The History of Australian Cinema

1. The History of Australian Cinema

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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…

5. 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

6. Early censorship • Unfortunately authorities did not approve of bushranger stories. • They were banned in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales within five years.

7. Questions • Why do you think bushrangers were a popular choice for silent films? • Why do you think the authorities banned these bushranger films?

8. Sentimental Bloke (1919)

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. On Our Selection (1932) One of Australia’s first talkies…

12. Questions • How many films did you see in the cinema in the last twelve months? • How many of these were Australian films?

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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 womanwho 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

19. 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.

20. Questions • What was the impact the introduction of television had on Australian cinema? • Has television continued to affect the film industry? Discuss.

21. 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.

22. The New Wave • Australia produced nearly 400 feature films between 1970 and 1985 • More than had ever been made before • New talent emerged

23. 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

24. Questions • How did Gorton’s initiatives encourage a rebirth in Australian cinema?

25. Iconic films of 1970s-2010 • How 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?

26. The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)

27. Alvin Purple (1973) • Stars Graeme Blundell

28. 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 overseas Picnic at Hanging Rock: Watch trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05QuAhpq6o

29. 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)

30. Sunday Too Far Away (1976) • Starring Jack Thompson

31. Storm Boy (1976)

32. Don’s Party (1976)

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

34. Breaker Morant (1979) • Set in the Boer War • Stars Bryan Brown

35. Mad Max (1979) • Directed by George Miller • Starred Mel Gibson

36. My Brilliant Career (1979) • Directed by Gillian Armstrong • Starred Judy Davis and Sam Neill

37. 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

38. The Club (1980) • Based on the famous David Williamson play. • Starred Jack Thompson

39. Fatty Finn (1980) • Period kids’ film.

40. Gallipoli (1981) • Directed by Peter Weir Gallipoli Watch trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8e7ECdG69U

41. Mad Max II/The Road Warrior (1981)

42. Puberty Blues (1981)

43. We of the Never Never (1982)

44. Starstruck (1982)

45. The Man from Snowy River (1982) • Did better than Star Wars in Australia. The Man from Snowy River: Watch trailer on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqlz6lOLtIQ

46. BMX Bandits (1983) • Starring Nicole Kidman • An iconic urban kids’ film BMX Bandits Watch ad on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNjqh1MxiQ

47. 'Crocodile' Dundee (1985) • Australia’s highest grossing film; it does very well in Australia and America Crocodile Dundee: Watch trailer on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrRfx71_4CQ

48. Malcolm (1986) • Directed by NardiaTass • Starring Colin Friels

49. The Year My Voice Broke (1987) • Directed by John Duigan • Starring Noah Taylor and Ben Mendelsohn

50. Rikky and Pete (1988)