Share
Clip description
Tom (David Morgan) tries out the magic boomerang for the first time. He throws it and the magical powers described in his great-grandfather’s letter are demonstrated when horses, cows, sheep and his dog all freeze and only move again when he catches the boomerang. When his greedy cousin Harvey (Fred Parslow) arrives on horseback and tries to steal the letter, Tom puts the boomerang to good use. He freezes Harvey, recovers the letter and even replaces it with a flower. He calls Wombat (Rodney Pearlman) to share in the discovery and Tom can’t help but have some fun at his expense. Unlike Tom’s father, Wombat is open to the possibility of magic.
Curator’s notes
This clip demonstrates the powers of the Magic Boomerang while Tom’s great-grandfather’s letter is revisited in a voice-over memory. The special effects were achieved by simply freezing the frame or by selected actors (in this case cousin Harvey) remaining very still while others move in frame. Strange music plays every time Tom handles the boomerang adding to the air of mystery and magic.
Again, Tom’s strong narrative point of view is demonstrated here and continues in voice-over as he describes telephoning Wombat to join him. The performances of the actors are larger than life in comparison to the more realistic performances seen in much contemporary children’s drama. This clip also features the child-led storytelling, humour (often at the expense of adult characters) and fantasy wish fulfilment typical of the series.
