cowpers are able to rectify the situation but Max, a self-declared "rock-and-roll rebel", is unrelenting.
Cast and characters
- Judy MorrisJudy MorrisJudy Morris is an Australian actress, film director and screenwriter, well known for the variety of roles she played in 54 different television shows and films, but most recently for co-writing a musical epic about the life of penguins in Antarctica which became Happy Feet, Australia's largest...
— Jill Cowper - Ivar KantsIvar KantsIvar Kants is an Australian actor who played the role of Ken Garrett in soap opera The Restless Years. Later roles include School Principal Barry Hyde in Home And Away...
— Max - Robert ColebyRobert ColebyRobert Coleby is a British actor who has spent most of his career in Australia. Active since the 1970s, he has over 70 film and television credits to his name. Coleby has acted on stage in numerous productions for Queensland Theatre Company based in Brisbane, Australia.Robert's real name is Robert...
— Brian Cowper - Candy RaymondCandy RaymondCandida Raymond is an Australian actress active in film during the 1970s and early 1980s. she attended St Ives High School in Sydney. She is the sister of actress Victoria Raymond....
— Meg - Henri SzepsHenri SzepsHenri Szeps OAM is an Australian actor best known for his role as Robert Beare in the ABC situation comedy series Mother and Son.-Early life:...
— David Medavoy