CAST: Barry Crocker (Barry McKenzie/Reverend Kevin McKenzie), Barry Humphries (Aunt Edna Everage/Dr. Meyer Delamphrey/Senator Douglas Manton), Donald Pleasence (Count Erich von Plasma), Dick Bentley (Colin “The Frog” Lucas), Louis Negin (Hugo Cretin), Paul Humpoletz (Modeste Imbecile). Directed by Bruce Beresford.
SYNOPSIS: Barry McKenzie and his aunt Edna Everage are on a flight back to Australia when two henchmen of Count Plasma (Donald Pleasence), a vampire and the communist ruler of Transylvania, mistakes aunt Edna for the Queen of England. Desperate to revive his country’s tourism industry, Count Plasma orders his henchmen to kidnap Edna and bring her back to his castle to attract tourists. In response, McKenzie seeks out the Australian Embassy and leads up a team to rescue aunt Edna, his twin brother Reverend Kevin McKenzie, a close friend of Colin “The Frog” Lucas, and a group of fellow Australians. After parachuting into Transylvania, they meld into a group of tourists visiting the castle where they wage war against Count Plasma and his henchmen to save aunt Edna and return to Australia as heroes.
COMMENTARY: Barry McKenzie Holds His Own is the zany comedy sequel to the smash hit The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972), the first Australian film to earn a million dollars. The character of Barry McKenzie was the creation of comedian/actor Barry Humphries who became famous for his own Aunt Edna Everage (later Dame Edna Everage). Humphries and singer Barry Crocker co-wrote the film that features some funny musical numbers like Rat Bag. The film is way over the top and pokes fun at many stereotypes, especially the Australian drinking culture, exemplified by the non-stop consumption of Fosters Lager that serves as a multi-purpose tool, such as bringing down a mad Bruce-Lee like chef and as a cross made from beer cans to dispose of Count Plasma.
In a brilliant stroke of casting, Pleasence portrays Count Erich von Plasma, decked out in a Bela Lugosi style outfit complete with widows peak, pancake white skin, and a gold tooth between his fangs, a send-up of his on-screen horror image with lots of laughs. Ranting and raving when upset, Count Plasma hisses through his teeth which sounds much like Daffy Duck. One great scene shows Count Plasma ordering his waiter to give him his “special” drink; the waiter simply opens a tap on his neck and pours out a glass of blood. In effect, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own highlights Pleasence’s great ability to play comedic roles that were few and far between during his career.