The Lighthorsemen (1987)
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- PG
- 2h 11min
- Drama, History
- 08 Apr 1988 (USA)
- Movie
In 1917 when the British forces are bogged down in front of the Turkish and German lines in Palestine they rely on the Australian light horse regiment to break the deadlock.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Peter Phelps | ... |
Dave
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| Nick Waters | ... |
Lighthorse Sgt.
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John Larking | ... |
Station Master
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| Jack Heywood | ... |
Dave's Dad
(as John Heywood)
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Di O'Connor | ... |
Dave's Mum
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| Shane Briant | ... |
Reichert
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| Ralph Cotterill | ... |
Von Kressenstein
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| Bill Kerr | ... |
Chauvel
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| Grant Piro | ... |
Charlie
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| Tony Bonner | ... |
Bourchier
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Serge Lazareff | ... |
Rankin
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| Gary Sweet | ... |
Frank
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John Walton | ... |
Tas
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Tim McKenzie | ... |
Chiller
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| Jon Blake | ... |
Scotty
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Matthew Randell | ... |
British Sgt.
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Peter Douglas | ... |
Cockney Lance Corp.
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Patrick Frost | ... |
Sgt. Ted Seager
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| Adrian Wright | ... |
Lawson
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Jim Willoughby | ... |
Farrier Sgt.
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Iain Strutt | ... |
Armourer Sgt.
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| Sigrid Thornton | ... |
Anne
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Anne Scott-Pendlebury | ... |
Sister
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Kingsley MacDonald | ... |
Bugler
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Brenton Whittle | ... |
Padre
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| Anthony Andrews | ... |
Meinertzhagen
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Anthony Hawkins | ... |
Allenby
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David Sadler | ... |
Dying Turk
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Michael Kitschke | ... |
Trooper at Ruins
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John Kelly | ... |
British Major
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| Gerard Kennedy | ... |
Ismet Bey
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Jon Sidney | ... |
Grant
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| Graham Dow | ... |
Hodgson
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James Wright | ... |
Fitzgerald
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Gary Stalker | ... |
Corp. Nobby
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Stephen Crockett | ... |
Chauvel's Aide
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Tony Mack | ... |
Allenby's Sigs Officer
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Scott Bradley | ... |
Lt. Frank Burton
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Bill Stacey | ... |
German Artillery Officer
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| David Bracks | ... |
Turkish Range Finder
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| Simon Palomares | ... |
Turkish Officer
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Mark Pretti | ... |
Ambulance Driver
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| Robert Simper | ... |
German Trench Officer
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| Steve Bastoni | ... |
Turkish Demolition Soldier
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Jason Dunn | ... |
Trooper in Demolition Room / 'A' Trooper
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Peter Merrill | ... |
Young German Officer
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| Peter Browne | ... |
Arch
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Terry Brittingham | ... |
Ambulance Officer
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Ashley Cooper | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Brendan Egan | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Steve Harrison | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Lou Horvath | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Adrian Ireland | ... |
'A' Trooper
