It seemed like a great idea at the time, to make a contemporary silent comedy based on the silent comedies of a hundred years before, which still make people laugh. And in some ways it was a great idea (the film certainly makes audiences laugh), and the making of it was a wonderful exploration in physical comedy, real, old-fashioned stuntwork, raw special effects as they might have been done by people inventing the craft and working a low budget into a long shoot with a tiny crew and coming up with something startling.
It is the great year 1907 and Dr Plonk, famous scientist and inventor, calculates that the world will end in 101 years unless immediate action is taken. As befalls visionaries through the ages, Plonk is ridiculed for his beliefs, by politicians, by bureaucrats, by even his faithful manservant, the deaf-mute Paulus.
Proof is required and the only acceptable proof lies in the very future that's ending. Being the lateral thinker that he is, Plonk invents a time machine. In quick succession Tiberius the dog, Plonk and Paulus all visit the future, 100 years hence; even Prime Minister Stalk and Mrs Plonk make the trip. Not everyone returns, but all find the year 2007 a somewhat different place than they expected...
Dr Plonk - Nigel Lunghi (alias Mr Spin)
Paulus - Paul Blackwell
Mrs Plonk - Magda Szubanski
Prime Minister Stalk - Wayne Anthoney
Maltreated Maid - Phoebe Paterson de Heer
Knock-down Policeman - Bogdan Koca
Wanted Poster Policeman - Simon Yates
Wanted Poster Policewoman - Jo-Ann Lancaster
Writer, Director, Producer - Rolf de Heer
Producer - Julie Ryan
Executive Producers - Domenico Procacci, Sue Murray, Bryce Menzies
Associate Producer - Nils Erik Nielsen
Production Manager - Kate Croser
Photographed and Cranked by Judd Overton
Production Designer - Beverley Freeman
Stunt Co-ordinator - Grant Page
VFX & SFX Supervisor - Jon Armstrong
Key Props and SFX - Dennis Presello
Film Editor - Tania Nehme
Music Composed by Graham Tardif