‘It’s none of our business’ (1982)
One of the white stockmen (John Jarratt) tells the senior men in the Aboriginal camp that they will get no tobacco, flour or sugar if the women neglect their work as domestics for Mrs Gunn. When one elder threatens his ... [read more]
‘To show mercy where war shows none’ (1940)
The Red Cross provides assistance for servicemen fighting overseas. Scenes of battle and war contextualise their work. A recovering serviceman becomes a ‘son, brother, father and sweetheart’. By helping the Red Cross, the narration explains, ‘you help him too’. [read more]
‘Oh, the pain!’ (1972)
Bev (Abigail) is none too happy to discover her mother Claire Houghton (Thelma Scott) waiting inside her apartment. Claire is demanding some answers about her daughter’s present lifestyle. [read more]
Off the record (1977)
There were finally three verbal confessions by Ryan (played in this re-creation by Bill Hunter) saying that he had shot the prison warder. None was signed by Ryan, who only signed documents saying that he would give no verbal testimony. [read more]
‘A game of skill, touch and patience’ (2002)
Jack Simpson (Mick Molloy) has been ordered to turn up to play bowls, or lose his membership in the club. Club president Len (Frank Wilson) thinks there’s some mistake, because he’s never seen Simpson before. Team skipper Stan (Bill Hunter) ... [read more]
Christmas barbarians (1995)
Mrs Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) has just measured Babe, because she’s planning on roast pork for Christmas lunch. The old ewe Maa (Miriam Flynn) is disgusted at the thought of someone eating a pig, but Babe is none the wiser. He ... [read more]
Sharing culture and country (2002)
A clip from Mike Willesee’s The Hunting Party (1990) shows David and others in a swamp hunting for goanna. The group convince Willesee to enter the water on the premise of there being no crocodiles. Gulpilil in voice-over tells us ... [read more]
‘My name’s Tess’ (1996)
Tess Silverman (Kym Wilson) is looking for Drover’s Run when her car breaks down and is surrounded by a herd of cattle being mustered by none other than Jack McLeod (Jack Thompson), the father she hasn’t seen in 20 years. ... [read more]
A baby cries (1989)
A mother sits holding her daughter, cradling her on her lap. A soft light falls over them. Beyond the light is darkness. Then the woman, now older, lies on her back, her daughter in a foetal position curled by her ... [read more]
Operation Overland pipeline (1954)
As part of Operation Overland, a man dressed in diving gear is lowered into the water to work on the 36-mile oil pipeline. Workers drain parts of the Werribee River so the line can be placed under the riverbed. The ... [read more]
Tiddly Pete (1957)
Wharfie Tiddly Pete (Jock Levy) is drinking at the Royal Oak Hotel when he should be reporting for work at the waterfront. He leaves the pub drunk and stumbles across the road into the traffic. On his way down to ... [read more]
A totally casual thing (1976)
Penny (Briony Behets) comes home in the middle of the day and finds her husband Richard (John Derum) with another woman, Dee (Judy Morris). Both women are surprised and humiliated. After Dee leaves, Penny and Richard argue about Richard’s lack ... [read more]
‘Ask the Leyland Brothers’ (1976)
The Provost Brothers theme tune accompanies the opening credits to Ask the Leyland Brothers. The episode begins with an introduction from Mike and Mal Leyland. [read more]
Belonging to Australia (2004)
Eric Bana insists that he doesn’t feel obliged to return to make films in Australia, he simply follows good projects, like the Australian gem The Nugget which he returned for after filming The Hulk in Hollywood in 2003. [read more]
The worst insult in the universe (1995)
The man (Syd Brisbane) and the woman (Ulli Birvé) arrive in the desert outside Las Vegas, because he has always wanted to go there. She does not, so she waits overnight while he tries his luck. They jump through space-time ... [read more]
‘How are you?’ (1998)
Arriving at work for the day, Laura Gibson (Sigrid Thornton) tries to take Diver Dan’s advice and really mean it when she asks her clerk, Angus (Tom Long), ‘How are you?’, much to his bemusement. When court is in session, ... [read more]
‘I can see lawnmowers’ (1985)
In the year 1770, Captain James Cook (Rob Sitch) and Joseph Banks (Michael Veitch) approach Australia on their ship. They imagine the future of the country as they decide whether to land. [read more]
‘You take the minutes, do ya?’ (2008)
In the first meeting, Alex (Grant Dodwell) sees Freddy (Steve Rodgers) writing and asks if he’s taking the minutes. Freddy explains that he likes to write down things he’s observed as potential material for his stand-up comedy act. Cecil (Don ... [read more]
‘Where you going?’ (1957)
Macauley (Peter Finch) tries to sneak away from the Sweeney’s guesthouse, after Buster (Dana Wilson) has gone to sleep, but she’s too wise for that. She demands to go with him. He tells her to stay with Bella and Luke ... [read more]
‘Self–bloody-control!’ (1975)
Kenny (Martin Harris), handcuffed to the balustrade, taunts his wife Fiona (Jacki Weaver) and Sergeant Simmonds (Peter Cummins) with sexual provocations. The senior policeman lashes out, watched by Fiona, Constable Ross (John Hargreaves), the removalist (Chris Haywood) and Fiona’s sister ... [read more]
