The History of Australian Cinema

Australian Voices & Identity Seeing your own country on the big

screen is important. Hearing your own language and accent. Seeing your own landmarks Your own stories.

It is a matter of national pride and identity.

Themes reflected in Australian films Bushranger Bush culture War and military culture Larrikin culture Young and Urban Action and Horror

These went in and out of fashion and reflect different aspects of Australian identity.

Birth of Australian Cinema Soldiers of the Cross (1900) The Salvation army presented this lecture

at the Melbourne Town Hall. It consisted of 13 short films, spoken material and songs.

Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth (1901): 30 mins of Australian History captured on film

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) First Feature Film made in Australia, possibly the world…

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)

The Story of the Kelly Gang: Watch some on YouTube:(Bank Robbery scene 3.06)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk1ZunbY7Xc&feature=related

Early censorship

Unfortunately authorities did not approve of bushranger stories.

They were banned in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales within five years.

Questions

Why do you think bushrangers were a popular choice for silent films?

Why do you think the authorities banned these bushranger films?

Sentimental Bloke (1919)

Trouble in the 1920s Film was becoming big business. American and British companies were taking

over distribution. Often they would not show local films. In 1922-23, 94% of films shown in Australia were from America.

There was a Royal Commission into the industry’s decline in 1928. This did little to slow the decline.

1928: The Sound Era The first talkie was an American

film called “The Jazz Singer”. It set a new record.

Showed for 46 weeks in 1928 – 1929 at Sydney's Lyceum Theatre.

In 1928, audiences went up when talking pictures arrived.

187 million tickets were sold that year.

In 1930, Showgirl’s Luck began production in June – Australia’s first talkie.

On Our Selection (1932)

One of Australia’s first talkies…

Questions

How many films did you see in the cinema in the last twelve months?

How many of these were Australian films?

1933: Errol Flynn arrives

Australian actor, Errol Flynn, became one of the world’s biggest movie stars within two years.

In The Wake of the Bounty (1933) Directed by (Australian) Charles

Chauvel. He was paid £30 for three weeks work.

1939: Resources needed for the war Available film used for newsreels and

propaganda films. Films sent to troops in New Guinea

and remote parts of Australia

Kokoda Front Line! Watch some on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WZURx5w0Ps

1950s: The Death of Australian Film A government rule in 1951 about

raising capital for companies all but destroyed the industry.

Between 1952 and 1966 there were an average of two films made in Australia including co-productions

1950s: Exodus of Actors Many actors left Australia in

these years. Some did very well.

Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell (Murder She Said, 1961)

Rod Taylor (The Time Machine, 1960)

Diane Cilento (Tom Jones, 1963) Ray Barrett (The Reptile, 1966) Leo McKern (The Day the Earth

Caught Fire, 1961) Peter Finch (The Trials of Oscar

Wilde, 1961).

From top to bottom: Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, Diane Cilento, Peter Finch

1954: The First Drive-In in Australia The Skyline drive-in opens in Burwood. The first of 330 drive-ins. Numbers fall dramatically when home

video was introduced in the 1980s.

There are fewer than 20 drive-ins in Australia today.

Jedda (1955) The first Australian film shot in colour. Directed by Charles Chauvel. The first film to have serious

Aboriginal characters. It is a story about a white woman

who lives on a Cattle Station andafter losing a child, adopts anIndigenous baby, a girl she calls‘Jedda’.

Jedda: Watch first scene on YouTube (Start 1.37 in):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbqX2T-ZzRE

1956: Television is introduced

Channel 9 in Sydney began regular transmissions.

The first show was called “This is television”.

By 1959 28% of cinema’s in Sydney had closed and 33% of Melbourne’s indoor cinemas.

Between 1960 and 1966 only seven feature films were made in Australia.

Questions

What was the impact the introduction of television had on Australian cinema?

Has television continued to affect the film industry? Discuss.

1968: Australian Film Development Corporation Prime Minister Gorton

created the Australian Film Development Corporation

Creates the Experimental Film Fund with $100,000

Creates the Australian Film and Television School (AFTS), which opened in 1973.

The New Wave

Australia produced nearly 400 feature films between 1970 and 1985

More than had ever been made before

New talent emerged

The New Talent Directors

Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career) Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock) Phil Noyce (Backroads) Bruce Beresford Fred Schepisi

(The Devil’s Playground) Actors

Judy Davis Sam Neill Mel Gibson

Questions

How did Gorton’s initiatives encourage a rebirth in Australian cinema?

Iconic films of 1970s-2010How many of the following films have you seen?

Identify the genres, eg. Horror, romance, comedy, urban realism etc.

What are some of the Australian iconic images or themes explored in these films?

