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 | 1850s | outlaw | australia | dog | 

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Taglines:

In the autumn of 1865 the unique and notorious desperado, bushranger Dan Morgan, crossed the Murray River from New South Wales into Victoria to do battle with the law for the last time. What happened has been a secret for over 100 years. And so it should have been, if only to save face for the corrupt and hated colonial establishment of the day. This then is the fascinating tale, told for the first time, of the romantic and extraordinary villain they called Mad Dog Morgan.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | History | Western

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1976 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Mad Dog Morgan

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mad Dog,Motion Picture Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was originally shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. However, the 2005 American 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. The film now has been released in Australia in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the first time since its theatrical release.

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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 Ozploitation Trailer Explosion (2014)

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Soundtracks

Over The Border
Australian traditional song
Performed by Danny Spooner

User Reviews

A "lost" Australian 70s classic with one of Dennis Hopper's best performances.

I've been searching for this movie for years, and now thanks to a recent DVD release here in Australia I've finally been able to see it. And best of all, it's a bloody good movie! 'Mad Dog Morgan' was made in Dennis Hooper's "wilderness" years where his reputation and behaviour meant that mainstream Hollywood was too nervous to employ him. During this period he made some of his most interesting movies, often overseas, with some of his bravest and most honest performances. Movies like 'Tracks', 'Bloodbath', 'The American Friend' and this one. Sadly little seen and rarely talked about. Hopper plays Irish immigrant turned bushranger (that's outlaw to non-Australians) Daniel Morgan, hero to the more famous folk hero Ned Kelly. Hopper, by the look of him in the 25 minute documentary included on the DVD, could out drink and drug Robert Downey Jr and Christian Slater combined and STILL give a remarkable performance. Hopper is helped by a supporting cast of the (then) cream of Aussie acting, most of whom are probably not all that known to overseas audiences apart from Jack Thompson, and maybe David Gulpilil ('Walkabout', 'The Tracker'), Bill Hunter ('Newsfront', 'Muriel's Wedding') and the legendary Frank Thring ('Ben-Hur', 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'). Director, Australian ex-pat Philippe Mora, went on to an eclectic and eccentric career which included cult favourites 'The Beast Within' and 'Communion'. 'Mad Dog Morgan' is one of the most underrated and overlooked movies ever made in Australia and deserves to be rediscovered.