Evil Angels (1988)

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

John Bryson (novel)
Robert Caswell (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A family torn apart. A public filled with outrage. A woman accused of murder.

Plot:

The story of a mother whose child was killed in an animal attack, only to have herself accused of the infant's murder

Plot Keywords:

Media | Australia | Dingo | Police | Baby

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Lindy Chamberlain
Sam Neill	...	Michael Chamberlain
Dale Reeves	...	Aidan, 6 years
David Hoflin	...	Aidan, 8 years
Jason Reason	...	Aidan, 11 years
Michael Wetter	...	Reagan, 4 years
Kane Barton	...	Reagan, 6 years
Trent Roberts	...	Reagan, 9 years
Lauren Shepherd	...	Azaria
Bethany Ann Prickett	...	Azaria
Alison O'Connell	...	Azaria
Aliza Dason	...	Azaria
Jane Coker	...	Kahlia, new born
Rae-Leigh Henson	...	Kahlia, 18 months
Nicolette Minster	...	Kahlia, 4 years
Brian James	...	Cliff Murchison
Dorothy Alison	...	Avis Murchison
Maurie Fields	...	Barritt
Peter Hosking	...	Macknay
Matthew Barker	...	O'Loughlin
Bruce Kilpatrick	...	Peter Dean
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Muirhead
Bruce Myles	...	Barker
Neil Fitzpatrick	...	Phillips
Dennis Miller	...	Sturgess
Lewis Fitz-Gerald	...	Tipple
Brendan Higgins	...	Kirkham
Ian Swan	...	Cavanagh
Sandy Gore	...	Joy Kuhl
Kevin Miles	...	Professor Cameron
Edgar Metcalfe	...	Dr. Brown
Gary Files	...	Professor Chaikin
Peter Aanensen	...	Sims
Jon Finlayson	...	Professor Boettcher
David Ravenswood	...	Professor Nairn
Roderick Williams	...	Les Harris
Eve Godly	...	The Jury
Reg Evans	...	The Jury
Douglas Hedge	...	The Jury
James Wright	...	The Jury
Luciano Catenacci	...	The Jury
Bill Johnston	...	The Jury
Robin Dene	...	The Jury
Geoffrey O'Connell	...	The Jury
Michael Croft	...	The Jury
George Viskich	...	The Jury
Merrin Canning	...	The Jury
Valma Pratt	...	The Jury
Jim Holt	...	John Eldridge
John Howard	...	Lyle Morris
Frankie J. Holden	...	Leslie Thompson (as Frank Holden)
Tim Robertson	...	Wallace
Patsy Stephen	...	Anne Houghton
Ian Gilmour	...	John Buckland
Peter Sardi	...	De Luca
Bill Garner	...	Mark Furnell
Marion McKenzie	...	Monya Chatfield
Johnny Quinn	...	Frank Kennedy
Deborra-Lee Furness	...	Magazine reporter
Chuck Faulkner	...	Conrad Grey
Pat Thomson	...	Sandra Kambouris
Terrie Waddell	...	Mary Walsh
James Higgins	...	Chandla
Quentin MacLaine	...	Stanbury (as Quentin Maclaine)
Greta Mendoza	...	Additional Journalist
Vincent Vaccari	...	Additional Journalist
Abbe Holmes	...	Additional Journalist (as Abby Holmes)
David Wilson	...	Additional Journalist
John Heywood	...	David Hall
John Allan	...	Ted Jackson
Peter Byrne	...	George Samson
Maureen Edwards	...	Kate Woodman
Justin Gaffney	...	Colin McRae
Lynn Ruthven	...	Alice Steel (as Lynne Ruthven)
Bruce Carter	...	Newsreader
Peter Flett	...	Boshoff
Linda McConchie	...	Conrad Grey's Guest (as Lindy McConchie)
Charles Dance	...	TV Panel Guest
