Directing

Peter Maxwell

Born — Died

1921-01-23 — 2013-04-05

Place of birth

Vienna, Austria

Known for

Directing

Credits

20 titles

Peter Maxwell (23 January 1921 – 5 April 2013) born as Peter Magitai, was a British, and later Australian director and screenwriter of television and film. He was born in Vienna, Austria, to newspaper journalist Leo Magatai and wife Johanna. His family fled Vienna in the 1930s, and he changed his surname to enter the British Army. After having been posted to India, he returned to Britain to work as an assistant director to Alexander Korda in 1949. He worked briefly in Australia in the early 1960s before returning to England. In 1967 he emigrated to Australia permanently, where he directed such films as Country Town and television series including Bellbird, Rip Tide and A Country Practice.

Known for

Behind the camera

The Highest Honour poster
6.6

After a highly successful raid on Singapore Harbour, soldiers of Z Special Unit lead a new expedition in Singapore, with disastrous results.

The Highest Honour

1982

Serena poster
7.0

Scotland Yard investigate when a woman, apparently the estranged wife of a London painter, is murdered with a shotgun in rural Surrey at the same time as the artist's striking model with her long black hair disappears.

Serena

1962

Blind Spot poster
5.9

US Army Officer Dan Adams, blinded during the war, is framed for a diamond smuggling rap. Upon regaining his sight, Adams goes after the real thieves in an effort to clear his name. In order to trap the wily criminals, Adams pretends that he's still bereft of his vision.

Blind Spot

1958

The Desperate Man poster
5.0

Two reporters are held hostage in old castle, by thief, looking for jewels, that he had buried, after robbing a local house.

The Desperate Man

1959

Is There Anybody There? poster
7.0

A beautiful woman, Kate (Tina Grenville), is released from a sanatorium unaware that while she was away her husband John (George Lazenby) has begun an affair with her sister Marianne (Wendy Hughes). The two sisters live together in a creepy apartment block while John is away, and find themselves stalked by some mysterious strangers.

Is There Anybody There?

1976

Mama's Gone A-hunting poster
7.0

A psychotic prison escapee and his young partner decide to kidnap a wealthy couple's baby and hold it for ransom. Little do they know that the babysitter wants the baby for herself.

Mama's Gone A-hunting

1977

No artwork available
9.0

An Australian-set romance starring Jacki Weaver.

Polly My Love

1975

Mystery at Castle House poster
6.5

A trio of kids have many exciting adventures while exploring a spooky mansion in the hope of finding their missing friends.

Mystery at Castle House

1982

The Switch poster
7.0

A wristwatch-smuggling gang bring watches into the country in a car's petrol tank. Poor Zena Marshall knows too much, so the gangs abducts her. Stalwart customs official Anthony Steel struggles manfully to rescue the girl.

The Switch

1963

Touch and Go poster
10.0

Three attractive socialites working for charity turn to robbery to keep a special primary school for underprivileged children open.

Touch and Go

1980

The Long Shadow poster
8.0

Set in post WW II-Vienna this British spy adventure centers on an international effort to thwart the communists that is led by an American newspaper journalist trying to save the two innocents from certain death.

The Long Shadow

1961

Fluteman poster
7.0

When the small town of Minyaka suffers from a drought, a kind and mysterious stranger offers to make it rain by playing his flute; under the condition that he be paid. But after Fluteman makes it rain, and even stops it; the town council, blind by their greed and pride, refuse to pay him. Fluteman stands before the town and warns them of a curse he would bring; and so the next day the school playground fades into silence as all the children disappear into the bush... except one.

Fluteman

1982

Dilemma poster
5.8

Respectable schoolmaster returns from work on the eve of a wedding anniversary holiday to find a strange man dead in their bathroom and his wife missing.

Dilemma

1962

Dilemma poster
5.8

Respectable schoolmaster returns from work on the eve of a wedding anniversary holiday to find a strange man dead in their bathroom and his wife missing.

Dilemma

1962

Country Town poster
8.0

In this movie version of "Bellbird" (1967) a reporter, Philip Henderson stirs up the town further when they are already suffering with a drought.

Country Town

1973

Platypus Cove poster
10.0

After saving a drowning boy's life, a fifteen-year-old orphan is taken aboard by the family as a deckhand.

Platypus Cove

1986

Plunge Into Darkness poster
5.5

An ex-pro athlete runner and his wife find a strange boy in the middle of nowhere along with a murdered couple. He runs to a nearby town for help while she keeps the boy company. Meanwhile, escaped convicts are heading to their location.

Plunge Into Darkness

1978

Run Rebecca, Run! poster
6.0

Simone Buchanan plays a young camera fanatic who is marooned on a desert island. Here she is threatened by a refugee from South America (Henri Szeps) who isn't keen on having his whereabouts known. Hostility melts into friendship before the rescue boats arrive.

Run Rebecca, Run!

1981

Impact poster
4.8

Crime reporter Jack Moir is framed by crooked nightclub owner, 'The Duke'. In prison, Moir plans his revenge.

Impact

1963

Impact poster
4.8

Crime reporter Jack Moir is framed by crooked nightclub owner, 'The Duke'. In prison, Moir plans his revenge.

Impact

1963