Newsfront (1978)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

David Elfick (writer)
Bob Ellis (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

29 July 1978 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

They covered the action and shared the excitement.

Plot:

Follows the exploits of movie newsreel reporters.

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Awards:

8 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Bill Hunter	...	Len Maguire
Wendy Hughes	...	Amy Mackenzie
Gerard Kennedy	...	Frank Maguire
Chris Haywood	...	Chris Hewitt
John Ewart	...	Charlie
Don Crosby	...	A.G. Marwood
Angela Punch McGregor	...	Fay (as Angela Punch)
John Clayton	...	Cliff
John Dease	...	Ken
Bryan Brown	...	Geoff
Lorna Lesley	...	Ellie
Mark Holden	...	Len's new assistant
Drew Forsythe	...	Bruce
Tony Barry	...	Greasy
Alexander Archdale	...	Sir Charles
Bill Lyle	...	Macka
Paul Jones	...	Charlie's assistant
Bruce Spence	...	Redex trial driver
Les Foxcroft	...	Redex trial driver
Robyn Moase	...	Dinah
John Flaus	...	Father Coughlan
Chad Morgan	...	Redex Singer
Don Philps	...	Maitland Mayor
Peter Carroll	...	Newsco scriptwriter
Rob Steele	...	Andy
Brian Blain	...	Fred
Gerry Duggan	...	Len's father
Joan Winchester	...	Len's Mother
Ken Bernard	...	Nightclub Singer
Allan Penney	...	Maitland Chemist
Slim DeGrey	...	Fay's father
Kay Eklund	...	Fay's Mother
Kit Taylor	...	Fay's Brother
Ray Marshall	...	Redex Mayor
Graeme Smith	...	TV Cameraman
Steve Bisley	...	The Iceman (as Stephen Bisley)
Brian Anderson	...	Barman
Bunny Brooke	...	Macka's Wife
Anne Haddy	...	A.G's Wife
Sue Walker	...	Cliff's Wife
Jude Kuring	...	Geoff's wife
Ray Meagher	...	Len's Second Brother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Elfick	...	Rocker
Chico Marx	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
Phillip Noyce

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Elfick		writer
Bob Ellis		screenplay
Philippe Mora		writer
Phillip Noyce		screenplay

Produced by
Richard Brennan	....	associate producer
David Elfick	....	producer

Original Music by
William Motzing

Cinematography by
Vincent Monton

Film Editing by
John Scott

Production Design by
Lissa Coote

Art Direction by
Lawrence Eastwood

Set Decoration by
Sally Campbell

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Sally Gordon	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Brennan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	third assistant director
Chris Maudson	....	second assistant director
Errol Sullivan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Peter Glencross	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Greg Bell	....	sound editor
Jack Friedman	....	boom operator
Tim Lloyd	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Bansgrove	....	gaffer
David Brostoff	....	focus puller
Ray Brown	....	key grip
Steve Dobson	....	clapper loader
Paul Gantner	....	best boy
Mike Giddens	....	still photographer
Louis Irving	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Bowden	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Frans Vandenburg	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Lynn Gailey	....	production secretary
Bill Gooley	....	lab liaison
Adrienne Read	....	script assistant

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The
• N.S.W. Film Corporation
• New South Wales Film Corp.
• Palm Beach Pictures
• Village Roadshow Pictures

Distributors

• Roadshow Entertainment (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
• New Yorker Films (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Australian Video
• Blue Underground (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (2002) (Australia) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (2002) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Runtime:

USA:110 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Brisbane Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

Much of the newsreel footage seen in the film is real, including the footage seen early on in which the cameraman was filming the Japanese sniper who killed him.

A totally enthralling masterpiece.

As a child growing up in the Sydney of the 1950s, I can readily identify with the content of this fine film. Each week I visited the Wynyard Newsreel cinema on George Street to watch the Cinesound (and usually 3 Stooges) shorts. Never has there been a better blending of B/W and colour in a film. Faultless production values round off a never to be forgotten movie experience.