James Condon	...	Reginald Scholes
James Taylor	...	Justice Gallagher (as James K. Taylor)
Mike Person	...	Newsreader (as Mike Perso)
Philip Holder	...	Newsreader
Nick Tate	...	Charlwood
Mervyn Drake	...	Gilroy
Vincent Gil	...	Roff
Burt Cooper	...	Golligan
Mark Little	...	Constable Morris
Tony Martin	...	Lincoln
Bruce Venables	...	Metcalfe
Lawrence Held	...	Plumb
Paul Young	...	Sgt. Cocks
Trevor Kent	...	Bomb Scare Policeman
Iain Murton	...	Operation Ochre Policeman
Daryl Pellizzer	...	Beer Garden Policeman
Bill McCluskey	...	Greg Lowe
Debra Lawrance	...	Sally Lowe
Sunday Rennie	...	Chantelle Lowe
Warwick Moss	...	Bill West
Brenda Addie	...	Judy West
Emma Crapper	...	Catherine West
Caroline Gillmer	...	Amy Whittaker
Reg Gorman	...	Mr. Whittaker
Kate Gorman	...	Rosalie Whittaker
Steve Dodd	...	Nipper Winmatti
David Bradshaw	...	Murray Haby
Sally Cooper	...	Bobby Downs
Jeff Truman	...	Mr. McCombe
Marilynne Paspaley	...	Mrs. McCombe
Patricia Thompson	...	Flo Wilkins
Peter Corbett	...	Barber
Jan Friedl	...	Ininti Store Manageress
Beverly Gardiner	...	Soup Lady
Janette Kearns	...	Soup Lady
Pintapinta	...	Nuwe
Alice Nampitjimba	...	Barbara
Yuyuya Nampitijimba	...	Daisy
Grahame Litchfield	...	Truckie (as Graham Litchfield)
Bill Kupfer	...	Truckie
Don Reid	...	Pastor Kennaway
Susan Leith	...	Jenny Richards
Alan Hopgood	...	President Cox
Bruce Clarkson	...	Les Smith
Bob Baines	...	Chief Minister
Ian McFadyen	...	Attorney-General
Maggie Millar	...	Sister
Ruby Hunter	...	Prisoner Rhoda
Ron Falk	...	Pastor Olsen
Billie Hammerberg	...	Mrs. Herron
Don Bridges	...	Farmer
John Bishop	...	Salesman
Roy Thompson	...	Truckie
George Harlem	...	Factory Worker
Peter Tabor	...	TV Producer
David Kirkpatrick	...	TV Film Editor
Gary Samolin	...	School Teacher
Mark Mitchell	...	School Teacher
Glenn Robbins	...	Young Father
Robert Ratti	...	Fruiterer
Shane Gooch	...	Butcher
Peter Mazaris	...	Florist
Marijke Mann	...	Dinner Party
Eleonara Varrenti	...	Dinner Party (as Eleanora Varenti)
Peter Tulloch	...	Dinner Party
Paul Karo	...	Lecturer
Julian Branagan	...	Student
Andrew Maj	...	Student
Gillian Norwood	...	Tennis Lady
Max Davidson	...	Bowler
John Ford	...	Bowler
Marty Fields	...	Commuter
Tim Bell	...	Barrister (as Timothy Bell)
John Larking	...	Barrister
John Hannan	...	Trendie
Beth Child	...	Trendie
Kim Gyngell	...	Actor
Ray Hare	...	Actor
Paula Ruzek	...	Editor
Rick Yacoubian	...	Executive (as Rick Yakubian)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Wallace	...	Pauling
Doris Younane
Noel Ballantine	...	Searcher (uncredited)
Mark Clarke	...	Northern Territory Police Officer (uncredited)
Louise Siversen	...	Jenny Miller (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Schepisi

Writing credits
John Bryson		(novel "Evil Angels")
Robert Caswell		(screenplay) and
Fred Schepisi		(screenplay)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	executive producer
Menahem Golan	....	executive producer
Verity Lambert	....	producer
Roy Stevens	....	line producer

