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The Legend of Damien Parer (1964)

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The early years education content clip 2

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Damien Parer was the youngest child of a Spanish-born publican father and an Irish mother. He followed the faith of his parents and grew up a deeply religious Catholic. His faith never wavered throughout his life and his fascination for the camera, which began at school under the tutelage of one of the Brothers, would become the other defining passion of his life.

Curator’s notes

Beautifully lit and shot, and elegantly directed, this early sequence from the film expertly but succinctly sets up everything that is to come, and its main themes – Parer’s devotion to the camera, religion and love of country. The religious sequences are particularly striking, and effectively communicate the power of Catholicism over the young man, while the strength of the images presage his own striking camerawork.

If the child is father to the man, then Damien Parer was always true to his beginnings. His faith as a practising Catholic came from his deeply religious parents and his devotion to country was in evidence from his early days at school in Bathurst. This passion was never more evident than when his camera work extolled the men on the front-line who were prepared to fight and die for their country, as indeed was he.

Damien Parer was married in 1944 to the girl he’d first met in 1936 through their local church. As was often the case in those days, the couple waited until he had his first permanent job before marrying. He was killed in action just six months later. His son, the producer Damien Parer, was born after his father’s death.

This documentary of Parer’s life and work was made by the ABC just 20 years after his death, with interviews from those who had known and loved him. Gil Brealey interviewed Damien’s widow, Elizabeth; Elsa Chauvel, one of the earliest pioneers of the Australian film industry with her husband Charles; Maslyn Williams, a great friend and filmmaker; and Max Dupain, with whom Damien had worked as a stills photographer when the Australian movie industry was in the doldrums. The documentary’s director was Gil Brealey, the ABC’s very first film director, who also spoke to some of the servicemen who had known Damien Parer on the battlefield. The Legend of Damien Parer won a silver medal for the ABC in the AFI Awards of 1964. Gil Brealey introduced the documentary at the Sydney Film Festival in the same year.

Gil Brealey recalls that the editor Rod Adamson did an amazing job of researching and finding Damien Parer’s footage from the wartime archive.

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This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.

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Downloadable Video – FOR EDUCATIONAL CRITICISM AND REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY

This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.

Terms & Conditions

australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described here and elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. ALL rights are reserved.

You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading this clip:

When you access ABC materials on australianscreen you agree that:

  1. You may download this clip to assist your information, criticism and review purposes in conjunction with viewing this website only;
  2. Downloading this clip for purposes other than criticism and review is Prohibited;
  3. Downloading for purposes other than non-commercial educational uses is Prohibited;
  4. Downloading this clip in association with any commercial purpose is Prohibited;

The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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