The F.J. Holden

When Australian films are good, they're very very good, but when they're bad they're rotten. F.J Holden is, I think, one of the worst Aussie films I've seen. It's unfortunate because it has all the ingredients of a good film, and frankly, most Australian films fall flat on their faces due to either trying to be too intellectual or too quirky. F.J Holden has the romantic entanglements of a love story, of racial friction (not to mention friction with the law), but most of all, a story of young people caught between their own wishes, and the wants of their elders. It's sad to see such factors handled so slipshod, but as Hitchcock said, "Drama is life with the dull bits left out", and with this movie, the producers left in what should have been left out! On a more positive note, this is one of Sigrid Thornton's first movies, it's a pity we didn't see a little more of her in the film, than a lot of obviously fine actors trying to make something of this very pulpy story.

P.S I grew up in the area this film was made (Panania), and I recognized many of the locations, locations that could have (with a decent story) been utilized better. F.J Holden is one of those films you see, that takes forever to get going, and once it gets going, it goes nowhere.

I recently watched the Australian grindhouse film The FJ Holden (1977) on Tubi. The story centers around Kevin and Bob, two buddies who travel the countryside indulging in partying, drinking, and drugs. They encounter Anne who sparks a chain of events after Kevin tries to have sex either her in front of Bob.

Directed by Michael Thornhill (The Journalist), the film stars Paul Couzens, Eva Dickinson (Glenview High), Carl Stever, and Sigrid Thornton (The Man from Snowy River).

In many ways, The FJ Holden feels like an Australian version of "Porky's." The banter between the main characters is fun, featuring solid zings and one-liners. However, Kevin's character can be frustrating at times, with his mood swings feeling inconsistently authentic. Eva Dickinson delivers a captivating performance, and the film includes splashes of nudity. The storyline is entertaining and unfolds in a fun manner, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, The FJ Holden isn't a masterpiece, but it's engaging enough to hold your attention. I would give it a 5.5/10 and recommend watching it once.

The acting is dodgy (both the main actors had little experience), the storyline pretty boring, the scenery bland.

I grew up in this part of sydney, and movies showing Australian suburbia were rare, so this was reasonably popular as it showed a slice of life of Australia - which we never saw on the big screen.

I remember Australians growing up in the time would refer to it, and it was pretty famous.

But its overall, pretty bad. Bad acting, plot is very basic and not particularly interesting - but it does show what life was like at the time pretty well, so its of value as a historical/social piece. Even a bit of casual racism played off as a joke!

Parts of it are so bad they are funny, and the two actors, instead of acting drunk, actually *really* get drunk in one scene, and can barely say their lines.

Its a really bad Aussie film, but yes, of interest to people who grew up in that time, or that part of Sydney.

Sure the movie is slow, the speech is monosyllabic and there isn't much happening. But the sun is shining, the lawns are being mown, the smorgasbord is on down at the club and the backyard parties are in full swing. I too, grew up in Panania. That's pretty much what it was like and it was great....simple, uncomplicated...much like the movie. That seems to me to be the whole point! I love it. One day it will be recognised as the true classic that it is (well maybe)

This film is essential for anyone who wants to experience the glory days of Aus culture. There is very little plot, but it basically follows the adventures of a guy called Kev, who goes out with a girl called Anne. He fixes up his car (guess what model?), goes drag racing, drives around with his mate Bob, gets drunk, and has excruciatingly bad conversations with his parents.

It also includes a scene where you watch Kev and Bob drink an entire slab of beer, with the actors obviously getting drunker and drunker as they slur and forget their lines.

It's on TV every so often. Don't miss it. Tape it, and show it to all your friends. Bring it out at parties. Keeping this film to yourself is a crime!