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Australian New Wave
The Australian New Wave (also known as the Australian Film Revival, Australian Film Renaissance, or New Australian Cinema) was an era of resurgence in the worldwide popularity of the Australian cinema, particularly in the United States. It began in the early 1970s and lasted until the mid-late 1980s. The era also marked the emergence of Ozploitation, a film genre characterised by the exploitation of colloquial Australian culture. Background The Australian film industry declined after World War II, coming to a virtual stop by the early 1960s. The Gorton (1968–71) and Whitlam governments (1972–75) intervened and rescued the industry from its expected oblivion. The federal and several state governments established bodies to assist with the funding of film production and the training of film makers through the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, which fostered a new generation of Australian filmmakers who were able to bring their visions to the screen. The 1970s sa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Australian Cinema
The cinema of Australia began with the 1906 production of ''The Story of the Kelly Gang'', arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received international recognition. Many actors and filmmakers with international reputations started their careers in Australian films, and many of these have established lucrative careers in larger film-producing centres such as the US and the UK. Commercially successful Australian films include '' Crocodile Dundee'', George Miller's '' Mad Max'' trilogy, Baz Luhrmann's ''Moulin Rouge!'', and Chris Noonan's ''Babe''. Award-winning productions include ''Picnic at Hanging Rock'', ''Gallipoli'', ''The Tracker'', ''Shine'' and ''Ten Canoes''. History The Australian film critic David Stratton characterized the history of the country's film as one of "boom and bust": there have been deep troughs, during which few films were made for decades, and high peaks, during ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alvin Purple
''Alvin Purple'' is a 1973 Australian sex comedy film starring Graeme Blundell in the title role; the screenplay was written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall, through his production company Hexagon Productions and Village Roadshow. The film received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this, it was a major hit with Australian audiences. ''Alvin Purple'' became the most commercially successful Australian film released to that time, breaking the box-office record previously set by Michael Powell's pioneering Anglo-Australian comedy feature '' They're a Weird Mob'' (1966), grossing $A4.7 million locally ($49 million in 2022). Story synopsis ''Alvin Purple'' is a sex-farce which follows the misadventures of a naïve young Melbourne man Alvin Purple, whom women find irresistible. Working as a door-to-door waterbed salesman, Alvin (unsuccessfully) tries to resist legions of women who want him. Alvin is so worn-out he seeks medical help to sol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantasm Comes Again
''Fantasm Comes Again'' is a 1977 Australian softcore pornographic film. It is the sequel to '' Fantasm'' (1976) and was the first feature directed by Colin Eggleston. Plot Journalist Libbie is taking over the "Dear Collette" sex advice column at her newspaper from veteran reporter Harry, who is retiring. Over the course of one night, Harry talks Libbie through a series of letters from their readers. They include: *rape in a drive in theatre *teacher-student sex in a gym *lesbian seduction in a barn *a suburban orgy *incest *sex in a pool *sex in a library *oral sex on the road *a threesome in an elevator *sex between monks and a nun. Cast ;Wraparound Story * Angela Menzies-Wills as Libbie * Clive Hearne as Harry ;''Silence Please'' * Tom Thumb as Harold * Liz Wolfe as Rita * Rosemarie Bern as Cindy * Christine De Shaffer as First Reader * Pat Benco as Second Reader (credited as Pat Manning) * Martin Margulies as Third Reader ;''Workout'' * Rick Cassidy as Mr. Bates * Michael B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Storm Boy (1976 Film)
