The Honourable Wally Norman

The Honourable Wally Norman is a 2003 Australian comedy film directed by Ted Emery. It stars Kevin Harrington, Shaun Micallef, and Greig Pickhaver.

The Honourable Wally Norman
Directed byTed Emery
Produced byBarbara Gibbs
Rick Kalowski
Emile Sherman
Jonathan Shteinman
Written byAndrew Jones
Rick Kalowski
StarringKevin Harrington
Shaun Micallef
Greig Pickhaver
Music byPaul Robert Burton
Jim Conway
Arne Hanna
CinematographyDavid Foreman
Edited byStephen Evans
Distributed byBecker Entertainment
Release date
13 November 2003
Running time
88 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

It was filmed primarily in South Australia and was nominated for two AFI awards.

Plot

The story begins with a corrupt Member of Parliament (Micallef) shutting down a country town's main source of employment in the local meatworks. This leaves Wally Norman (Harrington) out of a job, until drunk politician Willy Norman accidentally writes the wrong name on the parliamentary nomination form.

Wally is at first apprehensive about running, until he realises it is the only way to save the meatworks. Throughout the film Wally is coached by Willy Norman and assistant Myles Greenstreet (Nathaniel Davison) in how to best appeal to the voters, as well as overcome his fear of public speaking.

Meanwhile, Myles is attracted to Wally's daughter, and a wombat's career skyrockets.

Much of the film's humour comes from wordplay, such as naming the town Givens Head, and the foreman of the meatworks being named George. Shaun Micallef said he had to insist that his own moniker was modified from F. Ken Oath to F. Ken Oats to soften one of the film's less subtle attempts at punning.[1]

Cast

Filming

The Honorable Wally Norman was filmed in various areas of South Australia. It used the towns of Lobethal, Mount Barker and Nairne for the town in the movie. The town of Lobethal provided the hotel, Mount Barker provided the meatworks and the St Francis de Sales College, and Nairne hosted the main street for the billy-cart race shown near the beginning of the movie.

Mike Rann, at that time Premier of South Australia, had a cameo appearance at 1:12:10 in the film. He played the man who was thrown out of his seat by The Chairman.[2]

Critical reception

The Sydney Morning Herald described the film as: "dreary, like being offered a dried-out chop, fake mash and over-cooked broccoli, when you were invited over for a juicy lamb roast."[3] SBS said "The Honourable Wally Norman seriously lacks bite; it's a determinably retro affair, amiable and mildly amusing, but pretty bland."[4] Urban Cinefile dismissed the film as "a shallow and contrived affair with the occasional shadow of humour passing over it."[5]

Box office

The Honourable Wally Norman grossed $181,395 at the box office in Australia.[6]

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See also

References
  1. Zion, Lawrie (13 November 2003). "The honourable Wally Norman". The Age. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  2. "The Honourable Wally Norman (press kit)" (PDF). Sherman Pictures. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  3. Moses, Alexa (13 November 2003). "The Honourable Wally Norman". FairfaxDigital. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  4. "The Honourable Wally Norman". SBS. n.d. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  5. Urban, Andrew L. (n.d.). "Honourable Wally Norman, The". FairfaxDigital. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  6. Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
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