27A

1974
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A middle-aged "metho" drinker joins Alcoholics Anonymous and undergoes a psychiatric examination. As a consequence, he is committed to a hospital for the criminally insane, to be detained in... Read allA middle-aged "metho" drinker joins Alcoholics Anonymous and undergoes a psychiatric examination. As a consequence, he is committed to a hospital for the criminally insane, to be detained indefinitely under the notorious Section 27A of the Queensland Mental Health Act.A middle-aged "metho" drinker joins Alcoholics Anonymous and undergoes a psychiatric examination. As a consequence, he is committed to a hospital for the criminally insane, to be detained indefinitely under the notorious Section 27A of the Queensland Mental Health Act.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins total

Photos1

Top cast36

Edit

Bill Hunter

Cornish

Robert McDarra

Bill

David Curtiss

Doctor

Haydn Keenan

Jeffrey

John Faasen

Office Boss

Brian Doyle

Lynch

Gary McFeeter

Samuel

James Kemp

Slattery

Tom Farley

Jim Doherty

Suicide

Peter Gailey

Co-Escapee

Graham Corry

Peter Newman

Bob Lee

Mullet Gut

Rick Creaser

Jeremy
(as Richard Creaser)

Philip Jay

Old Psychiatrist
(as Phil Jay)

Rick Ireland

Benjamin

Richard Moir

Richard
(as T. Richard Moir)

Michael Norton

Mark

Director
- Esben Storm
Writer
- Esben Storm
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1

6.250

Featured reviews

7uds3

Who's criminally insane here, Bill Donald or the enforcers of the Queensland Health Act?

Extreme thought-provoking docudrama here.

Based on a true story, Bill Donald is a middle-aged loser, and an alcoholic who finally turns to AA for assistance. Following a psychiatric examination and by invoking the notorious Queensland Health Act No 27A, authorities commit Bill to a hospital for the criminally insane, pending his ability to prove himself eligible for release.

This is the story of one man's challenge to the validity of the Law. Bill Donald may be a liar, a cheat, an entrenched alcoholic..but he is also just one man trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare.

Esben Storm has done a fine job with this film, it is compulsive viewing. Robert McDarra also, hands in a more than capable characterisation of Bill Donald, not an easy role to play here.

Recommended entertainment in my opinion.

Trivia
This film's opening prologue states: "Under Section 27A of the Queensland Mental Health Act a prisoner may be transferred from a Prison to a Mental Institution and held there beyond the original sentence, indefinitely".

Goofs
Seen when doctor is told of Billy's escape,.at 24:30.

Crazy credits
We wish to thank the St. John of God Brotherhood for their kind co-operation in allowing us to shoot at "Belmont Park" psychiatric hospital. The views expressed in this film do not in any away reflect on the humanitarian practices of the Brotherhood.