Duet For Four

Duet For Four is a lesser work from director Tim Burstall that suffers from bland televisual production values and unconvincing performances from most of the cast with the exception of Wendy Hughes.

Perhaps David Williamson’s heavy-handed script with its typical foray into middle-class angst gave all involved little to get excited about but there are too many things wrong with the film to lay the blame entirely at his feet. Michael Pate’ as an over-weening Yank capitalist and Diane Cilento as a trendy gallery-owner give particularly unconvincing performances whilst Warwick Comber’s supposedly brooding toy-boy character is nothing short of a ridiculous in what is a story of conflicting values and lifestyle choices in the heartland of Melbourne’s bourgeoisie.

Mike Preston plays a down-to-earth bloke whose toy distribution business is struggling. He’s living with an independent-minded young woman (Hughes) whilst supporting his ex-wife (Cilento) who is shacked up with her “protégé” (Comber). Meanwhile his bohemian daughter (Sigrid Thornton) has got herself into "trouble".

Under Burstall’s hand the story rolls along with due diligence but never arrives at the dramatic symmetry suggested by the title whilst the homogenized beigeness of the film’s colour palette is a wearing manifestation of the film’s essential safeness.

FYI: The location of Margot’s home was John and Sunday Reid’s house before it became the Heide Art Gallery.

DVD Extras: Interviews with David Williamson and Wendy Hughes; Australian Biography interview with Diane Cilento

Available from: Umbrella Entertainment

 

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