# Frank Howson

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For several 19th–20th-century musicians named Frank Howson, see [Howson family](/source/Howson_family).

**Frank Michael Howson** (10 March 1952 – 10 February 2024) was an Australian theatre and film director, screenwriter, and singer. He directed *[Flynn](/source/Flynn_(film))* (1996) on the early life of [Errol Flynn](/source/Errol_Flynn) and *[Hunting](/source/Hunting_(film))* (1991). Howson, with Peter Boyle, helped establish [Boulevard Films](/source/Boulevard_Films) which produced thirteen films from *[Boulevard of Broken Dreams](/source/Boulevard_of_Broken_Dreams_(film))* (1988) to *Flynn*; besides producing for Boulevard Films, Howson often wrote scripts and directed.

## Early years

Frank Michael Howson was born in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) on 10 March 1952.[2][3][4] He started in show business when he was seven.[5] After leaving school, [Christian Brothers College, St. Kilda](/source/Christian_Brothers_College,_St._Kilda) (1963–1967), Howson's first job was with Melbourne radio station [3UZ](/source/3UZ) as office boy. Eventually promoted to panel operator, he worked on John McMahon's popular weekly show Radio Auditions (see 3UZ). Whenever not enough acts showed up, young Frank was summoned to perform under made up names. During this period Howson was nicknamed 'Magical Frank'[6] when asked to perform on a pilot for a TV talent show by 3UZ's [Jimmy Hannan](/source/Jimmy_Hannan).

### Recording artist

DJ [Stan Rofe](/source/Stan_Rofe) signed Howson to a recording deal and produced his first single: "[Seventeen Ain't Young](/source/Seventeen_Ain't_Young)" (written by [Jeff Barry](/source/Jeff_Barry))[2] / *Hide and seek* ([Richie Adams](/source/Richie_Adams), Mark Barkan)[2] performed by "Frankie Howson" (1969)[7] who was seventeen during recording, it became a Top 40 hit in Melbourne.

Howson released two other singles *This Night* (Howson, Kenneth Firth, Miller)[2] and 1983 *The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter* (John Capek, Howson).[2][8]

### Music publisher

Howson was manager of the Australian branch of German-based I.C. Records to publish musical works (including his own) distributed by [EMI](/source/EMI). He co-wrote [John Paul Young](/source/John_Paul_Young)'s 1984 album *One Foot in Front*. He signed [New romantic](/source/New_romantic) band [Pseudo Echo](/source/Pseudo_Echo) and co-wrote their songs *Autumnal Park* and *Destination Unknown* with Tony Lugton,[3] they later had a 1987 No. 1 hit in Australia with their version of *Funky Town*. I.C. Records scored 3 national hits in Australia in its first 12 months of operation. Howson and Peter Boyle were Executive Producers[8] for John Paul Young's 1983 hit *Soldier of Fortune* (John Capek, Marc Jordan)[2] reaching No. 15.

Howson and [Allan Zavod](/source/Allan_Zavod) wrote *Time Can't Keep Us Apart*[2] which won the 1987 Asian Popular Song contest performed by [Kate Ceberano](/source/Kate_Ceberano)[9] to an estimated TV audience of 500 million.

### Theatre works

Frank Howson began his career as stage actor, singer and dancer, and appeared in 21 major productions (including the Australian production of *[Oliver!](/source/Oliver!)*) before turning 21.[1] In the early 1970s, Howson met fellow actor Barry Ferrier while they were both appearing in the original Australian production of *[Jesus Christ Superstar](/source/Jesus_Christ_Superstar)*, and the two men subsequently collaborated on a number of theatre-related projects. The first of these was a children's musical entitled *The Faraway Land of Magical Frank*, which was produced at the Toral Theatre in Melbourne in January 1976.[10] Later that year, Howson and Ferrier released a concept recording of a follow-up children's musical, entitled *The Boy who dared to dream*, performed by Trevor White, pop singer [Mark Holden](/source/Mark_Holden) and actors [John Waters](/source/John_Waters_(actor)) and [Tommy Dysart](/source/Tommy_Dysart). The first staged production of the show (featuring some of the actors from the concept recording) was mounted in Melbourne in January 1978, with a second production in May 1981.[11]

Frank Howson went on to create two more children's musicals, without Ferrier's involvement: *Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp* (music by Robert Gavin, 1981) and *Sinbad the Sailor: The Last Adventure* (music by Ian McKean, 1982). Both were initially staged at the Alexander Theatre at [Monash University](/source/Monash_University)..