The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)

Alvin Purple (1973)

Stars Graeme Blundell

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Based on a famous book and real

incident Directed by well-known and

respected director, Peter Weir Did very

well overseasPicnic at Hanging Rock: Watch trailer on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05QuAhpq6o

1975: Colour television hits hard Admission went from 68.4 million in

1974 to 28.9 million in 1976 Australian box-office admissions did

not exceed 60 million again until 1994 (68.1 million)

Sunday Too Far Away (1976) Starring Jack Thompson

Storm Boy (1976)

Don’s Party (1976)

Dot and the Kangaroo (1977) Animated and live action. Kids film.

Breaker Morant (1979)

Set in the Boer War Stars Bryan Brown

Mad Max (1979)

Directed by George Miller Starred Mel Gibson

My Brilliant Career (1979) Directed by Gillian

Armstrong Starred Judy Davis

and Sam Neill

1980s: Tax Breaks increased production Changes to Australian

taxation law saw an explosion of films in the 1980s

Some revisited war and bush culture

Increasingly these films were confident and urban.

Includes the production of more crime films

The Club (1980)

Based on the famous David Williamson play.

Starred Jack Thompson

Fatty Finn (1980)

Period kids’ film.

Gallipoli (1981)

Directed by Peter Weir

Gallipoli Watch trailer on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8e7ECdG69U

Mad Max II/The Road Warrior (1981)

Puberty Blues (1981)

We of the Never Never (1982)

Starstruck (1982)

The Man from Snowy River (1982) Did better than Star Wars in

Australia.

The Man from Snowy River: Watch trailer on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqlz6lOLtIQ

BMX Bandits (1983)

Starring Nicole Kidman An iconic urban kids’ film

BMX Bandits Watch ad on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNjqh1MxiQ

'Crocodile' Dundee (1985)

Australia’s highest grossing film; it does very well in Australia and America

Crocodile Dundee: Watch trailer on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrRfx71_4CQ

Malcolm (1986)

Directed by Nardia Tass Starring Colin Friels

The Year My Voice Broke (1987) Directed by John

Duigan Starring Noah Taylor

and Ben Mendelsohn

Rikky and Pete (1988)

Young Einstein (1988)

The Big Steal (1990)

Death in Brunswick (1991)

Romper Stomper (1992)

Urban crime flick Stars Russell Crowe

Spotswood (1992)

Urban period piece Anthony Hopkins Ben Mendelsohn

Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Reckless Kelly (1993)

Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

Bill Hunter and Toni Collette

The Sum of Us (1994)

Russell Crowe Jack Thompson

Sirens (1994)

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Babe (1995)

The Castle (1997)

The Castle: Watch some on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqhQ9jN3gj4

Shine (1997)

Geoffrey Rush wins an Academy Award for his performance

Looking for Alibrandi (1999)

Two Hands (1999)

Urban crime film Starring Heath

Ledger and Rose Byrne

The Dish (2000)

Bootmen (2000)

Chopper (2000)

Urban crime Based on a book Starring Eric

Bana as “Chopper Reid”

Lantana (2001)

Anthony LaPaglia Geoffrey Rush Kerry Armstrong

Moulin Rouge (2001) A Baz Luhrmann

film – one of Australia’s most well known directors overseas (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Australia)

Starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman

Crackerjack (2002)

Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) Central Aboriginal

characters Based on a true

story Period drama

Ned Kelly (2003)

Bushranger period film Starring Heath Ledger at “Ned Kelly”

Thunderstruck (2004)

Little Fish (2005)

Stars Cate Blanchett and Sam Neill Urban and bleak

Look Both Ways (2005)

Urban realism

Wolf Creek (2005)

Horror

Ten Canoes (2006) First Aboriginal language feature

produced

Happy Feet (2006)

Kenny (2006)

Candy (2006)

Starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish

Urban realism

Australia (2008)

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Australia Watch trailer on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zTnDTpbHI

Red Dog (2010)

List of highest-grossing Australian films

Rank Title Year of

release Budget (A$) Australian gross (A$)

Worldwide gross (US$)

1 Crocodile Dundee

1986 $11,500,000 $47,707,045 $328,203,506

2 Australia 2008$200,000,000 (US$130,000,000, US$78,000,000 after tax incentives)

$36,780,000 $211,342,221

3 Babe 1995 $30,000,000 $36,770,000 $254,134,910

4 Happy Feet 2006 $132,740,000 $31,800,000 $384,300,000

5 Moulin Rouge! 2001 $100,453,600 $27,700,000 $179,213,434

6 Crocodile Dundee 2

1988 $15,800,000 $24,900,000 $239,606,210

7 Strictly Ballroom

1992 $3,000,000 $21,800,000 $37,763,5928 The Dish 2000 - $18,000,000 -9 The Man From

Snowy River1982 - $17,200,000 -

10 Red Dog 2011 $8,500,000$21,125,682 (as of 12/12/2011)

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QuestionsWhy did the films on the previous slide do so well overseas?

What made them so appealing to both Australian AND international audiences?

Is Australian identity and culture accessible to international audiences? Why/why not?