Because He's My Friend

1978 Australian TV series or program

Because He's My Friend
VHS case
Written by	Peter Schreck
Story by	Pamela Stone
Directed by	Ralph Nelson
Starring	Keir Dullea Karen Black Jack Thompson Tom Oliver Ray Meagher Warwick Poulsen
Music by	Peter Jones
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Geoffrey Daniels
Cinematography	Peter Hendry
Editor	Richard Francis-Bruce
Running time	90 minutes
Production company	Transatlantic Enterprises
Original release
Release	1978 (1978)

Because He's My Friend, also known as Love Under Pressure, is a 1978 Australian TV movie about a married couple and their mentally disabled son. It was one of six telemovies made in Australia as co-productions between ABC and Transatlantic Enterprises.^[1] It was the final film of veteran American director Ralph Nelson.

Plot

Eric, a Canadian naval officer serving with the Royal Navy is transferred to Australia for a submarine training exercise. He moves to Sydney with his wife Anne and their 12-year-old mentally disabled son Petey.

Anne takes her son to a special school, who encourage her to take a firmer line with her son. This results in a clash with Eric.

Cast

Karen Black as Anne
Keir Dullea as Eric
Jack Thompson as Geoff
Tom Oliver as Ian
Barbara Stephens
June Salter
Warwick Poulsen as Petey

Production

Ralph Nelson signed to direct in July.^[2]

Shooting took place in Sydney starting August 15 through to October 1977 over six weeks.^[3]^[4] Scenes were shot at Karonga House Special School in Epping in August. Permission had been obtained from the Subnormal Children's Welfare Association. The association was happy to co-operate because the activity of the film unit would be good therapy for children.^[5]

Jack Thompson filmed his scenes while on a break shooting his role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.^[6]

Reception

The critic from the Sydney Morning Herald said the character of the son was "winning and repulsive at the same time."^[7]

Another reviewer for the same paper called it " warm, touching and utterly honest... a darned good movie, and its climax will not disappoint you."^[8]

Warwick Poulsen's performance earned him a Logie for Best Performance by a Juvenile.^[9]

References

^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p12
^ FILM CLIPS: Chabrol Will Direct Sutherland Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times 18 July 1977: f11.
^ ""There's more to life than a few feet of celluloid"". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 19 October 1977. p. 23. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.
^ "Karen Black — she just has foibles". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 12 October 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.
^ "US stars coming here for retarded child film". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 July 1977. p. 73.
^ Groves, Don (28 August 1977). "Jack's 80 Year Spread". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 92.
^ Hogan, Christine (5 June 1978). "The Realm of the Retarded". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
^ Groves, Don (11 June 1978). "Fine Movie to Grip the Heart". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 64.
^ "Bert Newton wins Gold Gogie". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 March 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via Trove.