Despite a recent history of quality films, Australian directors have never had what Hollywood types like to call a ”monster hit” in the United States.
”That`s because these are foreign films,” explained Richard Guardian, North American representative for the Los Angeles-based Australian Film Commission. ”There are cultural differences between the U.S. and other places and the average American audience obviously relates a lot more to an American film with American values and American culture.”
That partly explains why Guardian and others predicted that ”`Crocodile` Dundee” would be an Australian breakthrough film here.
”Half the film was shot in the United States with substantial American on-screen participation,” he said. ”Paul Hogan is known in the United States and the story is not necessarily a culturally and ethically Australian story. The story is about someone who could be from anywhere.”
Whether the success of ”`Crocodile` Dundee” will make American audiences more receptive to Australian films in the future is uncertain. But it may broaden many filmgoers` associations with Australian films, which for the most part are considered small, serious, high-quality films. That`s because American audiences see only the best from Down Under, while the duds stay down there.
”Of course, we are seeing the cream of the crop,” said Leonard Maltin, film historian and movie critic for ”Entertainment Tonight.” ”I think you have to remember you`re not seeing the sum total of their film product.
”But there definitely seems to be a humanism to their films that I find appealing. At their best, I think they not only hold their own with American films of the `80s, but in many cases they surpass them. And for a small country to have such a high percentage of winners is no small feat.”
If ”`Crocodile` Dundee” and its star Paul Hogan whet your appetite for more Australian films, there is a surprising number available on
videocassette.
For some moviegoers, director Peter Weir (”Witness”) is the Australian film industry. Weir films on videocassette include:
–”Picnic At Hanging Rock” (1975; Vestron Video; PG)–Three schoolgirls and their teacher set out for a picnic one sunny day around the turn of the century and mysteriously disappear in this moody and atmospheric work.
–”The Last Wave” (1978; Warner Home Video; PG)–A lawyer (Richard Chamberlain) defends an aborigine accused of murder, only to become haunted by apocalyptic images concerning tidal waves.
–”The Plumber” (1980; Media Home Entertainment; NR)–Made-for-Australian -TV comedy that centers on an obnoxious plumber who makes a house call and then stays to terrorize the occupants.
–”Gallipoli” (1981; Paramount Home Video; PG)–Mel Gibson and Mark Lee are idealists who think they can make a difference in the World War I battle of Gallipoli between Australia and the German-allied Turks.
–”The Year Of Living Dangerously” (1983; MGM-UA Home Video; PG)–Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for her role as a man in this fast-paced romantic drama about an Australian journalist (Mel Gibson) covering Indonesia on the eve of the coup against Sukarno in 1965. Sigourney Weaver as a British attache is Gibson`s love interest.
Beyond Weir, the Australian film crop is rich with talent both behind and in front of the camera. Other films on video include:
”The Earthling” (1981; Vestron Video; PG)–A Peter Collinson film about a terminally ill man (William Holden) who teaches a lost orphan (Ricky Schroder) how to live in the bush country.
”My Brilliant Career” (1979; Vestron Video; G)–Sybylla`s parents are distraught over their daughter`s determination to live an independent life in pursuit of intellectual achievements during turn-of-the-century Australia. Directed by Gillian Armstrong and based on a true story, with outstanding performance by Judy Davis as Sybylla.
”Breaker Morant” (1980; RCA-Columbia Home Video; PG; $24.95)–Riveting drama about the insanity of wars, governments and bureaucracies. Three Australian soldiers during the Boer War are court-martialed on trumped-up charges solely to satisfy the political goals of the British Empire. Stars Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson and John Waters.
”Mad Max” (1979; Vestron Video; R)–Cult classic from director George Miller that launched Mel Gibson, who plays a loner in the post-nuclear war future who seeks revenge on a gang of bikers that murdered his wife and child. Terrific stunts, weird characters and ahead-of-its-time photography.
”Mad Max 2” or ”The Road Warrior” (1981; Warner Bros. Home Video;
R)–The sequel made Gibson a star and drew people back to the original. This time around, Max comes to the aid of an encampment of nuclear war survivors terrorized by those bad bikers.
”Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985; Warner Bros. Home Video; PG-13)–
Disappointing to many hardcore Max fans. This third installment finds Max helping a band of children. Tina Turner leads the bad guys.
”Careful, He Might Hear You” (1983; CBS-Fox Home Video; PG)–Young Nicholas Gledhill plays a young boy who, after the death of his mother, is caught in a nasty custody fight between a loving, working-class aunt and a wealthy, aloof aunt.
”The Man From Snowy River” (1982; CBS-Fox Home Video; PG)–Old-fashioned American-style Western, and one of the most successful Australian films at the box office. A headstrong young man goes to work for a ruthless cattleman in the 1880s and falls in love with his daughter. Directed by George Miller, with strong action scenes and high-spirited acting by Kirk Douglas, who plays dual role. Based on an epic Australian poem.
”The Pirate Movie” (1982; CBS-Fox Home Video; PG)–Poorly received version of Gilbert and Sullivan`s ”The Pirates of Penzance” stars Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins.
”Phar Lap” (1983; Playhouse Video; PG)–Story of champion racehorse Phar Lap, whose mysterious death in 1932 after winning 37 races in three years has made the animal an Australian legend.
”Don`s Party” (1976; VidAmerica; NR)–Comedy by Bruce Beresford about a group of Australian suburban yuppies who get together to watch election results.
”The Getting Of Wisdom” (1977; CBS-Fox Home Video; NR)–Similar to, but not quite as good as, ”My Brilliant Career,” this Bruce Beresford film centers on a 13-year-old girl from the outback who fights for her
individuality at a stuffy finishing school in turn-of-the-century Melbourne.
”The Mango Tree” (1977; VidAmerica; NR)–Director Kevin Dobson`s tale of a young boy`s coming of age during World War I Australia.
”Puberty Blues” (1981; MCA Home Video; R)–Another rites-of-passage film, this one about a young girl, from director Bruce Beresford.
”Winter Of Our Dreams” (1981; U.S.A. Home Video; NR)–John Duigan film about a lonely prostitute (Judy Davis) who becomes romantically involved with a married bookshop owner (Bryan Brown).
”Heatwave” (1983; Thorn EMI-HBO Home Video; R)–Judy Davis is a radical who opposes a $100 million redevelopment project that will destroy a neighborhood. The construction company may have ties to the mob, and worse yet, Davis is attracted to the project architect.
”Kitty and The Bagman” (1982; Embassy Home Entertainment; R)–Dueling madams duke it out in this Donald Crombie comedy-drama about the rivalry between two prominent underworld queens in the 1920s. Film`s greatest asset is its eye for the period.
”We Of The Never Never” (1982; RCA-Columbia Home Video; NR)–Story about the first white woman to marry and settle in the Australian wilderness known as the ”Never Never.”
”Bliss” (1985; New World Video; R)–Happily married family man Harry Joy walks outside during his birthday party, has a heart attack and dies, only to quickly come back to life and discover his idyllic existence isn`t all he thought it was. Biting satire about life and sanity from director Ray Lawrence.
”The Coca-Cola Kid” (1985; Vestron; NR)–Eric Roberts plays a young Coca-Cola exec who discovers a section of Australia that is unaware of the popular soft drink. He tries to exploit the situation, but runs into opposition from a regional soda company, in this funny satire from director Dusan Makavejev about love, sex and competition.
