Burke & Wills (1985)

A story based on true events about two explorers on a doomed journey trying to cross Australia on foot in the 19 century.

Director:

Graeme Clifford

Writer:

Michael Thomas

Stars:

Jack Thompson, Nigel Havers, Greta Scacchi

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Thompson	...	Robert O'Hara Burke
Nigel Havers	...	William John Wills
Greta Scacchi	...	Julia Matthews
Matthew Fargher	...	John King
Chris Haywood	...	Tom McDonagh
Ralph Cotterill	...	Charley Gray
Drew Forsythe	...	Brahe
Ron Blanchard	...	Bill Patton
Monroe Reimers	...	Dost Mahomet
Barry Hill	...	George Landells
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Ambrose Kyte
Roderick Williams	...	Bill Wright
Arthur Dignam	...	Sir William Stawell
Ken Goodlet	...	Doctor John Masadam
Peter Collingwood	...	Doctor William Wills

Storyline

A story based on true events about two explorers on a doomed journey trying to cross Australia on foot in the 19 century.

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Plot Keywords:

australia | park | wedding | pipe smoking | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

The journey of a lifetime

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Genres:

Adventure

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1985 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Burke & Wills - kova kaksikko

Filming Locations:

Central Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 8,900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale, Hoyts Edgley, Greater Union Organisation (GUO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

At the conclusion of the cast list in the end credits it reads: Mr. Stillwell as himself.

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Connections

Spoofed in Wills & Burke (1985)

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Soundtracks

"O Mistress Mine"
Music by Peter Sculthorpe
Words by William Shakespeare

User Reviews

Some things get better with age

25 years on, this movie is even more interesting than it was when first released. Some things haven't changed - the performances by Jack Thompson and Nigel Havers are still first rate, and Greta Scacchi is still gorgeous (and sings beautifully - it is her own voice). And the outback footage shot on location is just as stunning. But now there are whole generations of people, not to mention immigrants to Australia, who weren't taught about Burke and Wills in primary school, so the story of the explorers and what happened to them is new. This was one of the first Australian movies to have a large number of indigenous people involved and it is interesting to see how in 1985, the film makers contrast the struggle that the Europeans have with an environment in which the indigenous people lived quite comfortably, and also show that their communication systems were better! Definitely worth a look and hopefully it will be released on DVD some time soon.