The Night Nurse Explained

The Night Nurse
Director:Igor Auzins
Producer:Robert Bruning
Starring:Kate Fitzpatrick
Kay Taylor
Music:Peter Clark
Jimmy Sloggett
Cinematography:Russell Boyd
Editing:Trevor Ellis
Distributor:Seven Network
California Pictures
Studio:Gemini Productions
Runtime:75 mins
Country:Australia
Language:English
Budget:$105,000

The Night Nurse is a 1978 Australian television film about the relationship between a former opera star and her night nurse.[1]

It was produced by Bruning's Gemini Productions.[2]

Plot

Prudence wants to become independent of her artist ex-boyfriend Rick, and so she arrives at the grand home of The Diva, a once famous opera singer, to interview for a night nurse position. Instantly hired by the septuagenarian, she soon begins to experience odd things. And the other staff member, stone faced Clara, shows Prudence nothing but resentment, and clearly wants her gone. Prudence soon learns that all is not what it seems in this household, leading her to a ghastly discovery and to unearth dangerous secrets from the past.

Cast

Production

Bruning had made four TV movies for Channel Seven which had rated well. This prompted the network to commission six more from Bruning of which The Night Nurse was the first.[3] These were made for a cost of $750,000. "It's the largest order of locally made product ever," said Greg Brown of Seven "and we are sure viewers will be impressed."[4]

Reception

Don Groves of the Sydney Morning Herald called it "an old fashioned blood curdling thriller" and "a first rate yarn".[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p112
  2. Peter. Beilby. Scott. Murray. Robert Bruning. Cinema Papers. September–October 1979. 517–519.
  3. News: Selling our films to the world. Sydney Morning Herald. May 29, 1977 . 47.
  4. News: Sydney Morning Herald. Gather around for a 'woman's picture'. April 17, 1977. 105.
  5. News: Critics Corner. Sydney Morning Herald Archive. January 20, 1980. 74.