Fortress (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Arch Nicholson

Writers:

Everett De Roche (screenplay)
Gabrielle Lord (novel)

Release Date:

31 July 1986 (Australia)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

For one teacher and nine children, the lesson of the day is kill or be killed.

Plot:

An Australian school teacher and her students are kidnapped. She and the children fight for their lives and try to escape from their captors.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | School | Violence | Body Part | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Garlick	...	Sid
Rachel Ward	...	Sally Jones
Elaine Cusick	...	Mrs. O'Brien
Laurie Moran	...	Mr. O'Brien
Marc Aden	...	Tommy (as Marc Gray)
Ray Chubb	...	Publican
Bradley Meehan	...	Richard
Rebecca Rigg	...	Narelle
Beth Buchanan	...	Leanne
Asher Keddie	...	Sue
Anna Crawford	...	Sarah
Richard Terrill	...	Toby
Vernon Wells	...	Dabby Duck
Peter Hehir	...	Father Christmas
David Bradshaw	...	Pussy Cat

Runtime:

85 min | USA:88 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Crawford Productions

Trivia:

According to the "Australian Motion Picture Yearbook 1981/82", during this film's development, Robert Stigwood's production company R and R Films and director Bruce Beresford were originally slated as being on board for the movie. This however, would change.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Father Christmas mask is definitely burned, but later, Tommy wears it.

Quotes:

Leanne: Hey, that's like us; WE'VE got a trophy, too.

Movie Connections:

References "Gilligan's Island" (1964)

What Memories This Movie Brings Back

Point blank this movie flashed me back to 3rd grade spring time or 4th grade fall of 1985. Vividly I remember sleeping over my friends house and telling him about this movie Fortress that I had just seen and he was eager to see it after I went on and on about it. Something was magical that night because about an hour later he turned on HBO and the movie was just starting. I remember we watched it and we both loved it. All through the years growing up it was our little inside laugh.....we would talk about Father Christmas......haha. I thought about the movie frequently growing up but never ever ever saw it again on TV or any channels such as HBO or Cinemax or Showtime. About two weeks ago while looking through my Comcast cable at 3 in the morning I came across Fortress coming on the next day on HBO and I set my DVR to record it and just watched it last night. I felt like a kid again.....and I couldn't believe how my memory flashed back and I knew pretty much everything that was coming up before it happened. I'm 29 years old and haven't seen that movie in 21 years. Wow!!!!!!!! Still Fantastic as it was when I was a child.......... Hope I didn't bore you to death.....maybe some others can relate to my little story and feel the same way about this movie.

Tommy New Jersey