Don’s Party (1976)

When you mix a left-wing teacher, a loud-mouthed philanderer, a mild-mannered accountant, a failed philosopher, a 19-year-old nymphette, a frustrated wife, a drunken pornographer, a temperamental artist and an arrogant dentist with a lot of booze on election night, anything can happen . . .

Adapted by David Williamson from his own hit stage play, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bruce Beresford, and starring the A-list of 1970s Australian talent (including Graham Kennedy, John Hargreaves, Graeme Blundell and Ray Barrett), Don’s Party is a crowd-pleasing Aussie favourite.

It’s federal election night on 25 October 1969, and Don and Kath Henderson (John Hargreaves and Jeanie Drynan) are hosting a party at their home in the (fictitious) suburb of Lower Plenty to celebrate what they expect will be a Labor victory for Gough Whitlam over John Gorton after 20 years of conservative government.

Most of their friends vote for Labor, but as the television results dash their hopes, the men devote their energies to drinking and debauchery with the younger women while their wives and girlfriends scowl.

There are punch-ups, match-ups, feel-ups and knock-backs as disappointment takes over from hope.

Don’s Party was filmed at a real house at 7 Windam Place in Westleigh in the Upper North Shore of Sydney.

Mal
Ray Barrett
Susie
Claire Binney
Jenny
Pat Bishop
Simon
Graeme Blundell
Don Henderson
John Hargreaves
Kath Henderson
Jeanie Drynan
Cooley
Harold Hopkins
Mack
Graham Kennedy
Jody
Veronica Lang
Kerry
Candy Raymond
Evan
Kit Taylor
John Gorton
John Gorton

Director
Bruce Beresford

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