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image of person or book cover 1259582552711519140.jpg
Screen cap from opening credits
form y separately published work icon Fortress single work   film/TV   crime   thriller  
Adaptation of Fortress Gabrielle Lord , 1980 single work novel
Issue Details: First known date: 1987... 1987 Fortress
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Film Details - Crawford Productions , 1987

Producers:

Ian Crawford, Henry Crawford, and Terry Stapleton (executive producers).
Ray Menmuir (producer).

Production Companies:

Crawford Productions.

Finance Organisations:

Half the budget for the film was provided by American cable network HBO, who were also the first to screen the completed film.

Director of Photography:

David Connell.

Editors:

Ralph Strasser.

Production Designers:

Philip Warner.

Music:

Danny Beckermann.

Cast:

Including Sean Garlick (Sid), Rachel Ward (Sally Jones), Elaine Cusick (Mrs O'Brien), Laurie Moran (Mr O'Brien), Marc Aden Gray (Tommy), Ray Chubb (Publican), Bradley Meehan (Richard), Rebecca Rigg (Narelle), Beth Buchanan (Leanne), Asher Keddie (Sue), Anna Crawford (Sarah), Richard Terrill (Toby), Vernon Wells (Dabby Duck), Peter Hehir (Father Christmas), David Bradshaw (Pussy Cat), Roger Stephen (Mac the Mouse), Wendy Playfair (Old Woman), Ed Turley (Old Man), Nick Waters (Det Sgt Cotter), and Terence Donovan (Det Sgt Mitchell).

Release Dates:

Aired in Australia on 31 July 1986.

Given an American release date of 24 November 1985.


Location:

  • Filmed in Victoria, including The Grampians, Buchan Caves, and Bairnsdale.

    According to the Crawford Productions website,

    Shot on location in the Bainsdale area.

    Some cave scenes were shot in the Buchan Caves. The fortress cave was constructed after failing to find a satisfactory location. It was built in the Grampians countryside - using 27 tonnes of scaffolding, 5 trucks of concrete, 3,500 metres of chicken wire, countless wooden boxes, 2,000 metres of hessian, 300 litres of paint, 1,000 metres of fencing wire and 12 drums of polyurethane. It took eight weeks with a crew of nine living in the bush working about 12 hours a day. Warner, the designer, also built a series of man-made interiors for the inside of the Fortress and two spectacular caves. These were built in a large warehouse outside Beveridge, Melbourne.'

Awards:

  • ACE Award (American Cinema Editors), Direction of Photography and/or Lighting Direction for a Dramatic or Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries (won), 1987.
Subjects:
Settings:
  • Australian Outback, Central Australia,
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