Mr. Reliable (1996): Cast & Plot
Mr. Reliable is a 1996 crime comedy directed by Nadia Tass, starring Colin Friels as Wally Mellish, Jacqueline McKenzie and Paul Sonkkila. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Nadia Tass
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mr. Reliable About?
The premise of Mr. Reliable without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Based on a true 1960s Australian incident, ex‑convict Wally Mellish seeks a quiet life with his partner Beryl and their child. A visit from two police officers spirals into a siege, with armed officers surrounding their home under the mistaken belief that Wally holds hostages. The standoff turns into a media circus, unintentionally making Wally a symbol for the anti‑war movement, even as friends share a backyard BBQ.
Mr. Reliable Themes & Keywords
· 7 tags- 1960s
- hostage
- siege
- media hype
- vietnam
- wedding
- independent film
Mr. Reliable Cast & Characters
Colin Friels leads the cast as Wally Mellish, with Jacqueline McKenzie as Beryl Muddle and Paul Sonkkila as Commissioner Normal Allen. Directed by Nadia Tass; 32 actors are credited in all.
- Director Nadia Tass
- Colin Friels as Wally Mellish
-
Jacqueline McKenzie as Beryl Muddle - Paul Sonkkila as Commissioner Normal Allen
- Jonathan Hardy as Reverend McIntyre
Also Starring in Mr. Reliable
· 28 more- Neil Fitzpatrick Reverend Clive Paton
- Elaine Cusick Mrs. McIntyre
- Susie Porter Fay
- John Batchelor Chubby Cop
- Lisa Hensley Penny Wilberforce
- Barry Otto The Premier (NSW)
- William Zappa Army Colonel
- Kenneth Radley Mr. Morgan
- Geoff Morrell Sergeant Campbell
- Bruce Venables Gutser
- Frank Gallacher Don Ferguson
- Graham Rouse Fred
- George Shevtsov Mr Jakovitch
- Gael Ballantyne Mrs. Thompson
- Aaron Blabey Bruce Morrison
- David Letch Les Thompson
Show all 32 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Marco Chiappi Dr. Morrow
- Andrew Buchanan Young Constable
- Anthony Simcoe Skinny Cop
- Errol O'Neill Mr. Wilson
- Sally Scott Cheryl Morgan
- Terry Annesley Wrecking Yard Owner
- Vineta O'Malley Mrs. Jakovitch
- Chris Coombs Chris Jakovitch
- Jeremy Trigatti Kevin Morgan
- Nathan Doekes Darren Morgan
- Simone Dumbleton Helen Jakovitch
- Richard Downing Richard Jakovitch
More from Nadia Tass
More films directed by Nadia Tass, best-rated first: Pure Luck, Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story, An American Girl: Lea to the Rescue and Fatal Honeymoon.
Mr. Reliable Plot Summary
What happens in Mr. Reliable from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1968, Wally Mellish, Colin Friels, has just been released from Long Bay Jail, moving into a new house in the Sydney suburb of Glenfield with his girlfriend, Beryl Muddle, Jacqueline McKenzie, and her baby. Police arrive at their door to question Mellish about some car thefts in the area, to which he responds by firing off a warning shot with his shotgun. A misunderstanding leads the police to believe that Beryl and the child are being held hostage. The matter quickly escalates to the Police Commissioner and the New South Wales Premier, then becomes a media circus.
Full summary
The whole story of Mr. Reliable, scene by scene
Mr. Reliable Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip Clip
How Well Do You Know Mr. Reliable?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the story take place?
Cars in Mr. Reliable
51 cars on screen, including the 1959 Ford Zephyr MkII and the 1965 Chrysler Valiant Ambulance.
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1959 Ford Zephyr MkII Important role -
1965 Chrysler Valiant Ambulance Minor role -
1962 Commer Walk-Thru Minor role -
1966 Datsun 1300 Minor role
Seen Mr. Reliable?
Movies Like Mr. Reliable
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mr. Wise Guy, The Hard Word and Special Correspondents.
Mr. Reliable FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Mr. Reliable, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mr. Reliable?
Mr. Reliable runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Mr. Reliable released?
Mr. Reliable was released on November 22, 1996.
Who directed Mr. Reliable?
Mr. Reliable was directed by Nadia Tass.
More films by Nadia Tass Who is in the cast of Mr. Reliable?
Mr. Reliable stars Colin Friels as Wally Mellish, Jacqueline McKenzie as Beryl Muddle and Paul Sonkkila as Commissioner Normal Allen, among 32 credited actors.
Does Mr. Reliable have a post-credit scene?
No. Mr. Reliable has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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