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William Kerr | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Kevin May | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Tom Mudge | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Ricky Noble | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Tom O'Brien | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Vic O'Neal | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Johnny Raaen | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Leo Scanders | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Barry Stephan | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Richard Stevens | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Milton Stevens | ... |
'A' Trooper
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Tamas Szegedi | ... |
'A' Trooper
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Farah Mak | ... |
Daughter (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Simon Wincer | ||
Written by
| Ian Jones | ... | (screenplay by) |
Produced by
| Jan Bladier | ... | associate producer |
| Antony I. Ginnane | ... | executive producer |
| Ian Jones | ... | producer (produced by) |
| David Lee | ... | associate producer |
| Simon Wincer | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Mario Millo | ||
Cinematography by
| Dean Semler | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Adrian Carr | ||
Editorial Department
| Gregory Campitelli | ... | assistant editor (as Greg Campitelli) |
| Karen Clark | ... | negative cutter (as Karen Clarke) |
| Tony Manning | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| Jo Larner | ||
Production Design by
| Bernard Hides | ||
Art Direction by
| Virginia Bieneman | ||
Costume Design by
| David Rowe | ||
Makeup Department
| Paul Pattison | ... | hair stylist |
| Felicity Schoeffel | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Gil Brealey | ... | production consultant |
| Adrian Carr | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Phillip Corr | ... | production supervisor |
| Don Keyte | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Scott Bradley | ... | third assistant director |
| Steve Crockett | ... | fifth assistant director |
| Bob Donaldson | ... | first assistant director |
| Ian Kenny | ... | second assistant director |
| Ken Mahlab | ... | fourth assistant director |
Art Department
| Deborah Cole | ... | art department coordinator (as Debra Cole) |
| John Daniell | ... | standby props |
| Mark Dawson | ... | props buyer |
| Michael Hill | ... | carpenter |
| Ian Jobson | ... | art department runner |
| Harvey Mawson | ... | props buyer |
| Suza Maybury | ... | props maker |
| Michael Mercurio | ... | second standby props |
| Ray Pedler | ... | scenic artist |
| Caroline Polin | ... | assistant art director |
| Walter Sperl | ... | construction foreman |
Sound Department
| Peter Burgess | ... | sound editor |
| Gregory Campitelli | ... | assistant sound editor (as Greg Campitelli) |
| Lloyd Carrick | ... | sound recordist |
| Craig Carter | ... | sound editor |
| James Currie | ... | chief mixer |
| Chris Goldsmith | ... | boom operator |
| Phil Heywood | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jennifer Hortin | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Livia Ruzic | ... | sound editor |
| Pete Smith | ... | music mixer (as Peter D. Smith) |
Special Effects by
| Steve Courtley | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Conrad Rothmann | ... | special effects coordinator |
Visual Effects by
| Roger Cowland | ... | visual effects |
Stunts
| Andy Clarke | ... | stunts |
| Ken Connley | ... | stunts |
| Nick Daniell | ... | stunt pilot |
| Gerald Egan | ... | stunts |
| Zev Eleftheriou | ... | stunts |
| Brian Ellison | ... | stunts |
| Lou Horvath | ... | stunts |
| Frank Lennon | ... | stunts |
| Grant Page | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Malcolm Pritchard | ... | stunts |
| Johnny Raaen | ... | stunts |
| Robert Simper | ... | stunts |
| Iain Strutt | ... | stunts |
| Tamas Szegedi | ... | stunts |
| Lloyd Ventry | ... | stunts |
| Bill Willoughby | ... | stunts |
| Jim Willoughby | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jasin Boland | ... | clapper loader (as Jason Boland) |
| David Dunkley | ... | loader |
| Alan Dunstan | ... | best boy |
| Roydon Johnson | ... | focus puller |
| Ian Jones | ... | steadicam operator |
| David Lindsay | ... | clapper loader |
| Ian McAlpine | ... | assistant grip |
| Merv McLaughlin | ... | key grip |
| John Morton | ... | gaffer |
| Pat Nash | ... | grip |
| Dean Semler | ... | camera operator |
| Jim Sheldon | ... | still photographer |
Music Department
| Mario Millo | ... | orchestrator |
| William Motzing | ... | conductor |
| Philip Powers | ... | soundtrack album producer |
| Cos Russo | ... | scoring assistant |
| Roger Savage | ... | music engineer / music mixer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Tom Hegarty | ... | script editor |
| Linda Ray | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Gary Amos | ... | wrangler |
| Dale Arthur | ... | production coordinator |
| Kerrie Barnhill | ... | production secretary |
| John Bird | ... | wrangler |
| Gil Brealey | ... | production consultant |
