Production Harlequin (film)

1 production

1.1 development
1.2 casting
1.3 shooting

production
development

simon wincer , everett de roche had collaborated on snapshot not happy film since made hurriedly. decided make film, came 6 ideas , chose minister s musician, modern-day version of rasputin story. did treatment , antony i. ginnane became involved producer.

everett de roche did 400-page first draft in central character, gregory wolfe, priest. when producers sent script us, worried make film hard market in catholic countries changed. script given american writers work on wincer not happy changes. de roche not available, wincer went on script russell hagg although later said have preferred if de roche had done job.

casting

the script written david bowie in mind lead role , conversations had bowie filmmakers got cold feet @ last minute , cast robert powell . original choice role of senator orson welles wanted $80,000 week 2 weeks broderick crawford cast instead.

shooting

it first film funded newly formed west australian film council. funding came australian film commission, greater union, ace theatres of western australia , pact productions, final $50,00 coming hemdale. first of several films ginnane make hemdale.

the movie shot in late 1979 on 6 weeks, using panavision. filmed in western australia because of involvement of west australian film council, estimated save production $100,000.

the film makes great effort disguise fact set in australia, including dubbing alan cassel s voice american , referring american political system. controversial @ time because made money australian tax payer.