Mad Max (1979)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

George Miller (story) and
Byron Kennedy (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 April 1979 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The Maximum Force of the Future.

Plot:

In a dystopic future Australia, a vicious biker gang murder a cop's family and make his fight with them personal.

Plot Keywords:

Biker | Road | Motorcycle Gang | Highway | Police

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Max
Joanne Samuel	...	Jessie
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Toecutter
Steve Bisley	...	Jim Goose
Tim Burns	...	Johnny the Boy
Roger Ward	...	Fifi
Lisa Aldenhoven	...	Nurse
David Bracks	...	Mudguts
Bertrand Cadart	...	Clunk
David Cameron	...	Underground Mechanic
Robina Chaffey	...	Singer
Stephen Clark	...	Sarse
Mathew Constantine	...	Toddler
Jerry Day	...	Ziggy
Reg Evans	...	Station Master
Howard Eynon	...	Diabando
Max Fairchild	...	Benno
John Farndale	...	Grinner
Peter Felmingham	...	Senior Doctor
Sheila Florance	...	May Swaisey
Nic Gazzana	...	Starbuck
Hunter Gibb	...	Lair
Vincent Gil	...	Nightrider (as Vince Gil)
Andrew Gilmore	...	Silvertongue
Jonathan Hardy	...	Labatouche
Brendan Heath	...	Sprog
Paul Johnstone	...	Cundalini
Nick Lathouris	...	Grease Rat
John Ley	...	Charlie
Steve Millichamp	...	Roop
Phil Motherwell	...	Junior Doctor
George Novak	...	Scuttle
Geoff Parry	...	Bubba Zanetti
Lulu Pinkus	...	Nightrider's Girl
Neil Thompson	...	TV Newsreader
Billy Tisdall	...	Midge
Gil Tucker	...	People's Observer
Kim Sullivan	...	Girl in Chevvy
John Arnold
Tom Broadbridge
Peter Culpan
Peter Ford
Clive Hearne
Telford Jackson
Kristine Kaman
Joan Letch
Kerry Miller
Janine Ogden
Di Trelour
Vernon Weaver
Paul Young
Brendan Young
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amanda Muggleton	...	Biker's moll (uncredited)

Directed by
George Miller

Writing credits
George Miller		(story) and
Byron Kennedy		(story)
James McCausland		(screenplay) and
George Miller		(screenplay)

Produced by
Byron Kennedy	....	producer
Bill Miller	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Brian May

Cinematography by
David Eggby

Film Editing by
Cliff Hayes
Tony Paterson

Casting by
Mitch Consultancy

Art Direction by
Jon Dowding

Costume Design by
Clare Griffin

Makeup Department
Vivien Mepham	....	makeup artist (as Viv Mephan)
Ben Taylor	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John Hipwell	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Connard	....	second assistant director
Ian Goddard	....	first assistant director
Des Sheridan	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Steve Amezdroz	....	assistant art director
Richard Francis	....	props
Frank Matich	....	helmets

Sound Department
Ned Dawson	....	sound effects
Roger Savage	....	post-production sound
Mark J. Wasiutak	....	boom operator (as Mark Wasiutak)
Gary Wilkins	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Chris Murray	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Richard Wilmot	....	optical effects operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Chris Anderson	....	stunts
Dale Bensch	....	stunts
David Bracks	....	stunts
Phil Brock	....	stunts
Michael Daniels	....	stunts
Gerry Gauslaa	....	stunts
Terry Gibson	....	stunts
George Novak	....	stunts
Grant Page	....	stunt coordinator
Grant Page	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Cassar	....	grip
Lindsay Foote	....	gaffer
Harry Glynatsis	....	assistant camera
Noel McDonald	....	grip
Garry Plunkett	....	best boy
Tim Smart	....	clapper loader
Tim Smart	....	photographer: second unit
Chic Stringer	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Merran Kingsford-Smith	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Margaret Cardin	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Nic Gazzana	....	cabaret music
Brian May	....	conductor

