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Constable Ross, a police constable on his first day of duty, and the cynical Sergeant Simmonds are drawn into a domestic dispute when two women come in to report a wife-beater. The officers arrange for a furniture removalist to come and take furniture from the flat of the woman's belligerent husband, and attend the removal themselves. The tension escalates when the husband, Kenny, knocks the removalist down and is subsequently beaten up by the police. The violence escalates as Kenny, who is handcuffed, is repeatedly assaulted while the others watch. It ends only when Constable Ross believes he has killed Kenny. The two policemen argue about the dire consequences, but Kenny regains consciousness and gets up.
Based on David Williamson's play (first staged at La Mama Theatre, Melbourne in 1971), the screenplay (including dialogue) closely follows the structure of the original story. The narrative is also set in the same two locations: a police station and a small flat.
Notes
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The trailer for this film is available to view via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzaiw6STjes (Sighted: 14/9/2012)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Classic Movie
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 13 March 2016; (p. 10)
— Review of The Removalists 1975 single work film/TV -
David Williamson : Plays into Films
1981
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Cinema Papers , no. 32 1981; (p. 123-127) 'What happens to a playwright's style when he turnes scriptwriter and adapts his own works. David Williamson has written the screenplays for four film adaptations, but they were directed by three people who interpreted the elements of his style quite differently.' (Cecilia Rice). -
Margaret's Brilliant Career
1975
single work
column
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 22 March vol. [96] no. 4949 1975; (p. 15-16)
-
The Classic Movie
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 13 March 2016; (p. 10)
— Review of The Removalists 1975 single work film/TV -
David Williamson : Plays into Films
1981
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Cinema Papers , no. 32 1981; (p. 123-127) 'What happens to a playwright's style when he turnes scriptwriter and adapts his own works. David Williamson has written the screenplays for four film adaptations, but they were directed by three people who interpreted the elements of his style quite differently.' (Cecilia Rice). -
Margaret's Brilliant Career
1975
single work
column
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 22 March vol. [96] no. 4949 1975; (p. 15-16)