## Filmmaking

[Boulevard Films](/source/Boulevard_Films) was a production company on Errol St, [North Melbourne](/source/North_Melbourne,_Victoria).[12]

Boulevard's notable productions include:

- 1988 *[Boulevard of Broken Dreams](/source/Boulevard_of_Broken_Dreams_(film))* (Howson screenwriter, cameo) won two [AFI Awards](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Awards): [John Waters](/source/John_Waters_(actor)) "Best Actor" and [Kym Gyngell](/source/Kym_Gyngell) "Best Supporting"; nominated for five others including "Best Picture".[5] Its soundtrack (with nine Howson co-compositions)[2] was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Soundtrack Album of the Year.
- 1989 '**[Heaven Tonight](/source/Heaven_Tonight_(film))'** (Howson co-wrote the screenplay as well as songs for this film. It was nominated for an AFI Award. It starred [John Waters](/source/John_Waters_(actor)), [Kim Gyngell](/source/Kim_Gyngell), [Rebecca Gilling](/source/Rebecca_Gilling), [Guy Pearce](/source/Guy_Pearce) and [Sean Scully](/source/Sean_Scully).
- 1990 *Friday on My Mind* with [Guy Pearce](/source/Guy_Pearce)
- 1990 *[What the Moon Saw](/source/What_the_Moon_Saw)* (Howson screenwriter, cameo) won an AFI Award for Rose Chong "Best Costume Design".[5] It revolves around a child absorbed with the story of *Sinbad*.[13]
- 1991 *[Hunting](/source/Hunting_(film))* starred [John Savage](/source/John_Savage_(actor)), [Kerry Armstrong](/source/Kerry_Armstrong) (nominated for AFI [Best Actress](/source/AACTA_Award_for_Best_Actress_in_a_Leading_Role)) and [Guy Pearce](/source/Guy_Pearce); Howson wrote and directed.[5]
- 1996 *[Flynn](/source/Flynn_(film))* starred Pearce, [Steven Berkoff](/source/Steven_Berkoff), [Claudia Karvan](/source/Claudia_Karvan) and Savage; Howson directed and co-wrote.[5] Problems occurred while making this film with Boulevard Films collapsing acrimoniously.[6]

Some Boulevard Films listed at Internet Movie Database did not have a general release, e.g. *[The Final Stage](/source/The_Final_Stage)* (1995)[14] had its 'World Premiere' ten years later at [Melbourne Underground Film Festival](/source/Melbourne_Underground_Film_Festival) 2005.[15]

Howson moved to Hollywood in 1997 after a falling out with his business partner and the collapse of Boulevard Films.[16]

## Personal life and death

Howson was married three times:

1. Lisa Waters ([fl.](/source/Floruit) 1976)
1. Lynn Murphy (1983–1999) Their son, Oliver Howson was born in 1991.
1. [Terri Garber](/source/Terri_Garber) (2001–2002)

Howson was debilitated, at times, by [Spasmodic Dysphonia](/source/Spasmodic_Dysphonia) which affected his voice; it was periodically mitigated by [Botox](/source/Botulinum_toxin) injections into his larynx.[17]

His gravelly voice can be heard in a 2005 radio interview with [Paul Harris](/source/Paul_Harris_(film_critic)) and Brett Cropley of [3RRR](/source/3RRR) on *Film Buffs' Forecast*.[6]

[John Michael Howson](/source/John-Michael_Howson) is his cousin.

Howson died on 9 February 2024, at the age of 71.[18]

## Subsequent career

### Hollywood hiatus

Howson was on the Crystal Prix Jury for the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. From 1997 to 2005 Howson worked and lived in Hollywood. He served on the board of directors for the Starlight Children's Foundation of California.

*Mr. Insincere*, (written / performed by Howson)[2] appears in the Disney movie *[Burn Hollywood Burn](/source/Burn_Hollywood_Burn)* (1998), starring [Eric Idle](/source/Eric_Idle) (as [Alan Smithee](/source/Alan_Smithee)) and [Ryan O'Neal](/source/Ryan_O'Neal); with [Whoopi Goldberg](/source/Whoopi_Goldberg), [Jackie Chan](/source/Jackie_Chan), [Sylvester Stallone](/source/Sylvester_Stallone), and [Robert Evans](/source/Robert_Evans_(producer)).[19] Howson was asked by [Steven Berkoff](/source/Steven_Berkoff) to direct the TV version of Berkoff's international hit theatre show *[Shakespeare's Villains](/source/Shakespeare's_Villains)* (2002).[5]

Howson later completed writing his memoirs on the film industry[6] *A Life in the Circus*, and wrote songs for Steve Housden's ([Little River Band](/source/Little_River_Band) lead guitarist) solo album.

