Boulevard Films
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Frank Howson, Peter Boyle |
| Fate | Dissolved in mid-1990s |
| Successor | Burrowes Film Group (acquirer) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Motion pictures |
Boulevard Films was an Australian production company operating during the late 1980s and early 1990s, recognized for creating movies frequently set against the backdrop of the entertainment sector.
History
Established in 1981 by Frank Howson and Peter Boyle, Boulevard Films debuted with the feature Backstage. The company was eventually acquired by the Burrowes Film Group. Following this, they produced Boulevard of Broken Dreams and, in 1988, secured funding amounting to $24.5 million to develop a slate of seven projects: Heaven Tonight, Sinbad (which was later retitled What the Moon Saw), Highway Hero, Beyond My Reach, Hunting, Fallen Angel, and Young Flynn. Out of these, five films reached production—a significant accomplishment given the downturn in the Australian film industry after reductions to the 10BA tax incentives.
By the end of 1989, Boulevard announced intentions to produce three further films: Highway Hero, The Envoy, and Friday on My Mind. The company also planned to launch soundtrack albums accompanying their movies, with Howson highlighting the strategic integration of music and visuals to boost commercial appeal.
Several of Boulevard’s early productions shared distinctive characteristics: Howson’s involvement as writer and producer, narratives centered on the entertainment world, and frequent appearances by actors such as Guy Pearce and Kim Gyngell.
By 1991, Boulevard had completed five films and cultivated a robust investor network comprising about 30,000 individuals, revitalizing trust in domestic film investments despite some industry criticism over their achievements.
The company reached notable international distribution milestones: "What The Moon Saw" became the first Australian film acquired by Miramax; "Heaven Tonight" was the inaugural Australian title purchased by the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Their films were also sold to major distributors including Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros., Skouras, J&M Entertainment, and Village Roadshow. Boulevard Films played a pivotal role in advancing careers of talents like Guy Pearce, Danielle Spencer, Lachy Hulme, and David Roberts.
Nevertheless, internal disagreements between Howson and Boyle resulted in the dissolution of Boulevard Films in the mid-1990s. Following this, Howson moved to Hollywood and served on the board of California’s Starlight Children's Foundation from 1998 until 2001. He subsequently returned to Australia and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2006. Meanwhile, Boyle stayed in Australia but became involved in legal proceedings connected to a David Copperfield Tour.
Among Boulevard Films' prominent works are "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (which earned seven AFI nominations and won Best Lead Actor for John Waters as well as Best Supporting Actor for Kim Gyngell), "What The Moon Saw" (recipient of an AFI Award for Best Costumes), "Heaven Tonight" (garnering an AFI nomination for Kim Gyngell), "Hunting" (with two AFI nominations including Best Lead Actress for Kerry Armstrong), "Beyond My Reach", "Flynn" (also known as "My Forgotten Man", nominated for an AFI Best Soundtrack award), along with "Crime Time", "A Slow Night At The Kuwaiti Café", "The Intruder", "The Final Stage", "A Thin Life", "Blue Roses", "The Making of Heaven Tonight", and "The Lucky Country".
Filmography
- Backstage (1987) – acquired by Burrowes Film Group
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988)
- What the Moon Saw (1989)
- Heaven Tonight (1990)
- Hunting (1991)
- Flynn (filmed 1989 and 1991; released 1996), also known as My Forgotten Man
- Beyond My Reach (1991)
- The Intruder (filmed 1991; released 2005)
- Come Rain or Shine (1992)
- The Final Stage (filmed 1991; released 2005)
- A Slow Night at the Kuwaiti Cafe (1992)
- Crimetime (1993)
- A Thin Life (1996)
Unrealized Projects
- Something Great – a biographical film about Les Darcy, initially announced in 1985 with a budget of $5.5 million, remaining in development status through 2005
- Highway Hero – an action movie influenced by the style of Mad Max
- The Envoy – a planned thriller film
- The Lucky Country – a proposed production with an estimated budget of $7.5 million
- Friday on My Mind – a teen comedy set to feature Guy Pearce; originally budgeted at $5 million but later reduced to $2.5 million; announced in 1991 but ultimately never made
- Merlin and Son – a mid-1990s project for an $11 million 3-D animated feature