Harlequin (1980)

March 28, 1980 (AU) • Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery • 95m

Overview

Up-and-coming senator Nick Rast's young son is terminally ill with leukemia. A mysterious faith healer, Gregory Wolfe, appears and seems to cure the boy. Rast's wife Sandy falls in love with Wolfe, but the powerful interests behind Rast's career, represented by geriatric monster Doc Wheelan are less happy with events.

Director

Simon Wincer

Writer

Everett De Roche

Top Billed

Robert Powell

Keywords

magic senator illusion leukemia sorcerer psychic

Where to watch

Rent

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Top Billed Cast

Robert Powell

Gregory Wolfe

David Hemmings

Nick Rast

Carmen Duncan

Sandra Rast

Broderick Crawford

Doc Wheelan

Gus Mercurio

Mr. Bergier

Alan Cassell

Mr. Porter

Mark Spain

Alex Rast

Alyson Best

Alice

Sean Myers

Benny Lucas

Mary Simpson

Zoe Cayce

Neville Teede

Dr. Barthelemy

Anne-Marie Mackay

Miss Edith Twist

John Frawley

Dr. Lovelock

Nita Pannell

Mabel Wheelan

David Hough

Mr. Jepson

Klaus Schultz

Arthur

Peter West

Godfrey

Maurie Ogden

Prison Officer

Jack Ferrari

Eli Steele

Jeremy Sims

Young Boy on Raft

Toby Amoore

Young Boy on Raft

Sebastian Hunsley

Young Boy on Raft

Julia Moody

Reporter

Leslie Wright

Mayor

Adele Cohen

Mayoress

Ramsay McLean

Broadcaster

John Brownbridge

Police Officer with Binoculars (uncredited)

Nicole Dehring

Party Hostess (uncredited)

Bevan Lee

Mr. Robinson

Crew

Simon Wincer

Director

Adrian Carr

Editor

Gary Hansen

Director of Photography

Antony I. Ginnane

Producer

William Fayman

Executive Producer

Caroline Stanton

Continuity

Russell Hagg

Script Editor

Neill D. Hicks

Additional Dialogue

Jenny Miles

Third Assistant Director

Daro Gunzburg

Production Assistant

Vicki Rowland

Wardrobe Assistant

Everett De Roche

Screenplay

Lois Hohenfels

Makeup Artist

Virginia Bieneman

Draughtsman

Noel Butler

Construction Grip

Peter West

Stunt Coordinator

Brian May

Conductor

Ross Skiffington

Creative Consultant

Lynette Thorburn

Publicist

Owen Paterson

Assistant Art Director

Jeremy Robbins

Clapper Loader

Lynn Barker

Production Accountant

Roger Savage

Recording Supervision

Russell Naughton

Assistant Music Supervisor

Cheryl Williams

Hairdresser

Mark J. Wasiutak

Boom Operator

Willie Kay

Creative Consultant

Michael McKeag

First Assistant Director

Wayne Smith

Construction Grip

Conrad Rothmann

Special Effects

Sylvia Van Wyk

Producer's Assistant

Terry Rodman

ADR & Dubbing

Gary Wilkins

Sound Recordist

Robin Morgan

Grip

Jon George

Additional Dialogue

Grant Harris

Second Assistant Director

Peter Fenton

Sound Mixer

Peter Moss

Camera Operator

Jane Scott

Associate Producer

Michael Langton

Construction Grip

Steve Lambeth

Assistant Sound Editor

Margaret Cardin

Negative Cutter

Bernard Hides

Production Designer

Michael Dore

Construction Grip

Chris Murray

Special Effects Assistant

Ross Erickson

Key Grip

Jan Kenny

Focus Puller

Peter Sands

Construction Grip

Roger Cowland

Visual Effects

William Fayman

Presenter

Brian May

Original Music Composer

Steve Courtley

Construction Manager

Nicholas Clark

Still Photographer

Arthur Cambridge

Colorist

Terry Ryan

Costume Designer

Clark Munro

Props

Steve Lambeth

ADR & Dubbing

Reg Garside

Best Boy Electric

Mick Morris

Gaffer

Jennifer Barty

Production Secretary

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 6/10

September 10, 2025

**_What if Rasputin wormed his way into a political family in the modern day?_**

A senator and his wife in SoCal (David Hemmings and Carmen Duncan) are puzzled by the sudden appearance of a peculiar man (Robert Powell) who seems to have the power to heal their son suffering from leukemia. Broderick Crawford is on hand as a looming political kingpin.

Shot in 1979, "Harlequin" debuted in Australia in 1980, but didn’t make it to America until 1983-84. It was inspired by Grigori Rasputin, the mystic and faith healer who influenced the imperial family in Saint Petersburg of prerevolutionary Russia from 1906 till his assassination in late 1916. This was meshed with the harlequin from Italian theater. What makes the flick interesting is that the eponymous character is portrayed by the actor who played Jesus Christ in the television epic “Jesus of Nazareth” a few years earlier. Interestingly, David Bowie was originally intended for the challenging role.

While shot in Perth, producers disguised this fact to boost international sales, making the setting of the story America with references to American states and the political system thereof. This was helped by the inclusion of British and American actors, as well as Alan Cassell's voice being dubbed into an American accent. Doing so was controversial because the film was made with money from Australian taxpayers. Nevertheless, viewers KNOW it’s not America once Sandra Rast gets into her car and drives from the right side (lol).

While some parts of the score are dated and questionable, there are enough intriguing elements for those interested. Alyson Best appears in a few scenes and is a highlight on the beauty front. Meanwhile the senator played by Hemmings comes off as Trump in his 50s.

It runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and is also known as “Dark Forces” and “The Minister's Magician.”

GRADE: B-

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Harlequin (1980)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Wuchak

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