In Search of Anna

1978

In Search Of Anna is a 1978 road movie in which Tony, newly released after 6 years in kill-or-be-killed Pentridge Prison, moves back in with his father who has become a mess after the suicide of his wife (Tony's mother). Tony resents him for it. Tony catches up with old friend Jerry McGuire (Chris Haywood), who at first seems chummy, but is actually none-too-happy to see Tony back because he thinks he's the boss of their little gang. He arranges a beating which prompts Tony to take a road trip

Tony decides to visit an old 'friend' named Anna. He hitchhikes his way from Melbourne to Sydney where he comes across free spirit Sam (Judy Morris) in her 1938 Buick who takes him close to Sydney. Later, Tony catches up with Sam, who is living in Sydnet with her wimpy husband, Peter (Bill Hunter). Tony and Sam start to fall for one another.

In a way, this is a similar, albeit more competently made movie than Cosy Cool, which I covered yesterday, although the plot jumps around so much that it's hard to track when in time something is happening. Both stars are pretty good and the car Sam drives is really something. Bill Hunter, usually known for his brusque manly roles is strangely given the role of a cuckold and feels wasted here. Also one of my favourite movie things is when a character has the same name as a character in a later, more popular movie and this movie has Chris Haywood playing a character called Jerry McGuire who refers to himself in the third person constantly and it's never not funny to me and me alone. Not a bad movie, just a confusing one to keep up with.

Judy Morris film clip (samples below)