### MUFF & more

Richard Wolstencroft formed [MUFF](/source/Melbourne_Underground_Film_Festival) in 2000 and appointed Howson as president of the jury.[6] Boulevard Films' *The Intruder* (directed by Wolstencroft) and *The Final Stage* (directed by Howson) were both presented at the 2005 festival.[6] The following year saw Howson's film *Remembering Nigel* tie with *Penny* by John King for MUFF's 2006 *Best Short Film* award.[20] He acted and was a script editor in a Wolstencroft film, *The Beautiful and Damned*.

Howson later served as a board member of Open Channel, a non-profit organisation that supports young filmmakers. Howson was invited to direct the premiere production of the short play *The Replacement Son* for the *[Short and Sweet](/source/Short_and_Sweet_(festival))* festival at Melbourne's [Arts Centre](/source/Arts_Centre_Melbourne) in December 2007.

Some excerpts from Howson's film *[Flynn](/source/Flynn_(film))* can be seen in documentary on the life of [Errol Flynn](/source/Errol_Flynn), *The Tasmanian Devil*.

The new release book *The Actors' Handbook* by Marnie Hill, published by AT2, contains an interview with him.

Howson in 2012 and 2013 wrote and directed two sell-out seasons of the musical *"Genesis To Broadway"* at Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne. Cast member Fem Belling was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Performance in a Musical.

## Critical appraisal

According to a profile in *Filmink* Howson's films:

Explore recurring themes as much as any auteur: the culture clash between Australia and the US, the importance of artists remaining relevant, what constitutes selling out, the sacrifices to “make it” in show business, the struggles of middle-aged men, a love of theatre and music, the difficulty of maintaining a long-term romantic relationship, adoring shots of Melbourne (Howson could be perhaps the most Melbourne-philic film producer of them all).[21]

## Filmography

Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Notes 1967 Homicide TV series. Role of Peter in Season 4, Episode 17, "The Catch." 1979 Skyways TV series. Role of Steve Eagles in five episodes of Season 1. 1980 A Wild Ass of a Man TV movie. Cameo as "Photographer" 1980 The Pirate Movie Cameo as "Policeman" 1983 Prisoner TV series. Writer of Episode 377 and 387. 1988 Backstage 1988 Boulevard of Broken Dreams Cameo as "Producer at Party" 1990 Heaven Tonight 1990 Beyond My Reach Cameo as "Man at Airport" 1990 What the Moon Saw 1990 Friday On My Mind Unfinished. A biopic of The Easybeats. 1991 Hunting 1992 Come Rain or Shine Unreleased 1992 A Slow Night at the Kuwaiti Cafe Unreleased 1993 Flynn Also released as My Forgotten Man. Cameo as "Opium Smoker" 1995 The Final Stage Unreleased. Cameo as "Vision at Piano" 2005 The Intruder Filmed in 1991. Finished, screened and released on DVD in 2005. 2006 Crimetime Filmed in 1992, unfinished. Screened once in rough cut form at MUFF 2006[22] 2009 The Beautiful and Damned Also worked as script editor 2009 Remembering Nigel Short film. Role of Nigel 2009 Crazy in the Night Short film. Role of David 2017 The Second Coming, Vol. 2 Role of Frank Connolly 2018 A Thin Life Short film. Filmed in the 1990s. Screened at MUFF 2018[23] and released by Howson on YouTube.[24] 2022 The Debt Collector Role of Father Jenkins

## References

1. ["AusStage – Gateway to the Australian Performing Arts"](http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_contrib_id=245201). AusStage (contributor Frank Howson). Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["Australasian Performing Right Association"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070828224726/http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm). [APRA](/source/Australasian_Performing_Right_Association). Archived from [the original](http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm) on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. ["The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20000510070043/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300). [ASCAP](/source/American_Society_of_Composers,_Authors_and_Publishers). Archived from [the original](http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300) on 10 May 2000. Retrieved 15 September 2007.

