Black Rain (1977)
The Last Wave (original title)Reference View | Change View
- PG
- 1h 46min
- Drama, Fantasy
- Jan 1979 (USA)
- Movie
A Sydney lawyer defends five Aboriginal Persons in a ritualized taboo murder and in the process learns disturbing things about himself and premonitions.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 4 wins & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Richard Chamberlain | ... |
David Burton
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Olivia Hamnett | ... |
Annie Burton
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| David Gulpilil | ... |
Chris Lee
(as Gulpilil)
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Frederick Parslow | ... |
Rev. Burton
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Vivean Gray | ... |
Dr. Whitburn
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Nandjiwarra Amagula | ... |
Charlie
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Walter Amagula | ... |
Gerry Lee
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Roy Bara | ... |
Larry
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Cedrick Lalara | ... |
Lindsey
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Morris Lalara | ... |
Jacko
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| Peter Carroll | ... |
Michael Zeadler
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Athol Compton | ... |
Billy Corman
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| Hedley Cullen | ... |
Judge
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Michael Duffield | ... |
Andrew Potter
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Wallas Eaton | ... |
Morgue Doctor
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Jo England | ... |
Babysitter
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John Frawley | ... |
Policeman
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Jennifer De Greenlaw | ... |
Zeadler's Secretary
(as Jennifer de Greenlaw)
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Richard Henderson | ... |
Prosecutor
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Penny Leach | ... |
Schoolteacher
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Merv Lillie | ... |
Publican
(as Merv Lilley)
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| John Meagher | ... |
Morgue Clerk
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Guido Rametta | ... |
Guido
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Malcolm Robertson | ... |
Don Fishburn
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Greg Rowe | ... |
Carl
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Katrina Sedgwick | ... |
Sophie Burton
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Ingrid Weir | ... |
Grace Burton
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Tony Llewellyn-Jones | ... |
Guest at Party (uncredited)
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Brian Moore | ... |
Cop in Courtroom (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Weir | ||
Written by
| Peter Weir | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Tony Morphett | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Petru Popescu | ... | (screenplay) |
| Peter Weir | ... | (original idea) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Hal McElroy | ... | producer |
| Jim McElroy | ... | producer (as James McElroy) |
Music by
| Groove Myers | ... | (as Charles Wain) |
Cinematography by
| Russell Boyd | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Max Lemon | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Fletcher | ... | assistant editor |
| Justin Milne | ... | assistant editor |
| James Parsons | ... | color consultant |
Production Design by
| Goran Warff | ||
Art Direction by
| Neil Angwin | ||
Set Decoration by
| Billy Malcolm | ... | (as Bill Malcolm) / (set decorater) |
Costume Design by
| Annie Bleakley | ||
Makeup Department
| Lloyd James | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| José Luis Pérez | ... | hair stylist (as Jose Perez) / makeup artist (as Jose Perez) |
Production Management
| Ross Matthews | ... | production manager |
| Beverly Davidson | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Penny Chapman | ... | third assistant director |
| Ian Jamieson | ... | second assistant director |
| John Robertson | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Kevin Brewer | ... | property buyer: South Australia |
| Greg Brown | ... | construction manager: New South Wales |
| John Carroll | ... | property buyer: New South Wales |
| Ron Fletcher | ... | stagehand |
| Ken Hazelwood | ... | carpenter |
| Ken James | ... | stand-by propsman |
| Billy Malcolm | ... | scenic artist: set decorator |
| Clark Munro | ... | property buyer: South Australia |
| Herbert Pinter | ... | construction manager: South Australia |
| Philip Worth | ... | set maker (as Phil Worth) |
Sound Department
| Greg Bell | ... | sound editor |
| Helen Brown | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Don Connolly | ... | sound recordist |
| David Cooper | ... | boom operator |
| Phil Judd | ... | sound mixer |
| Phil Heywood | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Mont Fieguth | ... | special effects (as Monty Fieguth) |
| Robert Hilditch | ... | special effects (as Bob Hilditch) |
| Dennis Smith | ... | special effects assistant |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Alan Dunstan | ... | best boy |
| David Foreman | ... | clapper loader |
| George Greenough | ... | additional photographer |
| Klaus Jaritz | ... | additional photographer |
| Keith Johnson | ... | electrician |
| David Kynoch | ... | still photographer |
| Merv McLaughlin | ... | key grip |
| Mick Morris | ... | electrician |
| Paul Moyes | ... | electrician |
| John Seale | ... | camera operator |
| Ron Taylor | ... | additional photographer |
| Tony Tegg | ... | gaffer / lighting technician |