''Storm Boy'' is a 1976 Australian drama film based on the 1964 book of the same name by Colin Thiele, about a lonely boy and his pet pelicans living in a coastal wilderness with his reclusive father. It was the third feature film made by the South Australian Film Corporation, and is a highlight of the New Wave of Australian Cinema from the 1970s. The film was financed by SAFC, Seven Network and the Australian Film Commission. Plot Mike ( Greg Rowe) is a lonely young boy wandering through the fierce deserted coast of South Australia's Coorong, near the mouth of the Murray River. He and his reclusive father 'Hide Away' Tom (Peter Cummins) live in the isolated sand dunes facing the Southern Ocean. In search of friendship, Mike encounters another recluse in the wilderness, Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil), an Aboriginal man estranged from his tribal people. Fingerbone names Mike "Storm Boy" and enlists the child's help caring for three orphaned pelican chicks. Eventually, Mike' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deathcheaters
''Deathcheaters'' is a 1976 Australian action adventure film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith and starring John Hargreaves and Grant Page. Plot Steve and Rodney are two ex-Vietnam commandos who do stunt work for television. They are hired by the government to raid the island stronghold of a Filipino racketeer and secure papers from his safe. The two men make the raid and escape using a hang-glider. Cast * John Hargreaves as Steve Hall * Grant Page as Rodney Cann *Margaret Trenchard-Smith (as Margaret Gerard) as Julia Hall * Noel Ferrier as Mr Culpepper *Judith Woodroffe as Gloria *Ralph Cotterill as uncivil servant *John Krumme as Anticore director *Drew Forsythe as battle director *Brian Trenchard-Smith as hit and run director *Michael Aitkens as police driver *Roger Ward as police sergeant *Wallas Eaton as police sergeant *Dale Aspin as lady car driver *Peter Collingwood as Mr Langham *Chris Haywood as butcher *Ann Semler as Lina *Max Aspin as bank robber *David Bracks as ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantasm
''Fantasm'' is a 1976 Australian softcore pornographic film, directed by Richard Franklin under a pseudonym. It was followed by a sequel, ''Fantasm Comes Again'', the following year, directed by a pseudonymous Colin Eggleston. Plot German psychiatrist Professor Jungenot A. Freud takes the audience through a series of female sexual fantasies including: *sex in a beauty salon *fruit fetishism *lesbianism in a sauna *teacher student seduction *rape in a gym *transvestism *reverse Oedipus complex (Electra complex) Cast ;Wraparound Story *John Bluthal as Professor Jungenot A. Freud *Ronnie Scholes as Self-Pleasuring Woman ;''Beauty Parlour'' *Dee Dee Levitt as Abby *Stan Stratton as Hairdresser *John Green as Manicurist *Sam Compton as Barber ''Card Game'' *Maria Arnold as Barbara *Bill Margold as Host *Kirby Hall as Husband *Robert Savage as Other Man *Helen O'Connell as First Girl *Wendy Cavanaugh as Second Girl ;''Wearing the Pants'' *Gretchen Gayle (Gretchen Rudolph) as Gabr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don's Party (film)
''Don's Party'' is a 1976 Australian black comedy film based on the play ''Don's Party'' by David Williamson with a screenplay by Williamson, directed by Bruce Beresford. John Hargreaves plays Don Henderson with Jeanie Drynan as Don's wife Kath. Ray Barrett plays Mal, Don's mentor, and Pat Bishop is his wife. Graham Kennedy plays Mack, Graeme Blundell is the Liberal supporter and Veronica Lang his obedient wife. Kerry (Candy Raymond) is the attractive and assertive artist and Evan (Kit Taylor) is her uptight and possessive partner. Cooley ( Harold Hopkins) comes with his young girlfriend Susan ( Clare Binney). In the film the setting is relocated to the suburb of Westleigh (7 Windam Place) in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The film also deviates from the stage version by increasing the level of profanity and contains full frontal nudity and sex scenes. Pat Bishop won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Veronica Lang won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Suppo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Devil's Playground (1976 Film)
''The Devil's Playground'' is a 1976 Australian drama film written, produced and directed by Fred Schepisi. It is a semi-autobiographical film which tells the story of a boy growing up and going to school in a Catholic juniorate administered by De La Salle Brothers. Its focus is on the trials of the flesh and the tensions that arise, for both Brothers and students, from the religious injunction to control one's sexuality. It is considered part of the Australian New Wave film genre. Premise In August 1953, the 13-year-old Tom Allen attends a Catholic juniorate in Melbourne, Australia. Students and Brothers face individual challenges of faith and self-restraint. Cast * Arthur Dignam as Brother Francine * Nick Tate as Brother Victor * Simon Burke as Tom Allen * Charles McCallum as Brother Sebastian * John Frawley as Brother Celian * Jonathan Hardy as Brother Arnold * Gerry Duggan as Father Hanrahan * Peter Cox as Brother James * Thomas Keneally as Father Marshall * Sheila Fl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caddie (film)
