Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door

No cringing here. This is vintage Australian movie making at its best. Script, casting, directions, delicate camera work - just a perfect production.This had all the ingredients for being soppy and clichéd, but tight scripting and direction keeps it together all the way to its simple ending. It recognizes Peter Allen career as being one filled with the gritty boringness of trying to make it,until his ship sailed in with the all-sails blazing Judy Garland, played in perfect balance by Sigrid Thornton, a role that could have so easily slipped into parody. The clever flatness of colour at times poignantly captures an era of post war Australia when all was not easy on the home-front, but new sounds and media were innocently arising. This series reveals how the Australian film industry has been so dreadfully neglected, as it showcases the ability of our homegrown talent to make world class entertainment.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film (sometimes shown in 2 or 4 parts). The cast is amazing! Everyone involved in its making should be very proud indeed. So sad when i think of all those talented men and women we lost to aids.... This is more than worth your time!!

Having read some of the reviews posted here I am greatly disappointed by the first one posted by someone who seems to be homophobic. It was apparent from his head shot that he is far to young to even remember the time Peter Allen lived in. His struggle for success in USA was always over-powered by the presence of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli both of whom dominated at the time.

Having worked in the entertainment industry all my life and lived through all those years, what was depicted in this TV movie was absolutely the way it was. The performances were great. Young Ky Baldwin has a very successful career ahead of him.

Great TV viewing and thank you 7 for bringing the life of Peter Allen to us all.

On another note I have been watching the Sunday reruns of A Place to Call Home -- Australia's Dynasty - Disappointed to hear Season3wille o Foxtel as I do not subscribe there. Love this show as I also remember those years with great clarity.

Channel Seven has put up a show that they called "the event of the year". However, the person in charge of the marketing did a shocker of a job showcasing Peter Allen as this low budget, horrible acting mini-series. But I have it a go anyway and to my expectations, this show truly was awful. The acting is so cheesy along with its stale writing. Also I gave little or no care whatsoever to Peter Allen himself as he was portrayed in this show.

In reality, people who were and are a fan of Peter Allen may find some merit in this show, but for a more modern audience who either don't know or don't care about a dead washed up performer will find nothing to enjoy. Definitely not targeted towards the younger demographic, and the older demographic should avoid this atrocity at all costs as well.

I have never written a review before, but I feel compelled to do so after reading an insipidly negative review that was obviously written by a person with absolutely no idea.

This two-part movie has an intangible quality (like most good Australian films), that makes it distinctive and appealing to watch; the acting was excellent, the cinematography was excellent, and the costume design was excellent. Peter Allen was a beautiful person whose life was beautifully depicted here with honesty and integrity. It made me laugh and cry.. and then cry some more... I highly recommend you watch this.