The Night Nurse is a 1978 Australian television film about the relationship between a former opera star and her night nurse.[1]

The Night Nurse
Written byRon McLean
Directed byIgor Auzins
StarringKate Fitzpatrick
Kay Taylor
Music byPeter Clark
Jimmy Sloggett
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRobert Bruning
CinematographyRussell Boyd
EditorTrevor Ellis
Running time75 mins
Production companyGemini Productions
Budget$105,000[1]
Original release
NetworkSeven Network
Release5 November 1978 (1978-11-05)

It was produced by Bruning's Gemini Productions.[2]

Plot

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Prudence wants to become independent of her artist ex-boyfriend Rick, and so she arrives at the grand home of The Diva, a once famous opera singer, to interview for a night nurse position. Instantly hired by the septuagenarian, she soon begins to experience odd things. And the other staff member, stone faced Clara, shows Prudence nothing but resentment, and clearly wants her gone. Prudence soon learns that all is not what it seems in this household, leading her to a ghastly discovery and to unearth dangerous secrets from the past.

Cast

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Production

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Bruning had made four TV movies for Channel Seven which had rated well. This prompted the network to commission six more from Bruning of which The Night Nurse was the first.[3] These were made for a cost of $750,000. "It's the largest order of locally made product ever," said Greg Brown of Seven "and we are sure viewers will be impressed."[4]

Reception

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Don Groves of the Sydney Morning Herald called it "an old fashioned blood curdling thriller" and "a first rate yarn".[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p112
  2. ^ Beilby, Peter; Murray, Scott (September–October 1979). "Robert Bruning". Cinema Papers. pp. 517–519.
  3. ^ "Selling our films to the world". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 May 1977. p. 47.
  4. ^ "Gather around for a 'woman's picture'". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1977. p. 105.
  5. ^ "Critics Corner". Sydney Morning Herald Archive. 20 January 1980. p. 74.
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