Alvin Purple

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Fun Facts

Alvin Purple Lobby Card

Also Known As

The Sex Therapist (USA)

Taglines

...the bloke who has everything except inhibitions ... leader of the comedy revolution!!

Australia's first big (R) comedy

We did it for Alvin!

He puts more than a little color into girls' cheeks.

Main Details

Released in 1973
Color
Running Time: 95 min | USA:87 min
Production Co: Bi-Jay | Hexagon Productions
Distribution Co: Sands Film Company (1974) (USA) (theatrical)

Cast and Crew

Directed by Tim Burstall
Written by Alan Hopgood
Produced by Tim Burstall, Alan Finney
Original Music by Brian Cadd
Cinematography by Robin Copping
Film Editing by Edward McQueen-Mason

Comments

Alvin Purple has a classic Sexploitation premise. Alvin is an ordinary-looking Australian man who for some reason is irresistible to women. The film starts off with Alvin kicking off what he hopes to be a “sexless seventies” before his beautiful neighbour comes around and he kisses goodbye to his vow. We then follow Alvin’s adventures as he is seduced by his schoolteacher’s wife, constantly mobbed by every girl in school and eventually finds a job as a “sex therapist”. The film was a huge success when initially released in Australia. Since then, some critics have claimed that it’s a “one joke film”. Although Burstall and writer Hopgood are careful not to use the same situation for each sexual encounter. For a sexploitation film that was made to exploit the new R rating and sell tickets, it doesn’t feel the need to turn every possible situation into a sex scene. It’s funny, features some great performances by Australian stars (especially Graeme Blundell in the title role) and Australia’s number 1 sex symbol at the time, Abigail. It even has a car chase.

Reviewed by Angel - 12 March 2007

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