1. ["Frank Howson"](https://www.innersense.com.au/mif/howson.html). *Melbourne Independent Filmmakers*. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

1. ["Internet Movie Database entry on Frank Howson (I)"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0398271). *[IMDb](/source/Internet_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. ["Film Buffs' Forecast (2 July 2005) podcast"](http://www.boxcutters.net/bcrss/?p=94). [Paul Harris](/source/Paul_Harris_(film_critic)) and Brett Cropley of radio [3RRR](/source/3RRR). 16 March 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. ["*The Sixties: Australian rock & pop recordings, 1964–1969* PDF p 134"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080513004404/http://www.nfsa.afc.gov.au/docs/collectionguide_thesixties1964-1969.pdf). Ross Laird (1999), accessed from [National Film and Sound Archive](/source/National_Film_and_Sound_Archive) on-line. Archived from [the original](http://www.nfsa.afc.gov.au/docs/collectionguide_thesixties1964-1969.pdf) on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. ["Australian Library Collections"](http://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/apps/kss). Libraries Australia, National Library of Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2007.

1. ["Kate Ceberano wins 1987 Asian Popular Song Contest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110706132511/http://www.std.com.au/pdfs/kateCeberano.pdf). Ralph Carr Management. Archived from [the original](http://www.std.com.au/pdfs/kateCeberano.pdf) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["Australian Stage Database cites *The Faraway Land of Magical Frank* performed at the Total Theatre as reviewed by Sally White, (1 February 1976), *The Age* p2"](http://www.ausstage.edu.au/custom/files/2004531046932/agedb.xls) (XLS). AusStage. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224953/http://www.ausstage.edu.au/custom/files/2004531046932/agedb.xls) 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["Gateway to the Australian Performing Arts"](http://www.ausstage.edu.au/default.jsp?xcid=27). AusStage (contributor Frank Howson). Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["*Actors Feature Film Award 1979*"](http://www.airc.gov.au/consolidated_awards/at/at817364/asframe.html). [Australian Industrial Relations Commission](/source/Australian_Industrial_Relations_Commission). Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["IMDb plot summary for *What the Moon Saw*"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100915/plotsummary). *[IMDb](/source/Internet_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 21 September 2007.

1. ["IMDb *The Final Stage* entry"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462677). *[IMDb](/source/IMDb)*. Retrieved 20 September 2007.

1. ["Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2005 Director's statement"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202156/http://www.muff.com.au/2005/content/directors.html). Richard Wolstencroft. Archived from [the original](http://www.muff.com.au/2005/content/directors.html) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. ["Something to shout about"](http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/something-to-shout-about/2006/07/19/1153166455636.html). Melbourne: [The Age](/source/The_Age) Lawrence Money, Bridie Smith (20 July 2006). 20 July 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. [Lawrence Money, 'Showbiz veteran bounces back from brink', *The Age* 23 May 2011](http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-life/showbiz-veteran-bounces-back-from-brink-20110522-1eyso.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110909080400/http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-life/showbiz-veteran-bounces-back-from-brink-20110522-1eyso.html) 9 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine accessed 17 October 2012

1. [Melbourne Songwriter, Producer, Director Frank Howson Has Died Aged 72](https://www.noise11.com/news/melbourne-songwriter-producer-director-frank-howson-has-died-aged-72-20240212)

1. ["IMDb entry on *An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn* (1998)"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118577/fullcredits#cast). *[IMDb](/source/Internet_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 21 September 2007.

1. ["Underground Film Journal 'Even More MUFF'"](http://www.undergroundfilmjournal.com/even-more-muff/). Mike Everleth (22 July 2006). 22 July 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2007.

1. Vagg, Stephen (February 21, 2024). ["Frank Howson: The Unsung Auteur"](https://www.filmink.com.au/frank-howson-the-unsung-auteur/). *Filmink*

1. ["Australian Cult Cinema: The Frank Howson/Boulevard Films Legacy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110227033242/http://www.muff.com.au/2006/oz_cinema.htm). *MUFF*. Archived from [the original](http://www.muff.com.au/2006/oz_cinema.htm) on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. Dabscheck, Rocky. ["A Thin Life"](https://tagg.com.au/a-thin-life/). *TAGG*. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. Howson, Frank. ["A Thin Life"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ype1UIKFWZQ). *YouTube*. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

## External links

- [Frank Howson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0398271/) at IMDb
- [Personal website](https://web.archive.org/web/20100919171030/http://frankhowson.com/)
- [Frank Howson](http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowAgent&agentId=A@Rq) at [AustLit](/source/AustLit)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Frank Howson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Howson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Howson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.