| Penny Carl | ... | supervising production accountant |
| Mandy Carter | ... | production accountant |
| Murray Chesson | ... | wrangler |
| Andy Clarke | ... | wrangler |
| Sean Clarke | ... | wrangler |
| Joe Cooper | ... | wrangler |
| Shane Cooper | ... | wrangler |
| Daryl Dicks | ... | wrangler |
| Gerald Egan | ... | master of horse |
| Zev Eleftheriou | ... | safety officer |
| Barry Elliott | ... | wrangler |
| Kerry Fetzer | ... | catering assistant |
| Alan Fitzsimmons | ... | wrangler |
| Allen Heath | ... | wrangler |
| Chris Hocking | ... | wrangler |
| Tony Jablonski | ... | wrangler |
| Robert Johnson | ... | wrangler |
| Fran Lanigan | ... | assistant accountant |
| Terry Lee | ... | helicopter pilot |
| Graham Newman | ... | wrangler |
| Ned O'Brien | ... | wrangler |
| Daphne Phillips | ... | wrangler |
| Brian Pollitt | ... | wrangler |
| Bruce Porter | ... | wrangler |
| Mark Pretti | ... | wrangler |
| Malcolm Pritchard | ... | wrangler |
| Robert Rehn | ... | wrangler |
| Trevor Stevens | ... | wrangler |
| Lloyd Ventry | ... | wrangler |
| Bill Willoughby | ... | master of horse |
| Jim Willoughby | ... | master of horse |
| Ray Winslade | ... | master of horse |
Production Companies
- FGH
- Film Victoria
- International Film Management
- Picture Show
- RKO Radio Pictures
- The Australian Film Commission
Distributors
- Hoyts Distribution (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinecom Pictures (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1988) (Australia) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1988) (Australia) (VHS)
- Vestron Video International (1988) (Belgium) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Sky Movies (1991) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Kurt Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (tv)
- Medusa Communications and Marketing (1988) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Vestron Pictures (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Vestron Video International (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Belle & Blade Studios (video)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Lumivision (1996) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Media Transfer International (1989) (Sweden) (VHS)
- October Films (1996) (United States)
- SBS Movies (2025) (Australia) (tv)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (Australia) (Blu-ray)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (World-wide)
- Vestron Video International (1989) (Japan) (VHS)
- Video Film Express (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinecom Entertainment Group (artwork & photography)
- Film Finances (completion guarantor)
- Robert Blackwood Hall (music recording studio)
- The South Australian Film Corporation (sound post-production)
- The Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Palestine, 1917. The British advance has been stopped by the Turkish line running from Gaza to Beersheba. The latest attack on Gaza has failed. The attacking forces included a regiment of Australian mounted infantry, the Light Horse... Lighthorseman Frank is wounded in a skirmish with Bedouin. He is replaced by a young soldier, Dave, who proves to be a crack shot, but reluctant to fire at the enemy. Dave proves himself during a German biplane attack. Recuperating in hospital, he meets a sympathetic nurse, Anne... The regiment is called upon for a bold flanking attack on Beersheba. But how do you convince the Turks the main attack will come at Gaza? And how do you attack across a desert without water? Written by David Stanko |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | They did what they were told...They didn't know it was impossible. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | AUD10,500,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Website Cinephilia reports of the Jon Blake accident and legal case: "Jon Blake was critically injured whilst driving home on December 1, 1986, after the final day's filming of The Lighthorsemen (1987). He sustained severe brain injuries and in December, 1995, the New South Wales Supreme Court ruled that Blake should be compensated for the loss of potential earnings as a star in the United States. After taking evidence from actors, directors, and film critics who indicated his career could have been as big as Mel Gibson's, the court awarded him $32 million in damages. This was later reduced to $7 million after the defence appealed." See more » |
| Goofs | At the rest camp just after the 2 soldiers pass the British Major and addresses the Colonel about the men wearing shorts at the end the Colonel calls the Major 'Sir', this wouldn't happen as a Colonel is a higher rank to Major. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Palestine, October 1917 (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | AUSTRALIA WILL BE THERE See more » |
| Quotes |
Dave:
Hey, Scotty, you're not Scotch, are you? Scotty: No. Dave: Then, why do they call you Scotty? [Scotty thinks] Scotty: Cause I'm Irish. See more » |