Australian
Screen

Teacher’s notes

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This clip shows Mr Norton (Max Phipps), a prison officer, entering the cell of prisoner China Jackson (Bryan Brown) to apologise for breaking a promise. Norton sits on the bed and talks about the fear he felt when he first started working at the prison and what it took to overcome it. Jackson is silent throughout the clip. Norton leaves with a reminder to Jackson that he’ll know what to expect if Jackson 'tries it on again’.

Educational value points

• The performances by Bryan Brown as the prisoner and Max Phipps as the prison guard emphasise the power difference between the characters. Jackson remains tense, still and largely silent as Norton delivers his monologue; however, equal weight is given to the two characters through lighting, editing, placement and the strength of the acting itself. Though the prison guard talks openly about his earlier fear of the prisoners, his body language and physical confidence as he 'commandeers’ the cell present a contrast to Jackson’s alert, brooding and contained presence.

• Stir is a fictional film based on actual events, including the 1974 riot at Bathurst prison in New South Wales and the subsequent Royal Commission Inquiry. It was scripted by Bob Jewson, who was a prisoner at Bathurst jail at the time of the riot.

• Bathurst jail was built in the last quarter of the 19th century and was typical of the penal prisons used for convicts during British settlement. Conditions at the prison were appalling; windows had no glass, and prisoners, who spent up to 18 hours a day in their cells, were exposed to the elements. The poor conditions and violence perpetrated by prison officers are believed to have been the impetus for the 1974 riots, which resulted in the prison being destroyed by fire and many prisoners being wounded by gunfire.

• Stir was a controversial Australian film at the time of its release due to the violence depicted and the coarse language used. This made it the centre of controversy among funding bodies, censors and audiences. Upon its release, Stir was rated 'R’ but the rating was changed to 'M’ after an appeal just before its release in October 1980.

• Brown and Phipps’s performances in Stir are considered by many to be the best of their careers. Both actors were nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Actor for their performances in the film.

• The clip highlights the work of award-winning actor Bryan Brown (1943–) whose 30-year career has included extensive work as an actor and, more recently, as a producer. His acting credits include Love Letters from Teralba Road (1977), Newsfront (1978), The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), Breaker Morant (1980), Dead Heart (1996), Two Hands (1999) and Dirty Deeds (2002). He won AFI awards for Best Supporting Actor for both Breaker Morant and Two Hands. In 1997, he won a Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) Special Achievement Award for his contribution to Australian films.

• Max Phipps (1939–2000) who features as the prison officer was a successful actor who appeared in more than 50 television programs and films during his 30-year career. Phipps played a range of lead and support roles and his credits include The Cars that Ate Paris (1974), A Country Practice (1983, 1985), Mad Max 2 (1981), The Dismissal (1983), and Wildside (1998).

• Stir was the debut feature film of prominent Australian film director Stephen Wallace (1943–), whose career has spanned more than 30 years. He had made a shorter film three years earlier, Love Letters from Teralba Road (1977). Stir was released in 1980 and received nominations for 11 AFI Awards (including Best Film and Best Actor). Other films and television programs directed by Wallace include The Boy Who Had Everything (1984), Mail Order Bride (1984), For Love Alone (1986), The Flying Doctors (1986), Blood Oath (1990), Turtle Beach (1991), Seven Deadly Sins (1992) and Water Rats (1998).

We see Jackson lying in his bed in the dark in his jail cell. He hears the rattling of keys as though someone is entering his cell. He gets up out of bed to turn on the light. Mr Norton enters Jackson’s cell.
Mr Norton Relax. I’ve just come to say I’m sorry about old Bob and your mate, 124.
Jackson Tony?
Mr Norton Yeah. They shanghai’d him too. I did all I could. The front office doesn’t believe in promises.
Mr Norton sits down on the empty bed inside the cell. He takes off his hat, reaches for a cigarette and offers one to Jackson.
Mr Norton Smoke?
Jackson doesn’t reply but just stands in disgust and watches Mr Norton light up his cigarette.
Mr Norton You know, when I started working here 16 years ago, I was pretty scared. I don’t know what it was – the movies I’d seen, the television, I don’t know. They put me on the tower on my first day with a rifle. I looked down into the yards and all you crims, you all looked pretty tough to me. I even imagined what I’d do if ever you stormed up the tower, whether I’d drop the rifle and jump or stay and be a hero. Anyway, the oldest screws told me that the only way to control you blokes was to stay on top. Always keep you under our thumbs. And it worked. And I wasn’t scared anymore. That’s up until you blokes took over the jail three years ago. I realised then that the only way we had control was because you let us have control. There’s always been more of you than there is of us. Then I got scared again. So when we got control back, we had to belt you guys to make you scared. So you know what to expect if you try it on again.
We see Mr Norton leaving Jackson’s jail cell and he turns off the light. Jackson is left standing there contemplating what Mr Norton has said to him.