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Patrol Boat – Never Under the White Ensign (1979)

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'A cosy little niche'

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

Clip description

After journalist Jenny Smith (Jacki Weaver) insists on venturing further inland to hunt for insurgents – and hopefully a good story – she finds herself stranded in the bush overnight with 'the Buffer’, Petty Officer Johnston (Danny Adcock). After a day of bickering, the pair have a fiery argument and the Buffer tells her what he really thinks.

Curator’s notes

This is a terrific scene, as Buffer gets to put his perspective. What stops Jenny being a caricature of a hard-nosed feminist is her willingness to listen – look at the variety of reaction shots that Jacki Weaver presents when the camera cuts away from Danny Adcock. The scene is beautifully edited, becoming more intimate as Jenny joins Buffer by the fire and he drops his aggressive tone to open up about his personal life. Danny Adcock’s monologue holds our attention as he presents his case for the ‘ordinary men’ in the navy and touches on some of Patrol Boat’s key themes.

Up to this point, Morphett has allowed both sides of an argument to be heard but here it starts to resolve in favour of the show’s ongoing characters. The Buffer touchingly talks about the impact that navy men’s absences have on their lives at home, in particular their relationships and family lives. Buffer’s reference to the loss of his wife and son touches on a story covered in another episode. Another theme is the idea of the navy as a ‘calling’ – not just a job, but an identity. We are not following characters working nine-to-five jobs simply to earn a paycheck; they are risking their lives for something they believe in. Their passion encourages us to invest in them as characters and follow their adventures.

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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.

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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