Jedda the Uncivilized (1955)
"Jedda" (original title)

Director:

Charles Chauvel

Writers:

Charles Chauvel, Elsa Chauvel

Stars:

Ngarla Kunoth, Robert Tudawali, Betty Suttor

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ngarla Kunoth	...	Jedda
Robert Tudawali	...	Marbuck
Betty Suttor	...	Sarah McMann
Paul Reynall	...	Joe
George Simpson-Lyttle	...	Douglas McMann
Tas Fitzer	...	Peter Wallis
Wason Byers	...	Felix Romeo
Willie Farrar	...	Little Joe
Margaret Dingle	...	Little Jedda
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nosepeg

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

australia

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Taglines:

The BIGGEST Australian films ALL come from CHARLES CHAUVEL "In the Wake of the Bounty" "Heritage" "Uncivilised" "40,000 Horsemen" "The Rats of Tobruk" "Sons of Matthew" .... and now "JEDDA" - biggest of them all!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jedda the Uncivilized

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles Chauvel Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Gevacolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Doug McCann refers to Jedda as a 'Jezebel', a reference to the Biblical queen of the same name. The term is used to denote a wicked woman who tries, through various means, to control men.

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Goofs

The rips in Jedda's shirt vary in the scenes after she and Marbuk are discovered near the waterhole.

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Connections

Referenced in Australia (2008)

User Reviews

A fascinating story leaves vivid memories over 45 years later.

In 1955 when I was 14 years old, my mother and I emigrated to Australia. I went to 8th grade just outside Sydney -- Cremorne Girls High School. The opening of "Jedda" the first Australian color feature film was a very big deal there. In fact the opening of any film was a pretty big deal there, entailing reservations and dressing up.

In "Jedda," the title character, an aboriginal girl is brought up by a white family that adopts her. As a young woman, she is mysteriously drawn to go "Walkabout" as people of her tribe have for hundreds of years.

It must have been a good year for films. "Rock Around the Clock" heralded the dawn of rock 'n roll and "Black Board Jungle" launched the career of Sidney Poitier in a tale of urban classroom violence. "Rebel Without a Cause" came out in 1955 too. I can't remember what films I saw in any particular year before or since more vividly than these. Among those classics, the now unknown "Jedda" stands out with lasting images of a beautiful aboriginal woman, stunning countryside and the residue of an emotional wallop that keeps me thinking and wishing I could see it again over 45 years later.