Simon Wincer

Directing

Simon Wincer

Born January 1, 1943 · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (age 83)

Simon Wincer (born 1943 in Sydney) is an Australian film director and film producer. He attended Cranbrook School, Bellevue Hill, Sydney from 1950 to 1961. On leaving school he worked as a stage hand at TV Station Channel 7. By the 1980s he directed over 200 hours of television. In 1986 he directed the made for TV movie The Last Frontier and also won a Christopher Award. His most successful film …

Known For

Free WillyFree Willy · 1993
Free Willy
6.21993
MovieFamilyAdventure
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro ManHarley Davidson and the Marlboro Man · 1991
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
6.31991
MovieActionThriller
It's the lawless future, and renegade biker Harley Davidson and his surly cowboy buddy, Marlboro, learn that a corrupt bank is about to foreclose on their friend's bar to further an expanding empire. Harley and Marlboro decide to help by robbing the crooked bank. But when they accidentally filch a drug shipment, they find themselves on the run from criminal financiers and the mob in this rugged action adventure.
The PhantomThe Phantom · 1996
The Phantom
5.31996
MovieAdventureAction
The 21st successor to the role of Bengalla's resident superhero must travel to New York to prevent a rich madman from obtaining three magic skulls that would give him the secret to ultimate power.
Crocodile Dundee in Los AngelesCrocodile Dundee in Los Angeles · 2001
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
5.22001
MovieAdventureComedy
After settling in the tiny Australian town of Walkabout Creek with his significant other and his young son, Mick "Crocodile" Dundee is thrown for a loop when a prestigious Los Angeles newspaper offers his honey a job. The family migrates back to the United States, and Croc and son soon find themselves learning some lessons about American life -- many of them inadvertent
Quigley Down UnderQuigley Down Under · 1990
Quigley Down Under
6.71990
MovieWestern
American Matt Quigley answers Australian land baron Elliott Marston's ad for a sharpshooter to kill the dingoes on his property. But when Quigley finds out that Marston's real target is the aborigines, Quigley hits the road. Now, even American expatriate Crazy Cora can't keep Quigley safe in his cat-and-mouse game with the homicidal Marston.
The Man from Snowy RiverThe Man from Snowy River · 1982
The Man from Snowy River
7.01982
MovieDramaRomance
Jim Craig has lived his first 18 years in the mountains of Australia on his father's farm. The death of his father forces him to go to the lowlands to earn enough money to get the farm back on its feet.
D.A.R.Y.L.D.A.R.Y.L. · 1985
D.A.R.Y.L.
6.41985
MovieFamilyScience Fiction
Daryl is a normal 10-year-old boy in many ways. However, unbeknown to his foster parents and friends, Daryl is actually a government-created robot with superhuman reflexes and mental abilities. Even his name has a hidden meaning -- it's actually an acronym for Data Analyzing Robot Youth Life-form. When the organization that created him deems the "super soldier" experiment a failure and schedules Daryl to be disassembled, it is up to a few rogue scientists to help him escape.
Operation Dumbo DropOperation Dumbo Drop · 1995
Operation Dumbo Drop
5.21995
MovieActionAdventure
Five Green Berets stationed in Vietnam in 1968 grudgingly undertake the mission of a lifetime -- to secretly transport an 8,000-pound elephant through 200 miles of rough jungle terrain. High jinks prevail when Capt. Sam Cahill promises the Montagnard villagers of Dak Nhe that he'll replace their prized elephant in time for an important ritual. But for Capt. T.C. Doyle, the mission becomes a jumbo-sized headache!

Filmography

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The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret ServiceThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service · 1999
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service
5.21999
MovieActionAdventure
Indy finds that he must enlist the help of Hapsburg royalty when he embarks on a dangerous diplomatic mission through enemy-held Europe into the palace of Emperor Karl of Austria. Endangering his life and the lives of his royal charges, Indy gambles all in a desperate attempt to bring the war more quickly to an end. Then, in chaos-ridden Russia, Indy finds his espionage work once again threatening lives when he infiltrates a group of young Bolsheviks and begins to empathize with their plight. As the country lurches toward revolution, Indy finds himself torn between loyalty to his friends and his military duty.

Director

PonderosaPonderosa · 2001
Ponderosa
7.02001
SeriesWesternDrama
Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX-TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season. Envisioned as a prequel to the long-running NBC series Bonanza, it had less gunfire, brawling and other traditional western elements than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort approved PAX TV's decision to hire Beth Sullivan, creator and executive producer of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman to oversee scripts and executive produce, which some believe gave the series a softer edge. Ponderosa was canceled after one season, in part because of disappointing ratings and high production costs. Although Sullivan had hoped to film the series in and around Los Angeles, PAX decided to film in Australia to reduce costs. Series "show runner" Sullivan sustained severe injuries in a car crash only twelve days after the airing of the first season's last episode. The show should not be confused with Ponderosa, the title used for Bonanza reruns aired on NBC during the summer of 1972.

Director

TandarraTandarra · 1976
Tandarra
7.51976
SeriesDrama
Tandarra was the follow-up Australian television series to Cash and Company, set during the Victorian gold rush period of the 1850s. It was produced in 1976, consisted of 13 one hour episodes and was shown on the Seven Network in Australia and London Weekend Television in the UK. Two of the originals characters from Cash and Company continued in Tandarra. These were Joe Brady and Jessica Johnson. The other main character, introduced in the final episode of Cash and Company was Ryler. He had been a bounty hunter who was later convinced of Joe’s innocence and decided to join with him. Tandarra was taken from the name of the homestead, owned by Jessica’s character, and the series primarily dealt with the adventures of running the large farming property. The original premise of the first series, namely that Joe and Sam Cash were fugitives from the law and were being assisted by Jessica was totally removed. No reference to the Sam Cash character was ever made in this series. The previous antagonist, the corrupt police trooper, Lieutenant Keogh only appeared in the first episode of Tandarra, and the character of Jessica’s servant, Annie only appeared in the second.

Director

Cash and CompanyCash and Company · 1975
Cash and Company
7.51975
SeriesDrama
Cash and Company was an Australian television period adventure series, set during the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s. The original series consisted of 13 one hour episodes, filmed in colour and on location in rural Victoria. Production began in July 1974 and the series premiered in Sydney on the Seven Network on 26 May 1975, in Melbourne on 29 May, and in Brisbane a few weeks previously. It was also was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and was sold to Sweden, Holland, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Norway, Rhodesia and Nigeria. The series was also shown at Sunday lunchtime in the United Kingdom by the London Weekend Television Network, in advance of its airing in Australia. It was produced by Homestead Films, a TV production company set up by Patrick Edgeworth and Russell Hagg, who had worked together at Crawford Productions on Matlock Police. Edgeworth's brother is the musician Ron Edgeworth, who was married to Judith Durham of The Seekers. The episodes dealt with the adventures of bushrangers Sam Cash and his partner Joe Brady and a helpful widow, Jessica Johnson. Cash and Brady were fugitives, constantly absconding from the authorities, led by the corrupt police trooper Lieutenant Keogh. Other regular and recurring characters included Jessica’s father in law and her servant, Annie.

Director