Hoodwink (1981 film)

Martin Stang, a bank robber (Hargreaves) finds himself behind bars and decides to pursue another con job; his escape. He does this by attempting to convince prison authorities that he is blind and no longer poses a threat to society. Along his journey he befriends a sexually-repressed clergyman's wife, Sarah (Davis). The pair become intimate during Martin's day release but his con is complicated when he reveals to Sarah that he is not in fact blind.[2]

• John Hargreaves as Martin Stang
• Judy Davis as Sarah
• Dennis Miller as Ralph
• Wendy Hughes as Lucy
• Max Cullen as Buster
• Paul Chubb as Reid
• Wendy Strehlow as Martin's sister
• Michael Caton as Shapley
• Colin Friels as Robert
• Geoffrey Rush as Detective 1
• Lex Marinos as Detective 2
• John W Pear as Eye Specialist
• Dasha Blahova as Eye Specialist's Wife

The film is based on the true story of Carl Synnerdahl, a convict who posed as a blind man to get a lighter sentence and had been forced to keep up the deception.[3] He told his story to literary agent Rosemary Cresswell, who was doing some work for the Department of Corrective Services, who in turn told the story to producer Errol Sullivan. Several directors were approached to make the movie but turned it down, including Bruce Beresford, Michael Thornhill, Phillip Noyce and Esben Storm. Eventually British director Claude Whatham was imported, which was highly controversial because the movie was made with funds from the Australian tax payer.[1]

The film was not a large success at the box office. However Carl Synnerdahl was released from prison on Errol Sullivan's bond after serving 21 years in prison and he remarried and had three children.[1]

• Hoodwink at IMDb
• Hoodwink at Oz Movies