The Night the Prowler: 'Felicity is a girl of delicate sensibility'

Cracknell is hilarious as the determined and slightly deranged Doris, the mother from hell, but the scene is vicious in its satire. Several critics at the time thought it was too bitter to be really funny, or enjoyable for an audience.

The Night the Prowler synopsis

In a wealthy part of Sydney, Felicity Bannister (Kerry Walker) pretends she has been raped by a prowler, in order to take control of her own life. Her neurotic mother (Ruth Cracknell) is more worried about her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Her father (John Frawley) is concerned that she’s no longer a virgin. As the family’s fragile structure crumbles, Felicity becomes a prowler herself.

The Night the Prowler curator's notes

The Night the Prowler is based on a short story by Patrick White, one of the greatest novelists Australia has produced, but this was his first screenplay and it shows, in a tendency toward over-statement. The film is a savage satire on the neuroses of the privileged of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where White lived, and the director Jim Sharman grew up. Much of the satire verges on invective, and the film was criticised for being ponderous, pretentious and condescending. Parts of it are like that – especially some of the dialogue – but the film also has some moments where everything works.

White’s bitter humour is then matched by Jim Sharman’s playfully surreal visual sense, and the fine performances of Kerry Walker and Ruth Cracknell. The film also had its defenders, who saw a lot of truth in its depiction of a dysfunctional family. ‘The Night the Prowler is the most ambitious film involving family relationships yet produced in Australia’, wrote critic Adrian Martin in 1980.

Notes by Paul Byrnes

Education Notes

This clip shows Doris Bannister (Ruth Cracknell) on the phone, discussing the prospect of the marriage of her daughter Felicity (Kerry Walker) to John (John Derum), a rising young diplomat. When Felicity arrives home, Doris tries to discover when John is coming to visit. Later that night, Doris again tries to get a response from Felicity, who deliberately refuses to indulge her manipulative mother. When John finally does visit, Doris fusses about and then contrives to leave him alone with Felicity while she gets dinner.

Educational value points

• The clip raises issues about family relationships, expectations and pressure. Family expectations and pressure can be positive influences, helping to challenge or motivate an individual. If however they are unrealistic, or are not what the individual desires for themselves, then expectations can have an negative effect, as in the case of Felicity whose mother wants her to marry a man in whom she has no interest.

• The Night the Prowler is an example of tragicomedy, also known as black comedy, a blending of the genres of tragedy and comedy that was popularised in the mid-20th century, particularly in British theatre. Well-known exponents include Samuel Beckett, Tom Stoppard and Harold Pinter.

• The Night the Prowler is based on a short story by Patrick White, one of Australia’s greatest authors. White (1912–90) was twice winner of the Miles Franklin Award, and was the Australian Literature Society’s Gold Medallist on three occasions. He is the only Australian writer to have won the Nobel Prize for Literature (in 1973, for The Eye of the Storm). His extensive body of literature includes novels, poetry, short fiction and plays, including The Aunt’s Story, The Burnt Ones, Big Toys, The Vivisector, The Tree of Man, Voss, The Solid Mandala: A Novel and Riders in the Chariot.

• The clip features Ruth Cracknell, one of Australia’s most celebrated actors. Cracknell (1925–2002) was much loved for her signature role as Maggie Beare in the long-running ABC television series Mother and Son. Her acting career spanned more than 50 years and included radio, revue, theatre, television and film. Her film credits include Lillian’s Story, Spider and Rose, Emerald City, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (for which she won a Sammy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1977). Television credits include The Dismissal, The Importance of Being Earnest, Alice to Nowhere and Seven Little Australians.

• Director Jim Sharman deliberately increased the colour grading of this film to emphasise the colours in a generally subdued suburban interior, and the golden hues, pinks and oranges in the day scenes balance the rich blues that predominate in the night scene. Sharman is well known for his international stage productions, including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Rocky Horror Show.

Education notes provided by The Learning Federation and Education Services Australia