Dead Calm (1989)
Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm (1989)
Directed by Phillip Noyce
Screenplay by Terry Hayes based on the Novel by Charles Williams
Cinematography by Dean Semier
Edited by Richard Francis-Bruce
MAIN CAST: Nicole Kidman (Rae Ingram), Sam Neill (John Ingram) & Billy Zane (Hughie Warriner)
ORPHEUS VIDEO TAPE CAST: Rob Mullinar (Russel Bellows), Lisa Collins (Cruise Girl 1), Paula Hudson-Brinkley (Cruise Girl 2), Sharon Cook (Cruise Girl 3), Malinda Rutter (Cruise Girl 4)
MAINLAND CAST: George Shevtsov (Doctor), Michael Long (Specialist Doctor)
The film begins as a train pulls into a station and we see sailors through the cars’ windows. As the passengers move from the cars to the platform, the sailors are greeted by their girlfriends, wives, and mothers. Their commander however, John Ingram (Sam Neill) stands waiting as the platform empties. We feel his anxiousness grow as he keeps checking his watch. Then, he notices two police officers in the distance surveying him. This does not set him at ease. He walks toward the officers.
Nicole Kidman & Sam Neill in Dead Calm (1989)
Rae (Nicole Kidman) has had a car accident and is in the hospital where Ingram learns that their child was killed in a head on collision. We experience the horror of it through Rae’s eyes staring up at us, as the doctor tries to bring her out of the shock by having John speak to her. When she comes out of the nightmare, she is already on the yacht.
Her husband has taken her out to sea to rest and recuperate from the trauma. The calm sea is an idyllic setting. They are both hopeful that it will help them move on, but then a derelict schooner appears in the distance. Rae wants to ignore it, but John cannot.
Nicole Kidman & Billy Zane in Dead Calm (1989)
Then, Rae spots a dinghy approaching. They let Hughie (Billy Zane) onto the yacht. Initially, they think he is just in shock. His erratic behavior could be the result of being trapped on a sinking ship. While they wait for Hughie to calm down, they ask him questions; what happened to the other passengers, and how the ship was damaged.
Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm (1989)
Hughie’s story of food poisoning taking the lives of the 5 other passengers doesn’t hold water for John. Once he gets Hughie to go to rest, he takes the dinghy and goes out to the derelict.
Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm (1989
Having a main cast of just 3, there is plenty of room for close-ups. One of Kidman’s strengths is that she says so much with her face alone. From her early film roles in Dead Calm (1989) and To Die For (1995) to her latest projects, Nicole Kidman has shown herself to be one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. In addition to her talent, she has a keen sense of what she is able to achieve in a role. This profile will focus on a number of her key performances.
Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm (1989)
When Dead Calm was released, Kidman was 19 and unknown in the US. Dead Calm was her first large budget film. Instead of being fearful of the role, she embraced it. She took sailing lessons in order to be able to do the sailing herself. She was also able to do all the action scenes.
Nicole Kidman & Billy Zane in Dead Calm (1989)
Her preparation paid off as her seamless performance stands out as one of the highs in suspense cinema. From the moment that Hughie comes aboard, she moves from shock to suspicion to horror to determination, and even manages to seduce him to gain leverage.
Nicole Kidman & Billy Zane in Dead Calm (1989)
The real suspense begins once John is on the derelict and Rae is alone with Hughie. It is Nicole Kidman’s performance, the excellent direction, editing & photography by Phillip Noyce, Richard Francis-Bruce & Dean Semier that make this film a milestone in the suspense genre that even Hitchcock would love.
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
In a 2021 interview with Marc Maron, Sam Neill expressed some discomfort over the fact that he was twice Nicole Kidman’s age when they played a couple in this film.
In May 1987 as production began, Neil was 39 years of age and Kidman was 19.
Sophia Loren, Michelle Pfeiffer, Veronica Ferres, Cher & Susan Sarandon were considered for the role of Rae Ingram.
NEXT: To Die For
