Themes: Mind Games, Cons and Scams, Woman In Jeopardy
Main Cast: Phil Collins, Hugo Weaving, Josephine Byrnes, Peter Mochrie, Helen O'Connor
Release Year: 1993
Country: UK/AU
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Pop star Phil Collins abandoned his usually sunny persona for a more sinister role in this unusual comedy thriller from Australia. Jonathan Wheats (Hugo Weaving) and his best friend Michael Allen (Peter Mochrie) have a fondness for pranks and a childish sense of humor that is a frequent source of aggravation for his wife Beth (Josephine Byrnes). One night, Beth arrives home in the midst of a robbery. She impulsively grabs a crossbow and kills the masked intruder, who appears to be Michael. While the law clears Beth in what is judged to be an accidental death, Jonathan files the claim on the stolen property including a silver cutlery set. But the insurance company sends out Roland Copping (Collins) to investigate the crime; Copping has a strange kind of wit to rival Jonathan's, as well as a bitter and vengeful streak against the couple who he feels are trying to cheat him. Frauds was the debut feature for writer and director Stephan Elliott, whose next film would be the international hit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Rebel Russell - Mother; Colleen Clifford - Mrs. Waterson; Nicholas Hammond - Detective Simms; Kee Chan - Detective Alan; Vincent Ball - Judge; Al Clark - Barry Gribble; Gandhi MacIntyre - Cartel Valuer; Andrew McMahon - Young Mathew; Mitchell McMahon - Young Roland
Credit
Alison Barrett - Casting, Fiona Spence - Costume Designer, Keith Heygate - First Assistant Director, John Martin - First Assistant Director, Stephan Elliot - Director, Frans Vandenburg - Editor, Rebel Russell - Executive Producer, Guy Gross - Composer (Music Score), Wendy Freeman - Makeup, Brian Thomson - Production Designer, Geoff Burton - Cinematographer, Andrena Finlay - Producer, Rebel Penfold-Russell - Producer, Stephan Elliot - Screenwriter
