Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

The Bradman Era (1982)

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clip Our Don Bradman education content clip 1

This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

In an excerpt from the 1931 Australasian Films featurette That’s Cricket, Don Bradman, regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time, addresses the camera. We hear the popular song Our Don Bradman written by Jack O’Hagan and performed by Art Leonard over scenes of Bradman on the field.

Curator’s notes

by Damien Parer

Shot in glorious black-and-white, Don Bradman speaks to camera wearing his batsman’s uniform. It is good quality historical footage, the only unfortunate aspect is the sound recording which gives Bradman a slightly 'quacky’ voice. When this was filmed, 'talkies’ were only relatively new and sound recording onto film stock was still an emerging technology.

As the footage progresses we see pans of the stadium, the crowd and the action of play. The song 'Our Don Bradman’ and applause sound effects have been added successfully in post-production. For any lover of cricket, this footage is a real gem; the quality is good and it has been professionally shot. It is a wonderful document of the 1930s cricketing era.

Teacher’s notes

provided by The Le@rning FederationEducation Services Australia

This black-and-white clip shows cricketer Donald 'Don’ Bradman addressing the camera and giving advice to youngsters on how to play cricket. This is followed by a slow pan across a cricket ground, showing the crowds attending a match, and then closer shots of the crowd. Bradman is shown walking onto the ground, batting and making a run. The clip finishes with a shot of the scoreboard. The song 'Our Don Bradman’ plays through most of the clip.

Educational value points

  • The clip includes footage of Australian cricket hero Sir Donald Bradman (1908–2001). Bradman made his Test debut in 1928 and, during his 21-year career, became one of Australian’s most admired and respected sportspeople. He captained the Australian cricket team for almost a decade, averaged a century (100 runs) once in every three innings, had a career average of 99 runs per innings and from 1930 to 1959 held the world-record score in first-class cricket of 452 not out. After he retired in 1948, Bradman continued to play an active role as a cricket administrator. He has been widely acknowledged as the world’s best-ever batsman, one of the top international sportspeople of the 20th century and a great Australian icon.
  • The hit Australian song 'Our Don Bradman’, featured in the clip, was composed in 1930 by a popular Australian songwriter of the first half of the 20th century, Jack O’Hagan. O’Hagan went on to write tributes to other famous figures and was well known for his song 'Along the road to Gundagai’ (1922), which also became a classic.
  • 'Our Don Bradman’ is performed in this clip by radio announcer and singer Len Maurice, using his performing name of Art Leonard. Leonard had a light tenor voice, and went on to become an important figure in the local folk and country music scene.
  • Footage is included of Bradman giving cricketing advice to young people. Even as a young batsman in the 1920s and 1930s, Bradman found the time to coach hundreds of young cricketers nationally. In 1987 he supported the establishment of the Bradman Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust that provides university scholarships for talented young cricketers and gives the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Award. Summer cricket camps are also run every year at Bradman Oval in the New South Wales town of Bowral, where Bradman spent much of his childhood.
  • Cheering crowds and the song 'Our Don Bradman’ are used to capture the patriotic spirit that Bradman inspired. Australians truly revered this relatively diminutive (1.7 m) sporting hero, as a talented cricketer and as a gentleman. Bradman also displayed his bravery in facing up to the infamous 'Bodyline’ deliveries (1932–33), which were largely aimed at diminishing his influence. Few other sportsmen have attained such a level of national support and international appreciation. Bradman’s eulogy noted that he was an internationally respected ambassador for the game and one of the first Australians to be considered a figure of world standing.
  • The packed stadium illustrates the popularity of cricket in early-20th-century Australia. Cricket is recognised as one of Australia’s most popular sports and prowess in international cricket has become an important part of Australia’s national identity. Australia has been involved in Test cricket from its very beginnings, being part of the first Test match against England in 1877. Prior to this, an Indigenous Australian team toured England in 1868, becoming the first Australian team to do so. Female cricket teams have flourished in Australia since the 1930s.

This clip starts approximately 3 minutes into the documentary.

Don Bradman, standing on the cricket pitch in his whites, addresses the camera.

Don Bradman Cricket is a glorious game and is made more interesting and sporting because of its uncertainty. Play the game for the game’s sake, is my advice for the youngsters coming on, and keep your eyes on the ball.

Bradman walking onto field in front of a huge crowd and taking the first ball. The final shot is of Bradman name on the scoreboard with one run. We hear Our Don Bradman by Jack O’Hagan, performed by Art Leonard, over the scenes.

Art Leonard (singing) Who is it that all Australia raves about? Who has won our very highest praise? Now, is it Amy Johnson, or little Mickey Mouse? No, it’s just a country lad bringing down the house. And he’s our Don Bradman. Now, I ask you, is he any good? Our Don Bradman. As a batsman he can sure lay on the wood. For when he goes in to bat, he knocks every record flat. For there isn’t anything he cannot do. Our Don Bradman, every Aussie dips his lid to you!