''Caddie'' is an Australian film biopic directed by Donald Crombie and produced by Anthony Buckley. Released on 1 April 1976, it is representative of the Australian film renaissance which occurred during that decade. Set mainly in Sydney during the 1920s and 1930s, including the Great Depression, it portrays the life of a young middle class woman struggling to raise two children after her marriage breaks up. Based on '' Caddie, the Story of a Barmaid'', a partly fictitious autobiography of Catherine Beatrice "Caddie" Edmonds, it made Helen Morse a local star and earned Jacki Weaver and Melissa Jaffer each an Australian Film Institute Award. Plot In 1925 Sydney, Caddie leaves her adulterous and brutish husband and takes her two children, Ann and Terry, with her. Forced to work as a barmaid in a pub she struggles to survive. A brief affair with Ted (Jack Thompson) ends badly when his involvement with another woman comes to light, but she falls in love with a Greek immigrant, Pete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mad Dog Morgan
''Mad Dog Morgan'' is a 1976 Australian bushranger film directed by Philippe Mora and starring Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson and David Gulpilil. It is based upon the life of Dan Morgan. Plot Dan Morgan witnesses a bloody massacre of Chinese on the goldfields and turns into a robber. He is arrested and sent to prison for six years where he is tormented and raped. He is let out on parole and becomes a bushranger, befriending an Aboriginal man, Billy. Morgan fights against the vicious Superintendent Cobham and is eventually killed. Cast * Dennis Hopper as Dan Morgan * Jack Thompson as Detective Manwaring *David Gulpilil as Billy *Frank Thring as Superintendent Cobham *Michael Pate as Superintendent Winch * Wallas Eaton as Macpherson * Bill Hunter as Sergeant Smith * John Hargreaves as Baylis *Martin Harris as Wendlan * Robin Ramsay as Roget *Graeme Blundell as Italian Jack * Gregory Apps as Arthur *Liza Lee-Atkinson as Barmaid *Elaine Baillie as Farm Girl *Don Barkham as Mor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sunday Too Far Away
''Sunday Too Far Away'' is a 1975 Australian drama film directed by Ken Hannam. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance or the "Australian New Wave", which occurred during that decade. The film is set on a sheep station in the Australian outback in 1955 and its action concentrates on the shearers' reactions to a threat to their bonuses and the arrival of non-union labour. Acclaimed for its understated realism of the work, camaraderie and general life of the shearer, Jack Thompson plays the knock-about Foley, a heavy drinking gun shearer (talented professional sheep shearer), and while he makes a play for the station owner's daughter Sheila (Lisa Peers), the film is a presentation of various aspects of Australian male culture and not a romance; the film's title itself is reputedly the lament of an Australian shearer's wife: "Friday night e'stoo tired; Saturday night too drunk; Sunday, too far away". ''Sunday Too Far Away'' won three 1975 Australian Film Institute awards: B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Picnic At Hanging Rock (film)
''Picnic at Hanging Rock'' is a 1975 Australian mystery film directed by Peter Weir and based on the 1967 novel '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' by Joan Lindsay. Cliff Green adapted the novel into a screenplay. The film stars Rachel Roberts, Dominic Guard, Helen Morse, Vivean Gray and Jacki Weaver. The plot involves the disappearance of several schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at Hanging Rock, Victoria on Valentine's Day in 1900, and the subsequent effect on the local community. ''Picnic at Hanging Rock'' was a commercial and critical success, and helped draw international attention to the then-emerging Australian New Wave of cinema. It is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and defining films of the New Wave. In 1996 it was voted the best Australian movie of all time in a poll by the Victorian Centenary of Cinema Committee and the NFSA. In 2025 the film was restored for release into cinemas. Under the supervision of Peter Weir, a new 4K scan of the ori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
