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screened around that time included
‘World Safari II’, ‘From Mao to
Mozart’, and ‘Cul de Sac’.
A running sheet for 4 January
1985 showed that ‘The Trial’,
‘Supergirl’ and ‘Le Bal’ (screening at
6.00 and 8.30 p.m.) were on offering,
with ‘The Man Who Loved Women’
(Francois Truffat) screening as the late
show.
Christmas 1985 saw Ben Kingsley
and Glenda Jackson starring in ‘Turtle
Diary’, another major success.
The Christmas time, Australian
Premiere film season in 1986-87 of
‘Mona Lisa’ was an enormous success
for The Longford with the ‘House
Full’ sign in place for every session
for many weeks. ‘Spinal Tap’ ran for
more than two years at The Longford to achieve international success, like releases as a result of the tight
in 1985 and ‘My Left Foot’ ran for 18 the above titles, were a major highlight distribution policies of the big guns.
months during 1989-90. ‘Strictly of cinema’s 17 year career. Like many independent and single
Ballroom’ opened in December 1992 In addition, The Longford screen cinemas, the Longford finally
with Porsche cars lining Toorak Road pioneered ‘Reel Women’ the first ended its run as a result of the harsh
and the cinema entry and foyer women’s film festival, and hosted the distribution policies of the major
resplendent with mirror balls and French Film Festival; Melbourne chains. A new role attempting to
ornamentation. ‘Four Weddings and a Leather Film Festival; music film reprise the big movies in 2001 was
Funeral’ was premiered at The festivals, student screenings and many unsuccessful. In reflection, it is ironic
Longford in 1994. Also that year saw foreign arthouse films. The Christmas that the predecessors of those who now
the Australian premiere of ‘Priscilla, Parties were also justly famous. control a large part of film distribution
Queen of the Desert’, which for five CLOSURE in Australia were wont to complain
weeks saw long queues stretching out about the restrictive distribution
With Village Theatre’s Jam
along Toorak Road and around into
Factory complex and Palace Theatre’s
Avoca Street – reminiscent of picture
Como and Trak cinemas competing in
theatres in the late 1940s and 50s.
the vicinity (operating 21 screens) and
Russell Crowe’s first notable film,
now showing both major commercial
‘Proof’, was another which premiered
and arthouse films, (plus Australian
at The Longford, along with Geoffrey
movies to a much larger extent
Rush’s Academy Award winning
achieving greater commercial success
performance in ‘Shine’ and New
on the mainstream circuits), The
Zealand’s ‘Once Were Warriors’.
Longford’s original and principal
There is no doubt that the many
reason for existence had been
Australian films which were first
overtaken. However, the telling factor
screened at The Longford and went on
was its inability to secure suitable first

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