Kangaroo (1987)

A mild-mannered English conscientious objector moves to what he feels will be the relative calm of Australia after World War I, but gets caught in the middle of violent battles between the rising trade unions and fascist groups.

Director:

Tim Burstall

Writers:

Evan Jones, D.H. Lawrence (novel)

Stars:

Colin Friels, Judy Davis, John Walton

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Friels	...	Richard Somers
Judy Davis	...	Harriet Somers
John Walton	...	Jack Calcott
Julie Nihill	...	Vicki Calcott
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Kangaroo
Peter Hehir	...	Jaz
Peter Cummins	...	Struthers
Tim Robertson	...	O'Neill
Malcolm Robertson	...	Publisher
David Hutchins	...	Cornwall Detective
Victor Kazan	...	Army Captain
Bill Richardson	...	Army Sergeant at Medical
Alan Lee	...	Collier
Richard Moss	...	Major
Howard Priddle	...	Doctor #1

Storyline

A mild-mannered English conscientious objector moves to what he feels will be the relative calm of Australia after World War I, but gets caught in the middle of violent battles between the rising trade unions and fascist groups.

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Plot Keywords:

australia | title same as book | 1920s | sydney australia | german woman | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kangur

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Gross:

$432,266 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex-Odeon Films, Naked Country Productions, Western Pacific Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 100 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was filmed in Australia as with its source D.H. Lawrence novel 'Kangaroo' which was set in Australia.

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Soundtracks

"Lento from the String Quartet in F Major"
by Dvorak Op. 96

User Reviews

Worth seeing for the gorgeous Judy Davis

Displaced from the UK because of their suspicious proximity to the Cornish coast during WW1, novelist Richard Somers and his German wife Harriet go to Sydney where Richard gets caught up in some improbable Fascist politicking by the eponymous 'Kangaroo'. Colin Friels is too like Alan Bates for comfort, but his wife Judy Davis, with an impeccable German accent, is delicious as the sceptical Harriet (based on DH Lawrence's wife Frieda). John Walton is also excellent as their new neighbour. There are so many good actors from Oz - Kidman, Rush, Blanchett, Crowe, Sam Neill - but surely la magnifique Davis heads the field.