Smash Palace (1981): Cast & Plot
Smash Palace is a 1981 drama thriller directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Bruno Lawrence as Al Shaw, Anna Maria Monticelli and Greer Robson. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Roger Donaldson
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- New Zealand Film Commission
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Smash Palace About?
The premise of Smash Palace without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Al Shaw lives for motor racing and runs his rundown junkyard, known as the “Smash Palace.” His French wife, Jacqui, feels neglected by his obsession. After catching her with another man, Al grabs his daughter Georgie and flees to the bush, convinced the remote wilderness is the only way to protect the family he still has.
Smash Palace Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- marital rape
- junkyard
- 1980s
- domestic violence
- daughter
- female full frontal nudity
- female frontal nudity
- racecar driver
- new zealand
- kidnapping
- independent film
- female topless nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- outdoor nudity
- naked outdoors
- nude woman
- female rear nudity
- male full frontal nudity
- male pubic hair
- male rear nudity
- male nudity
- male frontal nudity
- pubic hair
- lorry
- workaholic husband
- woman hostage
- female teacher
- married woman seduces a man
- neglectful husband
- neglected wife
- unhappy marriage
- giving birth
- real birth scene
- wife leaves her husband
- female nudity
- female star appears nude
- crime victim
- family relationships
- father daughter relationship
- mother daughter relationship
- separation
- resentment
- marital problem
- husband wife relationship
- estrangement
- cross country
- chase
- anger
- two word title
- sleeping shirtless
- police car
Smash Palace Cast & Characters
Bruno Lawrence leads the cast as Al Shaw, with Anna Maria Monticelli as Jacqui Shaw and Greer Robson as Georgie Shaw. Directed by Roger Donaldson; 25 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Roger Donaldson
- Bruno Lawrence as Al Shaw
- Anna Maria Monticelli as Jacqui Shaw
- Greer Robson as Georgie Shaw
- Keith Aberdein as Ray Foley
Also Starring in Smash Palace
· 21 more- Desmond Kelly Tiny
- Thomas King Armed Offenders' Squad
- Don Lee Minister
- Bryan Johnson 2nd Police Officer
- Terence Donovan Traffic Officer
- Frank Taylor Armed Offenders' Squad
- Brian Chase Armed Offenders' Squad
- Sean Duffy Frank
- Margaret Umbers Rose
- Lynne Robson Linda
- Dick Rollo Uncle Arthur
- Ian Barber Fight Leader
- Mike Beytagh Armed Offenders' Squad
- Ross Davies Armed Offenders' Squad
- Colin Fredricksen Armed Offenders' Squad
- Ewan Somerville Armed Offenders' Squad
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Chris Pasco Armed Offenders' Squad
- Mike Wiggins Armed Offenders' Squad
- Ray Littlewood Barman
- Doug McKenzie Helicopter Pilot
- Chris Parkinson Commentator (uncredited)
More from Roger Donaldson
More films directed by Roger Donaldson, best-rated first: No Way Out, The World's Fastest Indian, Thirteen Days and The Bounty.
Smash Palace Plot Summary
What happens in Smash Palace from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Eight years before the film’s events, Al Bruno Lawrence Shaw, a retired international racing driver, returned home to take over his late father’s car-wrecking yard, Smash Palace, on the remote North Island Volcanic Plateau. In the present day, Al’s French-born wife Jacqui Anna Maria Monticelli Shaw is increasingly unhappy with his obsession with cars and his refusal to sell the yard, and she fears for the future of their seven-year-old daughter Georgie Greer Robson Shaw. Al spends his days drinking with his policeman friend Ray Keith Aberdein Foley, whose vintage green Ford he is renovating, and mending cars with Tiny Desmond Kelly, an older man who has been his long-time assistant. Yet, beneath his flaws, Al remains a loving and devoted father to Georgie.
Full summary
The whole story of Smash Palace, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Smash Palace?
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
What is the name of the protagonist who runs the car‑wrecking yard?
Cars in Smash Palace
17 cars on screen, including the 1955 Ford F-100 and the 1969 Ford Falcon Utility.
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1955 Ford F-100 Main role -
1969 Ford Falcon Utility Important role -
Ralt RT 1 Important role -
1980 Toyota Land Cruiser Important role
Smash Palace Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Ei Onnea Ilman Sinua” and “O Kynigimenos”.
- Also known as
-
- Ei Onnea Ilman Sinua
- O Kynigimenos
- Roncspalota
- Smash Palace - Keine Chance für Al
- 废车场风波
- 스매쉬 팰리스
- Дворец крушений
Seen Smash Palace?
Movies Like Smash Palace
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Smash Cut, Smashed and Something to Hide.
Smash Palace FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Smash Palace, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Smash Palace?
Smash Palace runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was Smash Palace released?
Smash Palace was released on May 1, 1981.
Who directed Smash Palace?
Smash Palace was directed by Roger Donaldson.
More films by Roger Donaldson Who is in the cast of Smash Palace?
Smash Palace stars Bruno Lawrence as Al Shaw, Anna Maria Monticelli as Jacqui Shaw and Greer Robson as Georgie Shaw, among 25 credited actors.
Does Smash Palace have a post-credit scene?
No. Smash Palace has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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