Original Music by
Bruce Smeaton

Cinematography by
Ian Baker

Film Editing by
Jill Bilcock

Casting by
Rhonda Schepisi

Production Design by
Wendy Dickson
George Liddle

Art Direction by
Dale Duguid
Brian Edmonds

Costume Design by
Bruce Finlayson

Makeup Department
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: Ms. Streep
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist: Ms. Streep
Noriko Watanabe	....	makeup artist (as Norika Spencer)
Cheryl Williams	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Michael Batchelor	....	unit manager
Peter Beilby	....	post-production supervisor: Entertainment Media
Tic Carroll	....	unit manager
Carol Hughes	....	production manager
James Legge	....	assistant unit manager (as Jamie Legge)
Emma Schofield	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director (as Steve Andrews)
John Meredith	....	third assistant director
Philip A. Patterson	....	second assistant director (as Phil Patterson)
Toby Pease	....	second assistant director
Janine Schepisi	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Wayne Allan	....	carpenter (as Wayne Allen)
Ian Baxter	....	carpenter
Glen Christensen	....	carpenter
Philip Drake	....	assistant art director (as Phil Drake)
Brian Dusting	....	prop buyer
Jill Eden	....	set dresser
Tim Eiseman	....	carpenter
Peter Forbes	....	prop buyer
Anne Fowler	....	construction assistant
Alan Goode	....	carpenter (as Alan Good)
Michael Hall	....	construction assistant
Jien Hong	....	construction assistant
Wendy Huxford	....	art department coordinator
Chris James	....	stand-by props
Gus Lobb	....	set finisher
Alex Matagi	....	brush hand
Michael Mercurio	....	stand-by props assistant
Liz Meyers	....	painter's assistant
Barry Muir	....	carpenter
Brendan Mullen	....	leading hand
Richard Overy	....	carpenter
Tony Piliotis	....	set finisher
John Pryce-Jones	....	assistant art director
Ian Richter	....	scenic artist
Michael Rumpf	....	prop buyer
Phillip Schemnitz	....	draughtperson
Ashley Schepisi	....	assistant set dresser
Mark Schultz	....	construction assistant
Adam Smigielski	....	set finisher (as Adam Smiyielski)
George Sotiropoulos	....	carpenter
Catherine South	....	art department assistant (as Cathy South)
Ray Taylor	....	leading hand
Patricia Thompson	....	art department liaison
Jeffrey Thorp	....	art department runner (as Jeff Thorp)
Alan Wade	....	carpenter
Viv Wilson	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Anne Breslin	....	assistant sound editor (as Annie Breslin)
Craig Carter	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Chau	....	sound editor
Ann Ellingworth	....	post-production sound coordinator
Peter Fenton	....	dialogue mixer
Geoffrey Hall	....	assistant sound editor
James Harvey	....	assistant sound editor
John Herron	....	foley recordist
Phil Heywood	....	foley artist
Phil Heywood	....	sound effects editor
David Knight	....	foley recordist
Peter McBain	....	assistant sound editor
Steve Murphy	....	stereo sound engineer: Dolby (as Stephen Murphy)
Gavin Myers	....	assistant sound editor
Glenn Newnham	....	sound editor
Terry Rodman	....	supervising sound editor
Livia Ruzic	....	sound editor
Sharon Shostak	....	assistant sound editor
Mark J. Wasiutak	....	boom operator (as Mark Wasiutak)
Gary Wilkins	....	sound recordist
Eugene Wilson	....	sound transferer
Gary Woodyard	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Allardice	....	assistant grip
Scott Backhouse	....	camera maintenance
Cameron Barnett	....	grip
Gary Carden	....	assistant grip
Jim Dunwoodie	....	video operator
Chris Fleet	....	best boy
Will Gibson	....	video assistant
Geoffrey Hall	....	first assistant camera
Ian Jones	....	Steadicam operator
Ian Jones	....	camera operator
Brett Keeping	....	electrician
Ric Lawes	....	lighting assist
John Lee	....	electrician
Grahame Litchfield	....	key grip (as Graham Litchfield)
Leigh Mackenzie	....	first assistant camera
Mick Morris	....	gaffer
Peter Quinn	....	video assistant
Mark Ramsay	....	assistant grip
Roger Van Wensveen	....	video assistant
Peter White	....	second assistant camera
Vivian Zink	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Camilla Gold	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julie Barton	....	costume supervisor
Julie Barton	....	stand-by wardrobe
Sandi Cichello	....	assistant stand-by wardrobe (as Sandra Cichello)

