Best of Friends, The (1982)

Melanie (Angela Punch McGregor) is the front person for a network television show based in Sydney (though we never learn what type of show it is). Her best friend for the past twenty years has been Tom (Graeme Blundell), a Catholic accountant who works in the city.

Melanie’s TV director for the past ten years has been Lilo (Henri Szeps), while her colleague and friend at work is Pammie (Sonja Tallis). Tom jogs regularly with his friend Colin (Serge Lzareff) and they hang around with co-worker Jim  (Alan Becher).

The accident-prone Tom is in the habit of driving the accident-prone Melanie to work, and they share secrets about life and lovers. Melanie reveals she hasn’t had sex for three months and her latest beau has dumped her. Tom is also at a loose end and instead of proceeding with respective dates, the pair share a meal and get seriously drunk on champagne.

Next thing, Melanie is demanding sex and Tom obliges. Soon, Melanie is pregnant. At first, Melanie is determined to stay single and bring up her child alone. But Catholic Tom feels that they should get married.

Tom seeks the counsel of his local priest Father James (Graham Rouse) and an attempt is made to hook up the two families, with Melanie’s hysterical mother Iris (Ruth Cracknell) invited to share a disastrous meal with Tom’s deaf father (Les Foxcroft) and religious mother (Moya O’Sullivan).

Melanie begins to have second thoughts and decides to date a hunk named Bruce (Mark Lee), while a flu-stricken Tom consoles himself with the attentions of curvaceous Grace (Deborah Gray).

Eventually, there’s a jealous showdown from which Bruce gracefully retreats, and after Melanie goes into a funk about having to leave her TV show until the baby – or babies – arrive, the marriage is back on.

But Tom arrives late – his company-provided BMW broke down – and Melanie faints during the service, and has to be carted off to the hospital.

The film was a flop (and a career-changing one for Angela Punch McGregor who subsequently swore off comedy) and only lasted a week or so in most domestic capital city runs.

Melanie
Angela Punch McGregor
Tom Malone
Graeme Blundell
Iris
Ruth Cracknell
Lilo
Henri Szeps
Father Jones
Graham Rouse
Mrs Malone
Moya O’Sullivan
Mr Malone
Les Foxcroft
Bruce
Mark Lee
Pammie
Sonja Tallis
Grace
Deborah Gray
Colin
Serge Lazareff
Tim
Alan Becher

Director
Michael Robertson