Quigley Down Under

Director: Simon Wincer Simon Wincer

Overview

"Quigley Down Under comes to this dual-layered DVD in a widescreen anamorphic picture format (1.85:1 aspect ratio) and with the following audio options: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), with subtitles available in Spanish and French. Aside from the theatrical trailers usually included in DVD transfers, however, there are no special features of any kind included. The look of the picture is of about television or VHS quality, with the usual black bars at the top and bottom of the picture given the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Sound quality is barely stereo in places and lacks crispness, detail, and directionality; it too is of about VHS quality."

Product Details

Release Date:	09/04/2001
UPC:	0027616865816
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural, Dolby Digital, stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:00:00

Special Features

The Rebirth of a Western" Featurette ; Original TV Spots ; Original Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Selleck	Matthew Quigley
Laura San Giacomo	Crazy Cora
Alan Rickman	Elliott Marston
Chris Haywood	Mayor Ashley Pitt
Ron Haddrick	Grimmelman
Tony Bonner	Dobkin
Jerome Ehlers	Coogan
Conor McDermottroe	Hobb
Roger Ward	Brophy
Ben Mendelsohn	O'Flynn
Michael Lynch	Actor
Tim Hughes	Miller
Guy Norris	Cliff
Brian Ellison	Oliver
Mark Pennell	Bugler
Greg Stuart	Deserter
Eamon Kelly	Klaus Grimmelman
Don Bridges	Ticket Seller
Steve Dodd	Actor
Kylie Foster	Actor
William Zappa	Actor
Jonathan Sweet	Actor
Jon Ewing	Tout
David Slingsby	Mullion
Danny Adcock	Mitchell
Maeliosa Stafford	Cavanagh
Ollie Hall	Carver
Danny Baldwin	Smythe
Jim Willoughby	Scotty
Spike Cherrie	Hayden
Gerald Egan	Whitey
Basil Poledouris	Composer
Simon Wincer	Actor

Technical Credits

John Hill

Simon Wincer	Director
John Hill	Screenwriter
Alan Ladd Jr.	Executive Producer
Guy Norris	Stunts
Stanley O'Toole	Producer
Alexandra Rose	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Quigley Down Under earned a reputation as kind of a punchline, in the same way other films whose concept can be distilled in ten words or less -- say, "Tom Selleck as an American cowboy in Australia" -- might become a punchline. But it's actually a pretty solid, pretty serious western with a progressive message, where abused Aboriginal peoples substitute for Native Americans, and impressive feats of gunplay distinguish the solemn professionals from the mouthy pretenders. It's quirkier than you'd expect, too, with Laura San Giacomo's character spending half the movie referring to Selleck's Matthew Quigley as "Roy," because she may not actually be sane. (She is, after all, nicknamed "Crazy Cora"). Selleck is charismatic in the lead role, slipping easily between charming, exasperated, generous, sarcastic and disdainful. Quigley's chemistry with the batty Cora, as they make an odd-couple trek through the desert, is one of the film's chief pleasures, with director Simon Wincer getting good performances out of both actors. Fans of Alan Rickman will also enjoy seeing him in full-on Hans Gruber mode, playing an evil ranch owner whose plans involve no less than systematically exterminating as many Aboriginals as he can get in his gun sights -- or, more accurately, Quigley's gun sights, which is the bone of contention that transforms them from potential business associates to mortal enemies. The treatment of these natives serves as a sober antidote to the film's lighter moments. Quigley Down Under also benefits from a couple good (but unevenly matched) gunfights, and an appropriately grandiose score by Basil Poledouris. Still and all, it's hard to call Quigley Down Under exactly memorable. It exceeds that ten-word description, and the Australian setting doesn't hurt in terms of making it more distinctive, but it doesn't linger with the viewer longer than an icicle in the outback.