Other crew
Shirley Ballard	....	script supervisor
Stuart Beatty	....	traffic supervisor
Ray Beckerley	....	vehicle designer
Tom Broadbridge	....	production assistant
Jenny Day	....	production coordinator
Bill Gooley	....	laboratory consultant
Noel L. Harman	....	financial consultant
Andrew Jones	....	traffic supervisor
Stephen O'Hare	....	truck coordinator
Robert Orchard	....	mechanic
Bill Owen	....	titler
Clive Rowell	....	mechanic
Murray Smith	....	mechanic
Lex Glouchewera	....	engineer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Kennedy Miller Productions
• Crossroads
• Mad Max Films

Distributors

• Roadshow Entertainment (1979) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American International Pictures (AIP) (1980) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1980) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• ELKE (19??) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Victor Michailides (1981) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (19??) (Greece) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• HGV Video Productions (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (1984) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1982) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• B.F. Goodrich Co.  grateful acknowledgements
• BNB Freighters  grateful acknowledgements
• Bell Helmets  grateful acknowledgements
• Ben Taylor Hair Workshop  grateful acknowledgements
• Bunge  grateful acknowledgements
• Duhig Ford  grateful acknowledgements
• Dunlop  grateful acknowledgements
• Footscray Cranes  grateful acknowledgements
• Kawasaki Motors  grateful acknowledgements
• Knights Transport  grateful acknowledgements
• Kodak Australasia  grateful acknowledgements
• L. J. Wellam & Son  grateful acknowledgements
• Macau Light Film Corporation  grateful acknowledgements
• Modern Towing and Salvage  grateful acknowledgements
• Nissan Australia  grateful acknowledgements
• Pykes Transport  grateful acknowledgements
• Ritmeester Cigars  grateful acknowledgements
• Sony Australia  grateful acknowledgements
• Suburban Towing  grateful acknowledgements
• Town Auto Wholesalers  grateful acknowledgements
• West Gate Bridge Authority  grateful acknowledgements
• Windscreens O'Brien  grateful acknowledgements

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X (theatrical rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 (cut) (1986) | Ireland:18 | Brazil:16 | Italy:VM18 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) (1999) (uncut) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Argentina:18 (re-rating) (1982) (cut) | Australia:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (special edition) | Canada:R | France:-16 (re-rating) | France:X (original rating) | New Zealand:(Banned) (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating) | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Anakie Rd, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Trivia:

Max's MFP (Main Force Patrol) number is 4073, Jim Goose's is 2241, Charlie's is either 3840 or 3842.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Roop is aiming the shotgun at the Nightrider in the opening chase, his grip on the gun changes from one-handed to two-handed between shots.

Quotes:

Ziggy: [about Cundalini's hand] Well, unless someone makes a claim for it, I figure it's lost property.

Movie Connections:

Edited into La classe américaine (1993) (TV)

Mad Max, the one that launched a franchise and a hundred knock-offs.

Mad Max (1979) is a low budget Aussie film that became a huge success in the U.S. because of it's sequel Mad Max 2 a.k.a. The Road Warrior. Not only did this movie spawned a franchise but it created a new genre of film (the post apocalyptic wasteland/road film) many rip-offs and pro wrestlers inspired by the movie and it's sequels.

Mel Gibson (in his greatest role in my opinion) stars as "Mad" Max, a cop who has seen too much while trying to enforce the law in a dying society. After clashing with the Night Rider, he incurs the wrath of his bikie buddies Toecutter and co. Toecutter has to be one of the most scuzziest and at the same time coolest bad guys. I like the way he tries to justify him and his crew's actions. Ditto for his right-hand man Bubba. Beautiful cinematography, fast paced action and awesome stunts make this movie a winner.

I have seen both versions of the movie (the U.S. dubbed version and the original Aussie soundtrack). For full enjoyment stick to the original version because they sound like real people, not like cartoon characters or cheesy b-movie villains. A true winner.

Highly recommended.