Producer-writer Frank Howson met director Pino Amenta while discussing a potential mini-series about Les Darcy. Although that project never materialized, they decided to collaborate on Boulevard of Broken Dreams.[1]
The original choice for the lead role was John Hargreaves, but when he became unavailable due to a scheduling conflict, Amenta suggested casting John Waters, who had recently worked with him on Nancy Wake.[4]
Howson later reflected on the project: "It was the first film we'd done, and it was made with a lot of commercial requirements because we weren't in the position to just make a film and hope for the best. We set out to make a film that would do well here and internationally."[5]
One of the significant changes during production was the ending. Originally, Waters' character was meant to board a plane to Los Angeles, with no one knowing he had returned home to die. However, in the final version of the film, the character is reunited with his wife and child.[5]
Howson placed significant emphasis on the film's music:
We recorded a great deal of those songs in LA with people like Richie Havens, Dan Hill, and Marc Jordan. On most Australian productions, the soundtrack tends to be done last and usually at a stage when they have almost run out of money. It suffers as a result. To me, the soundtrack is one of the most important things for the emotional balance of a film.[6]
John Waters earned an AFI Award for Best Actor for his performance in Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The film's popularity enabled Boulevard Films to secure funding for five additional movies.[1] However, reviews were generally poor.[7]
According to Filmink, "Melbourne has rarely looked more beautiful than in this movie, which has a fabulous cast and story full of potential... but is let down by its scripting."[8]
References
^ abcDavid Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p. 198-200
^"Production Survey", Cinema Papers, September 1987 p. 67