Number 96

 (1974)

by Tuna

Number 96 is a film version of a very popular Australian adult evening soap of the same name which ran from 1972 to 1977. Both the series and film trace the adventures of the residents of an apartment block address. The film plays like several episodes of the TV series tied together, but each subplot is resolved before the film is over.

Because this is not the sort of linear plot that allows a simple plot outline, I will briefly describe some of what goes on. One couple is about to celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary. Several different residents take charge of arranging and catering a party, and then the happy couple look at their wedding certificate and find the bride may have married the best man. A playboy sort is romancing a stewardess, while an old friend who spent time in a mental hospital has moved back into the building with her new husband. She seems to be going off the deep end again. An old Jewish man and his wife own a deli on the ground floor. He has been hiding money from the tax man in his mattress, and accidentally starts it on fire. With the money gone, he decides to take extra jobs to replace it. Two residents decide to build a sauna in the basement and charge for its use. Also, the film opens with what was evidently a running theme in the series, where Vera Collins (played by Elaine Lee) is raped.

Although the video quality is less than ideal because the original negatives could not be located, and the material was mastered from several work prints which show signs of projector abuse, fans of the series will like the fact that former cast members whose characters had been written out of the series returned in the film, and will truly enjoy this excellent two disk special edition. The movie itself provides the same energy as the soap, which soap fans must find a good thing.

Alas, I am not a genre fan although I must admit that I became interested in some of the characters.

 

Our Grade:

If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to read the explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by our definition, a C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:

C-

Not really of general interest, but a comprehensive special edition for fans of the series.

NUDITY REPORT

  • Elaine Lee shows breasts.
  • Lynn Rainbow as the former mental patient shows breasts through a nightgown
  • Rebecca Gilling shows everything as the stewardess.
  • The special features include more nudity from unidentified actresses

THE CRITICS AND ACADEMIES

No reviews online.

 

THE BOX OFFICE

Unknown.

 

THE PEOPLE

   
6.5 IMDB summary (of 10)
   

Number 96

This is available from RLDVDs.com in a two disk set. (Click on the image above for purchase info.)

Disk one contains the film, a PDF copy of the script, and a feature length commentary. Disk two contains three featurettes, the longest of which is over 90 minutes, and is a highlight presentation of the first 1000 episodes of the series. A second featurette covers the series from episode 1001 to the end, and the last is a travelogue of a train trip taken by the cast.