For Love Alone is a 1986 Australian film directed by Stephen Wallace, and starring Helen Buday, Hugo Weaving and Sam Neill. The screenplay was written by Wallace, based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Christina Stead. It marked Naomi Watts' film debut. The film was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot In the 1930s, Teresa (Buday) is a naive young woman dealing with the oppressive attitudes of society and her father's austere ways. She has a fling with university Latin professor Jonathan Crow (Weaving). It takes her some time to realize that he does not desire a serious relationship. Teresa then starts dating liberal-minded banker James Quick (Neill). Once she's settled down with Quick, the idealistic Teresa becomes enamored with another intellectual, poet Harry (Williams). Quick encourages the affair, hoping that Teresa will come to realize that there's more to true love than mere sexual impulsivity.
Cast Actor Role Helen Buday Teresa Sam Neill James Quick Hugo Weaving Jonathan Crow Huw Williams Harry Hugh Keays-Byrne Andrew Odile Le Clezio Kitty Naomi Watts Leo's girlfriend Nicholas Opolski Denise Roberts Mrs Ashley
Production The film was a pet project for producer Margaret Fink who took six years to raise finance. The bulk of the money came from a pre-sale to Greater Union and from UA. Fink had been impressed by Stir and asked Stephen Wallace to direct."Facts and Figures", Cinema Papers, July 1985 p48-49
Fay Weldon wrote some early drafts but neither Fink or Wallace were happy with them so Wallace did the adaptation himself. Wallace says it took him three and a half years to write the script.Paul Kalina, "Stephen Wallace", Cinema Papers, Feb-March 1985 p15
Peter Strauss was originally cast to play James Quick but was replaced by Sam Neill. Geneviève Picot was tentatively cast in the lead role but it took two years to raise the money by which time it was felt she was too old so she was replaced by Helen Buday, who had only made one film previously.
Most of the movie was shot in Sydney starting in March 1985 with a four-day shoot at Oxford University.David Stratton, "Margaret Fink", Cinema Papers, May 1986 p42
Reception The movie received poor reviews. Stephen Wallace says he was particularly shocked by the reviews from feminists and women's magazines. "They attacked it so viciously. So I guess it wasn't a totally competent film. I know it was a bit slow and clumsy and I have to accept that.""Interview with Stephen Wallace", Signis, 21 November 1998 Retrieved 21 November 2012
For Love Alone grossed $193,000 at the box office in Australia which was considered a disappointment. Stephen Wallace regrets his treatment of the subject matter was not bolder.
See also Cinema of Australia
References
External links
For Love Alone at Oz Movies