Gallipoli (1981)

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

Peter Weir (story)
David Williamson (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 August 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Peter Weir's film of...Gallipoli

Plot:

Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.

Plot Keywords:

Gallipoli | Anzac | Australia | Running | Turkey

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Mark Lee	...	Archy Hamilton
Bill Kerr	...	Jack
Harold Hopkins	...	Les McCann
Charles Lathalu Yunipingli	...	Zac (as Charles Yunupingu)
Heath Harris	...	Stockman
Ron Graham	...	Wallace Hamilton
Gerda Nicolson	...	Rose Hamilton
Mel Gibson	...	Frank Dunne
Robert Grubb	...	Billy
Tim McKenzie	...	Barney
David Argue	...	Snowy
Brian Anderson	...	Railway Foreman
Reg Evans	...	Athletics Official 1
Jack Giddy	...	Athletics Official 2
Dane Peterson	...	Announcer

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Railway Station, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

The movie was initially to be made by the South Australian Film Corporation who were the original team behind the production. However, they withdrew support for the film over creative differences over the script. However, the movie was still partially filmed in South Australia: the Gallipoli Peninsula was filmed at Port Lincoln whilst the market sequence was also filmed in South Australia at a fish market.

Goofs:

Continuity: The movie opens with young Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) running a 100-yard practice sprint at dawn, with his grandfather (Bill Kerr) keeping time with a stopwatch. After Archy finishes the race, his grandfather shows him the watch and Archy's time is just under 10 seconds. If one times Archy's sprint, however, it actually consumes about 15 seconds of screen time.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jack: [to Archy] Deeper. Come on, deeper, deeper.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

OXYGENE

Nearly flawless

There is not a lot wrong with this movie. The entire thing seems authentic - meaning you feel like you're in Australia in 1915. You are living on a farm, running in a race and ultimately in a war.

What is also very extraordinary is that there is not really a lot that happens, there is barely a plot. But it doesn't matter, because Peter Weir is a master storyteller. The actors are all superb and your heart may hurt at the climax - mine did.

Unforgettable, like all great movies.