Frank Bren (7 September 1943 – 14 April 2018) was an Australian actor, playwright/dramatist, director, translator and author, who was a scholar of international film history. He has written books (on the histories of Polish and Hong Kong cinema), written plays, and acted in Australian film and television roles.
Books and articles Frank Bren was a scholar of Polish cinema and Chinese cinema film history. His book World Cinema 1: Poland (University of Illinois Press, 1989) is one of the premier resources on the history of Polish cinema.Marek Haltof, Polish National Cinema, Berghahn Books, 2002 (Introduction).Janina Falkowska, Slavic Review, Vol. 62, No. 3, p. 592 (2003).
His book (with Law Kar), Hong Kong Cinema: A Cross-Cultural View (The Scarecrow Press, 2004) is one of the few books to thoroughly document the very early history of Hong Kong cinema, dating back to its beginnings in the 19th century.Review of "Hong Kong Cinema: A Cross-Cultural View" by China Quarterly, reproduced by The Scarecrow Press
Bren was writing a biography of French filmmaker and comedian, Pierre Étaix.
Bren has also written articles on film for international journals such as Far Eastern Economic Review, Screen International, Films and Filming, as well as for newspapers such as Libération and The Asian Wall Street Journal.
Acting career Film, television and stage Frank Bren played Colin "The Snake" Adder in Mark Savage's film Sensitive New Age Killer, and co-starred in the Craig Addison movie Betel Nut Girl. He also played two recurring roles, as twin brothers Colin Taylor and Alf Taylor, in the popular Australian TV series Neighbours during the 1990s. In addition, he played "Mr. Nicholson" in the film Hating Alison Ashley. He was preparing a biopic of Chinese-American film director Esther Eng.
In all, Bren has acted in over a dozen roles in Australian television series and movies, including The Flying Doctors, Blue Heelers and Stingers.
Frank Bren wrote and starred in the play A History of Motion Pictures, which ran at La Mama Theatre (Melbourne).Review of "A History of Motion Pictures" from Australian Stage, 4 May 2007.A History of Motion Pictures , AusStage He has also written and starred in about a dozen plays since 1967, with runs in London, Amsterdam, and Melbourne. Some of the other plays he both wrote and starred in are The Rise and Fall of Archie Jones (1968),The Rise and Fall of Archie Jones , AusStage Have You Noticed Your Leg Is Missing? (1969),"Have You Noticed Your Leg Is Missing?" , AusStage Odyssey of a Bald Man (1970),Odyssey of a Bald Man , AusStage Larceny Makes No Noise (1988),Larceny Makes No Noise , AusStage"A Crime Thriller Comedy" by Jason Romney, The Age, Entertainment Guide section, 30 September 1988, p. 7 (available here via Google News Archive, retrieved on 6 February 2014). Muckrake (1989),Muckrake , AusStage Honest! (1993),Honest! , AusStage and Flashback (1997).Flashback , AusStage
Death Frank Bren died from cancer, aged 74, on 14 April 2018, at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.Frank Bren , The AgeFrank Desmond Bren, Legacy A tribute to his life was held at La Mama Theatre,In Memoriam Frank Bren - Pictures from the tribute to his life held at La Mama , Film Alert 101 and further tributes were written by writer John Snadden and film director Mark Savage.Vale Frank Bren - Actor, writer, director, scholar, critic - Friends John Snadden and Mark Savage remember , Film Alert 101
Filmography (selected) Title Year Role Life at Stake (TV series) 1978Hostage The Flying Doctors 1989 Vince Boys from the Bush (TV series) 1991 Vince Pugwall & Pugwall's Summer (TV series) 1989-1991 Dr. Pongerton Boney (TV series) 1992 Rabbit Funky Squad (TV series) 1995 Neighbours (TV series) 1994-1995 Colin Taylor/Alf Taylor Good Guys Bad Guys: Only the Good Die Young (TV movie) 1997 Bookie Blue Heelers (TV series) 1998 Ronnie Fennell Sensitive New Age Killer 2000 Colin 'The Snake' Adder Bootleg (Tv miniseries) 2002 Shopkeeper Trail of Passion (Video) 2003 Mal MDA (TV series) 2003 Dr. Kenneth Patching Stinger (TV series) 2002-2004 Eduardo Hating Alison Ashley 2005 Mr. Nicholson Bastard Boys (TV miniseries) 2007 Barrister Betel Nut Girl 2013 Jack
Notes
External links Official pages FrankBren.com – personal website
Reference material Interview with Frank Bren about Neighbours Review of A History of Motion Pictures (from Australian Stage) Hong Kong Cinema: A Cross-Cultural View (The Scarecrow Press)