Editorial Department
Arthur Cambridge	....	color grader
Peter Carrodus	....	assembly editor
Miriam Cortes	....	negative matcher
Heather McDermott	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Robin Gray	....	scoring engineer
Martin Oswin	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Steve Crockett	....	driver
James Legge	....	vehicle coordinator (as Jamie Legge)
Frank Mangano	....	driver
Michael McIntyre	....	assistant transportation manager
Mark Muggeridge	....	driver

Other crew
Alan Abrams	....	legal and business affairs: Cannon
Ian Anderson	....	laboratory liaison
Evanne Chesson	....	dog wrangler
Robin Clifton	....	location manager
Christina Díaz Norman	....	researcher (as Christina Norman)
Ifca Dragicevic	....	production runner
Tony Faehse	....	production assistant
Serena Gattuso	....	production secretary
Terry Lee	....	helicopter pilot
Jakki Mann	....	assistant to director
Hilary May	....	assistant to producer
Marian Page	....	publicist
Linda Ray	....	continuity
Arch Roberts	....	safety officer
Chris Smith	....	caterer
Jo Stewart	....	release script
Alex Stitt	....	title designer
Joe Straw	....	production accountant
Peter Tulloch	....	drama coach: children
Rony Yacov	....	production executive: Cannon (as Rony Yakov)
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	liaison post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Andrew Simpson	....	animal trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cannon Entertainment (presents)
• Golan-Globus Productions
• Cinema Verity (in association with)
• Evil Angels Films
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Pathé-Europa N.V. (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Forcast  casting

Also Known As:

Evil Angels (Australia) (literal title) (USA) (literal title)
A Cry in the Dark (International: English title)
Ein Schrei in der Dunkelheit (West Germany) [de]
Ett skrik i mörkret (Sweden) [sv]
Huuto pimeydestä (Finland) [fi]
Karanlikta bir çiglik (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kravgi sto skotadi (Greece) [el]
Krzyk w ciemnosci (Poland) [pl]
Um Grito de Coragem (Portugal) [pt]
Um Grito no Escuro (Brazil) [pt]
Um Grito no Esuro (Portugal) [pt]
Un cri dans la nuit (France) [fr]
Un grido nella notte (Italy) [it]
Un grito en la oscuridad (Spain) [es]
Zeaka B'Afella (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]

Runtime:

120 min | 122 min (dvd release)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Company:

Cannon Entertainment

Trivia:

[June 2008] Ranked #9 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Courtroom Drama".

Quotes:

Lindy Chamberlain: The dingo's got my baby!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Darkly Haunting

"A Cry in the Dark" is a masterful piece of cinema, haunting, and incredibly though provoking. The true story of Lindy Chamberland, who, in 1980, witnessed a horrific sight, seeing her 3-month-old baby being brutally taken from their family's tent, while camping on the Austrailian outback. Azaria (the baby) was never seen again, and the result of her horrendous disappearance caused a true life frenzy all around the world. Meryl Streep does immaculate justice to the role of Lindy, as she always does. But the one thing that helps "A Cry in the Dark" never fall flat is the brilliant direction. A truly inspired and accurate outlook on this baffeling case, tears are brought to the eyes. The concept is nothing less then terrifying, and afterwards you are left haunted, but also inspired.