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Clip description
Prior to its film revival in the early 1970s, Australia was occasionally used as a setting for international productions such as Wake in Fright (1971), directed by Canadian Ted Kotcheff. Sweeping new federal government policies led to a dramatic increase in domestic production.
Curator’s notes
The opening section of Not Quite Hollywood examines the moribund state of Australian feature film production in the 1960s. Using archival news footage and contemporary interviews, a clear picture emerges of a period that cultural commentator and film producer Phillip Adams refers to as ‘ the great cinematic silence’. The importance of the US-Australia co-production Wake in Fright (1971) is acknowledged by actor Jack Thompson as a film made by a foreigner (Canadian Ted Kotcheff) that helped Australian filmmakers discover the kinds of images and stories they wanted to present. Respected (retired) politician Barry Jones draws the connection between conservative Prime Minister John Gorton and his progressive successor, Gough Whitlam, as leaders whose policies enabled the revival of Australian cinema. The excerpts from Wake In Fright (1971) show the ‘ugly Australian’ at his very worst.
