Russell Crowe - The Prose & the Passion

The Crossing

Filmed - Oct 30, 1989 – Dec 16, 1989

Category:	Drama
Director:	George Ogilvie
Cast:	Russell Crowe, Robert Mammone, Danielle Spencer, George Whaley
Running Time:	1 hr 34 mins
Rating:	R
Distributor:	Video One Canada, Ltd.
Country:	Australia

The Crossing was Russell's first starring role. It is a movie set in post World War II Australia on AnZac day. The movie revolves around a romantic triangle between long parted best friends and the girl they both love. One has gone off and left her only to return, while the other stayed and fell in love with her in his absence. It is not a great film, but Russell has a couple of very powerful moments and although not nearly as subtle as his later performances, he uses a wide range of emotion, and the eyes are already reflecting each one.

He made two close friends doing this movie Robert Mammone [who also starred in Heaven's Burning], and Danielle Spencer by all accounts his girlfriend for 5 years.

Russell plays Johnny, a small town good guy. His best friend Sam has left for "the city," leaving girlfriend Meg behind. With Sam long gone, Johnny sets out to win Meg. They fall in love, and he proposes. The next morning, after making love (and being caught be Meg's father, natch!) Johnny and Meg go about their separate ways. Little do they know that Sam has arrived back in town to wreak havoc on their lives.

Meg is confused, because she truly cares for Johnny, and knows marrying him is expected of her by her family. Sam stirs up memories and a hidden restlessness. Johnny's heart is broken when he realizes Meg's feelings for Sam have not gone away...so he issues an ultimatum: Him or Sam. Johnny drives off in a drunken fit, and Meg jumps in his car to try to reason with him. Sam follows. What happens next changes lives forever.

Click on the thumbnail images below to see bigger versions of each photo.

The Crossing Trailer (click to view)