Clowning Around
| Clowning Around | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | George Whaley |
| Starring |
Clayton Williamson Annie Byron Jean-Michel Dagory Ernie Dingo Van Johnson Rebecca Smart Noni Hazlehurst Jill Perryman Heath Ledger |
| Music by | Peter Best |
| Distributed by | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Release dates | 1991 |
Running time | 165 minutes |
| Country |
Australia France United States |
| Language | English |
Clowning Around (1991) is an Australian family film that was shot on location in Perth, Western Australia and Paris, France. It was based on the novel Clowning Sim by David Martin.[1]
The film was produced by independent film company Barron Entertainment Films in Western Australia and educational film company WonderWorks in the United States, was directed by George Whaley. It was distributed by Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It featured Australian actors such as Clayton Williamson, Noni Hazelhurst, Ernie Dingo, Rebecca Smart, and Jill Perryman, and also featured veteran American actor Van Johnson along with French actor Jean-Michel Dagory. This film also features the first film role for Heath Ledger, who would later appear in Blackrock (1997) with Smart and Candy (2006) with Hazlehurst. Ledger's role appeared in the last ten minutes; he played an orphan clown who closes the film by delivering its final lines. His role was so minor he was not even mentioned in the film's credits.[2] This series was followed up with a sequel entitled Clowning Around 2, which was filmed in 1992.
Synopsis
Simon Gunner (Clayton Williamson), is a starstruck kid who aspires to become a circus clown. With the help of veteran funster Jack Merrick (Ernie Dingo), Simon ultimately fulfills his goal.
Cast
- Clayton Williamson - Simon Gunner
- Annie Byron - Una Crealy
- Jean-Michel Dagory - Anatole Tollin
- Ernie Dingo - Jack Merrick
- Van Johnson - Mr. Ranthow
- Rebecca Smart - Linda Crealy
- Noni Hazlehurst - Sarah Gunner
- Jill Perryman - Miss Gabhurst
- Steve Jodrell - Skipper Crealy
- Heath Ledger - orphan clown (uncredited)
References
- ↑ Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 119
- ↑ Watson, Stephanie (January 2010). Heath Ledger: Talented Actor. Essential Library. p. 21. ISBN 978-1604537895. Retrieved 17 January 2015.