| Michael White | ... | assistant grip |
| David Williamson | ... | focus puller |
| Sam Bienstock | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| George Greenough | ... | underwater photographer (uncredited) |
| Ron Taylor | ... | underwater photographer (uncredited) / underwater sequences (uncredited) |
| Valerie Taylor | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) / underwater photographer (uncredited) / underwater sequences (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Daro Gunzberg | ... | stand-by wardrobe |
Location Management
| Beverly Davidson | ... | location manager: South Australia |
Music Department
| David Gulpilil | ... | musician: didgeridoo (uncredited) |
| Groove Myers | ... | music engineer (uncredited) / music producer (uncredited) / musician: synthesizer (uncredited) |
| Wahanui Wynyard | ... | music engineer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Gilda Baracchi | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Su Armstrong | ... | production secretary |
| Lance Bennett | ... | advisor: tribal Aboriginal matters |
| Penny Carl | ... | production accountant |
| Fiona Gosse | ... | secretary to producers (as Fiona Reynolds) |
| Philip Hearnshaw | ... | production assistant: New South Wales |
| Frank Manley | ... | caterer |
| Rod McMorran | ... | production assistant: New South Wales |
| Mark Patterson | ... | unit runner: South Australia |
| Derek Power | ... | sales agent |
| Brian Trenchard-Smith | ... | promotional consultant |
Production Companies
- McElroy & McElroy (production: in association with Derek Power)
- The South Australian Film Corporation (in association with)
- The Australian Film Commission (in association with)
- Last Wave Productions
Distributors
- United Artists (A-Asia) (1977) (Australia) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1977) (Non-US) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1977) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- World Northal (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Europa Film (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- CBS (1981) (United States) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1985) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1988) (Australia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1988) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Rhino Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- The Criterion Collection (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (tv)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- LW Editora (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Eurocopfilms (1979) (Italy) (theatrical)
- National Film Development Corporation (1981) (India) (theatrical)
- StraDa Films (2012) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Koch Media (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- NITV (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- TF1 (1987) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2013) (Australia) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2020) (Australia)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2020) (New Zealand)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2023) (World-wide)
- ZEE Entertainment Enterprises (2009) (India) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- M & L Casting Consultants (casting consultants)
- Panavision Australia (lenses and panaflex camera)
- Optical & Graphics (optical effects)
- Atlab (color and sound)
- Aboriginal Cultural Foundation (the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the: for their assistance in the making of this film)
- New South Wales Police Service (the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the: for their assistance in the making of this film)
- Sydney Board of Fire Commissioners (the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the: for their assistance in the making of this film)
- South Australian Police Department (the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the: for their assistance in the making of this film)
- South Australian Fire Brigade (the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the: for their assistance in the making of this film)
- Albert Studios (music recording)
- S.A. Railways (catering)
- Spectrum Films (post-production facilities)
- The South Australian Film Corporation (post-production facilities)
- The South Australian Film Corporation (set construction)
- The South Australian Film Corporation (sound post-production)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A Sydney lawyer has more to worry about than higher-than-average rainfall when he is called upon to defend five Aboriginals in court. Determined to break their silence and discover the truth behind the hidden society he suspects lives in his city, the Lawyer is drawn further, and more intimately, into a prophesy that threatens a new Armageddon, wherein all the continent shall drown.
Written by David Carroll |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Occult Forces. The Ritual Murder. The Sinister Storms. The Prophetic Dreams. The Last Wave. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | AUD810,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director Peter Weir asked tribal Aboriginal actors David Gulpilil and Nandjiwarra Amagula about the script and incorporated their reactions to the finished dialogue. See more » |
| Goofs | When Chamberlin's character leaves his office and drives in the rain the windshield wipers are moving at a fast rate. When the shot changes to inside the car the wipers are suddenly moving at a slower rate. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The North Avenue Irregulars/The Last Wave/Agatha/Norma Rae/Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1979). See more » |
| Quotes |
Chris Lee:
Dream is a shadow ... of something real. See more » |