Fatty Finn is a 1980 Australian film, directed by Maurice Murphy and starring Ben Oxenbould with Rebecca Rigg. It is based on the 1930s cartoon-strip character, Fatty Finn, created by Syd Nicholls and is loosely based on the 1927 silent film, The Kid Stakes.
Contents
Plot
Set in inner-city Woolloomooloo in Sydney, New South Wales in 1930, the neighbourhood nice guys are led by Fatty (real name Hubert Finn), an ambitious ten-year-old with an eye for making a quid. From shady frog jumping contests to a fixed goat race, Fatty uses his enterprise to raise enough money to buy a crystal set (radio without a separate power supply) that is worth seventeen shillings & sixpence (17/6), more than his Dad is able to save up in a year. Bruiser Murphy the bully and his gang try to stop him. Fatty uses his brains against his enemies' brawn to eventually triumph.
Cast
Ben Oxenbould as Hubert 'Fatty' Finn
Rebecca Rigg as Tilly
Jeremy Larsson as Headlights
Martin Lewis as Skeet
Hugo Grieve as Seasy
Sandy Leask as Lolly Legs
Greg Kelly as Bruiser Murphy
Christopher Norton as Snootle
Bert Newton as John Finn
Noni Hazlehurst as Myrtle Finn
Gerard Kennedy as Tiger Murphy
Su Cruickshank as Mrs Murphy
Lorraine Bayly as Maggie McGrath
Bill Young as Officer Claffey
Ross Higgins as Radio Announcer
Peter Rowley as Chauffeur
Frank Wilson as Lord Mayor
Henri Szeps as Mr Zilch
Peter Carroll as Teacher
Production
Screenwriter Bob Ellis says it was his idea to make the film. He complained about interference from the film's producers, John Sexton and Yoram Gross, claiming Sexton in particular wanted a lot of changes, but changed his mind after David Puttnam praised Ellis's original draft. He later said of the film that "all the performances are dreadful, the conspicuous exception being Bert Newton's."
Of the $350,000 budget, $120,000 came from the Australian Film Commission.
The movie was set in Woolloomooloo but the area had changed a lot since then so was shot in and around Glebe. Filming took place in January and February 1980.
Reception
Box office
Fatty Finn grossed $1.064 million at the box office in Australia.
Awards
The film was nominated for seven Australian Film Institute Awards in 1981 winning in the categories of 'Best Achievement in Costume Design' and 'Best Original Music Score'.