They're a Weird Mob (1966)

Nino Culotta is an Italian immigrant who arrived in Australia with the promise of a job as a journalist on his cousin's magazine, only to find that when he gets there the magazine's folded,... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

John O'Grady (novel) (as Nino Culotta), Emeric Pressburger (screenplay) (as Richard Imrie)

Stars:

Walter Chiari, Claire Dunne, Chips Rafferty

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Chiari	...	Nino Culotta
Claire Dunne	...	Kay Kelly
Chips Rafferty	...	Harry Kelly
Alida Chelli	...	Giuliana
Ed Devereaux	...	Joe Kennedy
Slim DeGrey	...	Pat
John Meillon	...	Dennis
Charles Little	...	Jimmy
Anne Haddy	...	Barmaid
Jack Allen	...	Fat Man in Bar
Red Moore	...	Texture Man
Ray Hartley	...	Newsboy
Tony Bonner	...	Lifesaver
Alan Lander	...	Charlie
Keith Peterson	...	Drunk Man on Ferry

Storyline

Nino Culotta is an Italian immigrant who arrived in Australia with the promise of a job as a journalist on his cousin's magazine, only to find that when he gets there the magazine's folded, the cousins done a runner & the money his cousin sent for the fare was borrowed from the daughter of the boss of a local construction firm. So Nino tries to get a job & finishes up ... laying bricks. Nino works hard & makes friends with lots of locals, Nino & Kay argue a lot, Nino & Kay fall in love ... Kay takes Nino to meet 'Daddy' but daddy hates journalists, immigrants and bricklayers (he's now BOSS of a construction firm). Nino starts to win him over with his charm & determination to marry Kay.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | immigrant | australia | journalist | love | 

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Taglines:

The Hilarious best-seller now becomes... The funniest film ever made about Australians!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1966 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Eles vão dar o que falar

Filming Locations:

128 Greenacre Road, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Williamson/Powell

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The score of the film includes some music composed by Mikis Theodorakis for an earlier Michael Powell film, "Ill Met By Moonlight" (1957).

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Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: 40,000 years of dreaming (1997)

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Soundtracks

Cretan Dance
from Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
Written by Mikis Theodorakis

User Reviews

Portrays a different Australia which has long gone

A largely accurate portrayal of typical Australian attitudes, lifestyles and aspirations of the era, this movie was a celebration of the country's easy going and proudly egalitarian spirit. And, even more significantly, as it predates the contrived, heavy handed and deliberately boorish "Ocker" nonsense that came into vogue a bit later, it remains an excellent example of genuine, laid back Aussie humor at its best.

However, looking at it again, all these years later, it now provides a stark reminder of just how much things have changed. Sadly, Australia is no longer quite the same sun drenched "workers paradise" where the average punter could afford a Sydney Harbourside home on little more than a basic wage and buy a crayfish (lobster) for a couple of dollars on a Saturday night. It really was one big endless summer.