Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

The true story of Irish outlaw Daniel Morgan, who is wanted, dead or alive, in Australia during the 1850s.

Director:

Philippe Mora

Writers:

Philippe Mora (screenplay), Margaret Carnegie (book)

Stars:

Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Hopper	...	Daniel Morgan
Jack Thompson	...	Detective Manwaring
David Gulpilil	...	Billy
Frank Thring	...	Superintendent Cobham
Michael Pate	...	Superintendent Winch
Wallas Eaton	...	Macpherson
Bill Hunter	...	Sergeant Smith
John Hargreaves	...	Baylis
Martin Harris	...	Wendlan
Robin Ramsay	...	Roget
Graeme Blundell	...	Italian Jack
Gregory Apps	...	Arthur
Liza Lee-Atkinson	...	Barmaid
Elaine Baillie	...	Farm Girl
Don Barkham	...	Morrow

Storyline

Australia in the 1850s. Daniel Morgan, like hundreds of other ex-patriots from the British Isles (he is from Ireland), has come Downunder to seek his fortune. There is a gold rush going on, and Morgan wants to strike it rich. As fate would have it, Morgan soon finds himself on the other side of the law, broke and desperate. A single act of highway robbery gets him 12 years of hard labor. While in prison, he is systematically abused. Upon release, Morgan vows revenge on those who wronged him. With the help of an aborigine named Billy, and a growing legend of audacity, Morgan soon becomes a hero. The locals love him, while the wealthy and powerful fear his influence. They want this outlaw dead or alive, and will stop at nothing to see that their sense of justice is done. But Morgan only wants those to pay for the crimes they have committed, to recognize that he wasn't always a bushranger - he was made into one. It wasn't only his mind that made him bad. It was society that turned him ...

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Plot Keywords:

male rape | quick draw | taking a photograph | character name as title | nickname as title | 

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Taglines:

Beaten, branded, brutalized, but never broken.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | History | Western

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Gulpilil went walkabout during the middle of production to ask the trees about Dennis Hopper; reportedly, the trees told Gulpilil that Hopper was crazy.

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Goofs

The end credits show the copyright date in roman numerals that is incorrect. They are displayed as MCMDXXVI, but for 1976 they should be MCMLXXVI.

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Quotes

Supt. Cobham: By all means, off with his head... and don't forget the scrotum.

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Alternate Versions

The film was originally shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. However, the 2005 DVD release from Troma Entertainment presents the film in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio print cropped directly from the "pan and scan" full-screen print that was made for VHS releases.

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Connections

Featured in The Hidden History of Homosexual Australia (2005)

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Soundtracks

Over The Border
Australian traditional song
Performed by Danny Spooner

User Reviews

Unconvincing script

While I really liked the pictures and Hoppers performance, the movie itself couldn not convince me. The whole movie is about the character "Mad Dog"; while he was interesting, he simply wasn't realistic. This movie want's to tell the true story Mad Dog Morgan, a bloodthirsty robber and killer - of the ruthless kind! The movie totally stated it that way. But at the same time, the movie turned Mad Dog heroic! He was a rebel and Robin Hood and Jack the ripper in one person - and even worse, the movie wants to show Mad Dog as a victim! It all wouldn't be so bad, if it wouldn't have been told so unconvincing. The character of Mad Dog contradicted himself, and was way too exaggerated.

Some bad acting (and the awful German dub I needed to face), didn't help either.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1976 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Mad Dog Morgan

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motion Picture Productions, Mad Dog

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1