The Delinquents

This period piece, taking us back to the 50's in Bundaberg, Queensland of all places, is a Romeo and Juliet tale that doesn't fare too bad. Hunky American export (Schlatter) falls for blonde hottie Lola (Minogue) where soon, thanks to adverse opinion by locals, family, they're on the lam, hunted down by police. The movie gets quite serious, as it shows us how ironfisted, stalwart the law was, as well as corrupt. The much missed Bruno Lawrence I liked, as a bosun, who sides with stowaway Schlatter, keeping him and better half, down deck. It's a happy ending in a kind of cruel way, as to having their unlikeable folks in a chow down, but it's one you will remember. You will also remember a woman face from Moving Out, as Minogue's new girlfriend, who provides the most tragic moment of the film. Minogue holds her own as the temptuous and impulsive Lola and she does have a nice a*se, Sexy and flirtatious, she really gives the character oomph, where I did like Schlatter too, but didn't measure up to Kylie. Her mistress at her boarding home, is one of the nastiest pasties I met. As for tears on your pillow, you'll have to wait till the end credits. A good Aussie, period piece drama, especially for you romantics. Delinquents is an unfair term, to these two characters though.

As romcoms go I rather like this movie. Kylie was young and inexperienced but showed some talent. Bruno Lawrence is a great 'wise old man' figure> If anything Chalie Schlatter lets the side down a bit. As an Aussie I know the chances of their being a yank teen living in Bundaberg in the 50's were pretty scarce, about the same as finding an Aussie in Wichita. But its a pleasant feel good movie. I've watched it half a dozen or more times and keep watching so it must have something. And it does bring back an era much changed since, where people get arrested for simply not having enough money in their bank account, and police could give folks a good smack in the chops and get away with it. A time of a lot more innocence than now. These days Brownie would get Lola pregnant and then shoot through leaving her to cope with her heroin addiction. Its nice to believe there was a time when love conquered all.

The 1989 Australian movie, ‘The Delinquents', is a grand look into the conservative 1950's Australia, how harsh it was for young people to live and be in love. Yet this movie also has a good feel to it and shows what defiance can do for your life. Although it can make it extremely hard, it also liberates teenagers and allows them to choose the life they want for themselves.

Adolescences – the time when teenage friendship boils over into adult desire … and the time when Lola Lovell meets a boy called Brownie Hansen. Too young to be together, too in love to be apart, Lola and Brownie's obsessive passion for each other breaks all the rules laid down by their parents and society. Quickly branded as rebels and defiant troublemakers, they will be forced to face the hardest punishment of all – separation! But NO person, NO law and NO institution will ever keep them apart. To Lola and Brownie, the first love is the ONLY love there is.

This movie's screenplay is based upon a novel of the same written by Criena Rohan. I believe that it would be an interesting read, as it looks into a very historical time in the Australian country and allows us to understand that young people especially, were not give the freedom and respect that they deserved. The story also has a very strong love story placed within it and the characters we are presented with take risks, some worth it, some not. But all in all, they prove that risks are a big part of growing up. The screenplay for this film by Clayton Frohman, certainly gives a good insight into all these areas.

Although this film might seem slow, mushy and only for romantics, it is presented in a most noteworthy way. Director Chris Thomson allows us to see how hard the times are, especially for Lola and Brownie. He certainly leaves nothing to the imagination when it comes to seeing both of these characters being violated. I also feel it is the good work of Thomson that we get a historically correct recreation of the times, as places like Melbourne, Brisbane and Bundaberg, look the way they would have been back in the 50's.

The main stars in the film are Brownie (Charlie Schlatter) and Lola (famous Australian Icon Kylie Minogue). These two characters quickly developed a very intense, romantic and physical relationship. Brownie is a guy that is abused by father and the law (and the film clearly shows this), while Lola, who is deeply love struck, is treated very harshly by her conservative/liberal mother (Angela Punch-McGregor). The pair in their own way stand up for themselves. Although Schlatter has little to say here, is effective as Brownie. He really is a good guy. Kylie looks ‘stunning' and is great as the young girl who grows up quickly. She has some of the more memorable lines in the film and one of the best moments in the movie has to be when Lola right hooks (punches) her Aunt Westbury (Melissa Jaffer) in the face.

Brownie and Lola have some friends in the midst of all these bad people in their lives. Brownie is befriended by his sailing boss Bosun (the late Bruno Lawrence), who is a man that deeply cares for Brownies well-being. Bruno is great in this film and is from the popular Current Affairs spoof ‘Frontline'. While Brownie and Lola meet a happy couple Lyle (Todd Boyce) and Mavis (Desirée Smith). What happens to this couple is very tough, but this helps Brownie and Lola, and is another moving moment in the film.

The soundtrack to this movie is just wonderful and adds to the historical time and romantic feel that the story has. Songs from it include ‘Only You' ‘Since I Met You Baby' ‘She's My Baby', ‘Great Balls of Fire' and ‘Lucille'. While we have a song from Kylie herself entitled ‘Tears on My Pillow' and another song by the Aussie act Johnny Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) and the Injectors called ‘Somebody on my love'. This is one great compilation of music for an Australian movie.

After all these positive words on this movie, I know I will be shot down by other people around the world who truly do hate this film. Some of the comments already placed on this movie's IMDb page are very harsh and have nothing good to say. I disagree with these negative opinions, simply because I had a good experience watching this movie many years ago and just recently. I believe that this movie is not to dissimilar to the 1985 American sex comedy ‘Mischief', as it certainly had similar themes, characters and looked into the same time. ‘The delinquents' is an Australian movie that is a must see!

CMRS gives ‘The Delinquents': 4 (Very Good Film)

I quite liked this movie. Its a bit feeble but its alright. They obviously used Kylie because of her superstar status and maybe she isn't the best choice but she pulls it off quite well. I liked it when the woman who takes Lola in teaches her manners. Her hair looks really dodgy when she bleaches it though. All in all not bad but it could've been better.

I remember seeing this movie the day it opened (Boxing Day) 1989, and was completely blown away by Kylie's performance. A TV actress, singer and now bona fide movie star, there seemed to be no stopping her. Of course as we now know there were many movie mistakes to follow. But this still stands as one of her finest efforts and is still an enjoyable piece of escapist moviemaking.