Send a Gorilla is a 1988 New Zealand comedy film directed by Melanie Read.

Synopsis

Valentine's Day is the busiest day in the year for three young women and their singing telegram service. Their Send A Gorilla Singing Telegram Company has started badly they are short-staffed and drowning in orders. The boss is missing, and one of the singers has lost her voice.

Cast

  • Carmel McGlone as Clare
  • Katherine McRae as Joy
  • Perry Piercy as Vicki
  • John Callen as Chris Dean
  • Lani John Tupu as Ian Hunter
  • William Kircher as Ned
  • Jim Moriarty as Joe
  • Nathan Waldron as Jason
  • Rima Te Wiata as Lisa
  • Daniel Benseman as Toby
  • Michael Haigh as Mr. Tack
  • Stephen Clements as Carl / Fireman
  • Kim Buchanan as Charlene
  • Stanley Findlay as Anthony
  • Ann Pacey as Mrs. McKinley
  • Miranda Harcourt as Kerry-Anne
  • Ian Watkin as Sir Richard Olphert
  • Mark Wright as Kitchenhand
  • Joy Watson as Daphne
  • Wiki Oman as Donna
  • Jane Waddell as Janine
  • Dulcie Smart as Jane
  • Renita Chan as Lois Wing
  • Peter McAllum as Policeman
  • Ross Jolly as Stranger in Grams Office
  • Danny Mulheron as Owner of Boxer Dog
  • Whillow Patterson as Ani
  • Turei Reidy as C.O.
  • Katy Platt as Female DJ
  • Christianne Phillips as Twin
  • Marianne Govaerts as Twin
  • Ian Rae as Darryn the hairdresser
  • Stephen Lovatt as Darryn's Friend
  • Liz Mullane as Hairdresser
  • Felicity Samuel as Female Customer
  • Brian Carbee as Male customer
  • Lorae Parry as Sender of revenge gram
  • Jon Brazier as Dave - the filnger
  • Theresa Healey as Anne - the mistress
  • Duncan Smith as Keith
  • Joanna Briant as Linda
  • Alice Fraser as Keith's mother
  • Gerald Bryan as Ian's lawyer
  • Kate Harcourt as Lawyer's secretary
  • Onehau as Clare's lawyer
  • Peter Dennett as Construction worker #1
  • Ralph Johnson as Construction worker #2
  • Helen Lagen as Policewoman with dogs
  • Michael Wilson as John
  • Tony Box as Mechanic
  • Vivienne Brown as Woman selling ice cream
  • Sandra Coory as Ticketseller
  • Joanne Simpson as Woman in cupboard
  • Louise Graham as Friend of woman in cupboard
  • Keiko Kirk as Yoko Matsumara
  • Andrei Albulescu as Yoko's secretary
  • Heather Benfield as Music examiner
  • Murray Keane as Youth outside P.O.
  • Keith Richardson as Police Constable at P.O.
  • Stephen Gledhill as Function organizer
  • Bill Walker as Drunk on stage
  • Guy Boyce as Drunk on stage
  • Michael Heath as Drunk at table
  • Shelly Luxford as Radio station receptionist
  • Kara Kavers as Woman in coffee bar
  • Vicky Hunwick as Messenger
  • Debbie Gee as Policeoman
  • Leon de Villalier as Elderly car thief
  • Natalie Wong as Sue
  • Alan Jollifie as Ralph
  • Ralph Williams as Man from Shalimar
  • Richard Lawrence as Motorcyclist
  • Gerald Brian as Radio voice

Reviews

  • 1988 Variety
  • 1994 The Women's Companion to International Film - "...the film has a lot of crazy energy..."
  • 2000 Reframing women: a history of New Zealand film - "...a feminist critique of the commercialisation of romance..."

Awards and nominations

External links