The History of Australian Cinema
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Transcript of The History of Australian Cinema
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?