This American production, directed by US director Fred Zimmerman, and starring US and UK stars in its leading roles, does a good job of capturing rural Australia before WW2.
Based on a popular novel by Australian writer Jon Clarey, the film follows Paddy Carmody (played by Robert Mitchum who manages a believable Aussie accent), a rugged individual with a love of travelling, and an ability to turn his hand to droving, shearing and other tough rural occupations.
Deborah Kerr plays his long-suffering wife, Ida, with gusto, as she stands by him while trying to tempt him into becoming a settled man. Unlike Mitchum, her accent veers between cockney and strine, but she's good anyway.
Peter Ustinov avoids the accent problem by playing an educated Englishman adrift in the outback, living off his wits and the various women he charms with his witty repartee. The three, plus young UK actor Michael Anderson Jr as the son, make as strong team as they drove sheep, escape bushfires, go shearing, race horses, play two-up and enjoy outback pub life throughout the film.
It's an attractive film, replete with lots of well-filmed shots of our birdlife (corellas, galahs, emus and kookaburras), wildlife (kolas, kangaroos and wombats) and sheep (jumping, surging, being herded and being shorn), and a story which moves along, Hollywood-style.
There are a few Aussie actors in support roles, notably John Meillon as a young shearer and Chips Rafferty as a foreman.
It's enjoyable and better acted and written than some of the foreign productions in Australia of the 40s and 50s.
Based on a popular novel by Australian writer Jon Clarey, the film follows Paddy Carmody (played by Robert Mitchum who manages a believable Aussie accent), a rugged individual with a love of travelling, and an ability to turn his hand to droving, shearing and other tough rural occupations.
Deborah Kerr plays his long-suffering wife, Ida, with gusto, as she stands by him while trying to tempt him into becoming a settled man. Unlike Mitchum, her accent veers between cockney and strine, but she's good anyway.
Peter Ustinov avoids the accent problem by playing an educated Englishman adrift in the outback, living off his wits and the various women he charms with his witty repartee. The three, plus young UK actor Michael Anderson Jr as the son, make as strong team as they drove sheep, escape bushfires, go shearing, race horses, play two-up and enjoy outback pub life throughout the film.
It's an attractive film, replete with lots of well-filmed shots of our birdlife (corellas, galahs, emus and kookaburras), wildlife (kolas, kangaroos and wombats) and sheep (jumping, surging, being herded and being shorn), and a story which moves along, Hollywood-style.
There are a few Aussie actors in support roles, notably John Meillon as a young shearer and Chips Rafferty as a foreman.
It's enjoyable and better acted and written than some of the foreign productions in Australia of the 40s and 50s.