The presence of British film star Googie Withers gives some interest and dynamism to this tale of the WA mining boom, which is laden down with 60s clichés of society glamour and the hippy phenomenon.
Withers plays a wiley pub-owner who, acting on a rumour, pegs out a mining claim in the middle of a piece of land that Benson Mining planned to claim. Mr Benson is forced to pay her $100,000 for her claim, on the proviso that she help promote the proposed mine, and he wines and dines her at all the best places in Perth where she gets to meet what passes for Perth society.
At the same time a bunch of hippies moves into Mirribilli's crumbling station, spouting nonsense about peace and love, smoking pot and dancing to psychedelic music. The hippies are led by a tall mysterious 'guru', oddly played by conservative radio-announcer John Laws in a false wig and beard. The guru follows Meg to Perth to try and con her out of some 'bread', thus revealing the hippy movement to be a bunch of cynical conmen.
The Premier of WA and some of his ministers make an appearance in the film, as does Ed Devereux as the honest geologer who exposes Benson's stock-market hijinks.
The film is entertaining in parts, but is a bit of a mess, put together by some expat Australians from London with finance provided by WA entrepreneurs who wanted their great state to appear in a feature film. Though of some interest for its look at bits of Perth during the mining boom, the film looks very dated.
Withers plays a wiley pub-owner who, acting on a rumour, pegs out a mining claim in the middle of a piece of land that Benson Mining planned to claim. Mr Benson is forced to pay her $100,000 for her claim, on the proviso that she help promote the proposed mine, and he wines and dines her at all the best places in Perth where she gets to meet what passes for Perth society.
At the same time a bunch of hippies moves into Mirribilli's crumbling station, spouting nonsense about peace and love, smoking pot and dancing to psychedelic music. The hippies are led by a tall mysterious 'guru', oddly played by conservative radio-announcer John Laws in a false wig and beard. The guru follows Meg to Perth to try and con her out of some 'bread', thus revealing the hippy movement to be a bunch of cynical conmen.
The Premier of WA and some of his ministers make an appearance in the film, as does Ed Devereux as the honest geologer who exposes Benson's stock-market hijinks.
The film is entertaining in parts, but is a bit of a mess, put together by some expat Australians from London with finance provided by WA entrepreneurs who wanted their great state to appear in a feature film. Though of some interest for its look at bits of Perth during the mining boom, the film looks very dated.