The Set

My memories of this little known Aussie film are dim at best but I am clear on a story told me by the remarkable (and now late) publicist, poet, and friend of mine, Adrian Rawlins.

He took American reviewer Rex Reed along to 'The Set' around the time of it's release in Sydney, possibly even it's premiere. According to Adrian, Rex was wont to walk out on anything he thought was less than worthwhile. At the end of the performance Adrian said, "That was awful, I can't believe you sat through the whole thing!" to which Rex replied, "I know, I know, it was so bad, I couldn't move, I was riveted to my seat!"

Today I'm not sure where Rex Reed is, Adrian is immortalized in bronze on a pillar in Fitzroy in suburban Melbourne (his hometown). As for 'The Set', perhaps a retrospective of Australian cinema may bring this little attempt at breaking new ground to light again sometime in the future.

The Set is Australia's first modern film. It's a non-judgmental adult-drama that explores gender and sexuality in a way that would happen again for decades. It's probably the world's first queer film. It's also groundbreaking in terms of being the first Australian produced film to contain sex scenes and nudity. It also a kicking jazz score and is quite funny in part.

It's a gem of a film that's well worth your time.

From sydney australia. An early, interesting story of paul, sales clerk, who wants to learn design. He gets a lucky break, and meets designers who help him along with his career. And meets tony, who is already a success. Mixed emotions about this one. While the story by roger ward treats the gays and their relationships (mostly) with respect, most of the gays are really bisexual, who also sleep with women. Although some of the women are not sexually satisfied. Maybe that was to get it past the aussie censors. A fun performance by a drag queen. Played by the brother of the professor on gilligan's island, no less. And even a (terrible) wanna be opera singer, a la florence jenkins style. When we google her, we'll see that the real jenkins died in 1944. The sexy, suave but troubled tony wears the same unbuttoned shirt for most of the film, when he wears a shirt at all. Loud, fun, campy jazz, with lots of sax by the "flanagans." the guys have a tumultuous relationship, trying to combine work and a love life. I guess the alcohol may have interfered. Some nudity here and there, but nothing major. Early roles for the leads, mullinar and myers, and the director frank brittain. Writer ward is probably best known as captain fifi in mad max! "the set" is currently playing on the tubi streaming channel... fun stuff! Check out the wikipedia pages for roger ward and for "the set"... apparently, the film was made forty years before the book was allowed to be published!

What a schtinker.

Maybe back in the day, the film was shocking. Lots of bare boobies. One hairy chest A few bare bottoms.

As an historical gay themed film, it's interesting, but beyond that, it's pretty dull. The music and dancing look dated even for the Swingin' Seventies. The film has a lotta swinging going on, but for today's audience, it's more ho-hum than inflammatory.

The women's hairdos are interesting. Must have been a lot of VO-5 on the set.

The acting is on the lower end of so-so, and the cinematography was too. Movie makers have thankfully honed their skills since the making of The Set.

There are some really crude representations of the 'derelict lifestyle.' Like when Paul opens a can of beer for Tony, and tosses the tab from the can into the refrigerator. Tony just throws his on the floor. The ashtrays are humorously full of butts. Except for the ones on the floor around the fireplace.

The bathroom, however, is quite clean and tidy for a two-bachelor pad.

And then there are some quite mysterious scenes that could have been for another movie. Tony tossing a football around in the street with the neighborhood kids, and giving one of them a harmonica whose real significance fallen out of the script.

The whole film is an eye-roller. But maybe it's an interesting peek into the seventies for those who never experienced it.

Enjoy. But don't expect much. Though I suppose the intent was some sort of social redemption at the end, where ALMOST everyone is having a rollicking good time. .

I saw The Set on Easter Tuesday 1969 as a 14 year old with a couple of school friends. We went to the Star Theaterette in Melbourne Australia. It was the hottest film on at the time. After a 4-6 week season at The Trak cinema, The Set moved to The Star (a theaterette playing "adult" movies.... necessary after the introduction of TV took away the theatre's livelihood in running continuous sessions of newsreels & cartoons).....and that is where we watched, with wide eyes, the fast set of Sydney society vomit across the screen! My love for camp exploitation films was made!! The promise of nudity was what attracted us, especially that of of afternoon TV guru ,Hazel Phillips...but a combination of inept acting, bad writing, sleazy plot lines, protracted nude scenes, gay and straight love scenarios and most importantly promises of big city "adventures" waiting for us when we grew up that seared an irreplaceable place in our minds.

I can't be the only one...PLEASE~release this seminal Aussie introduction into camp/bad/inept/sexploitation/gay/soap opera cinema!!