Storm Boy (1976)

Mike is a lonely Australian boy living in a coastal wilderness with his reclusive father. In search of friendship he encounters an Aboriginal native loner and the two form a bond in the care of orphaned pelicans.

Directors:

Henri Safran, Ian Goddard (uncredited)

Writers:

Sonia Borg (screenplay), Colin Thiele (novel)

Stars:

Greg Rowe, Peter Cummins, David Gulpilil

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greg Rowe	...	Mike 'Storm Boy' Kingley
Peter Cummins	...	Tom 'Hide-Away Tom' Kingley
David Gulpilil	...	Fingerbone (as Gulpilil)
Judy Dick	...	Miss Walker
Tony Allison	...	Ranger
Michael Moody	...	Boat Master
Graham Dow	...	Edwards
Eric Mack	...	Jones
Frank Foster-Brown	...	Lynch
Michael Caulfield	...	Hunter
Paul Smith	...	Hunter
Hedley Cullen	...	Marina Manager

Storyline

Storm Boy tells the story of a 10-year-old boy, called Mick by his father Tom, and Storm Boy by the Aboriginal loner Fingerbone he befriends. This boy is growing up in an isolated corrugated iron shed next to a wildlife sanctuary. He lives with his father, who supports them by fishing alone. He is not attending school; he is illiterate and ignorant. Mick's father resents any intrusion of their secluded life, be it a washed-up radio or a mob of idiot bird shooters who kill a number of birds before they are scared off by Fingerbone. Amongst the dead are some pelicans whose chicks are still in the nest. The boy brings them home to care for. His father isn't keen, but permits it. Three pelicans become a lot to feed when they reach maturity, so his father insists on releasing them. Two are never seen again, but one, Mr Percival, keeps coming back. Another intruder is the new primary school teacher, brought by the park ranger. She is concerned about the boy's education, and pushes hard for ...

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Plot Keywords:

australian aborigine | intergenerational friendship | night driving | vegetation | lying on a bed | 

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Taglines:

Based on the novel by Colin Thiele

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

During mid-production the three actor pelicans almost flew away with a flock of wild pelicans. This was stopped by a Rupert the dog who belonged to pelican trainer Grant Noble and who barked at the wild fleet and scaring the colony away.

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Goofs

When Tom and Mike and Fingerbone return to the Coorong as the boat, "Tern" leaves Goolwa harbour, they are not towing Mike's raft but when they arrive back at the jetty, they are.

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Quotes

Fingerbone: [to Mike as a pelican freshly hatches from its egg] Mr. Percival all over again, a bird like him never dies.

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Alternate Versions

A half-hour edited shortened version of the feature film exists running approximately about thirty-two minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in Storymakers: Colin Thiele (1988)

User Reviews

Marvellous

I saw this film just after I left school in 1981. To the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been broadcast on British television since. I recently had the pleasure of watching this wonderful film for the second time, after it was finally released on DVD in the UK.

Although essentially a children's film, I think adults will find this an engaging movie - particularly Greg Rowe's endearing performance in the title role. Hard to believe it was made so long ago.

Message to any Australians reading this thread - Has there ever been a dramatisation of the Beaumont Children case?

http://www.beaumontchildren.com/

Details

Official Sites:

South Australian Film Corporation Umbrella Entertainment - Blu-Ray [Australia]

Country:

Australia

Language:

English Aboriginal

Release Date:

28 July 1977 (Australia)

Also Known As:

A vihar fia

Filming Locations:

The Coorong, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD320,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The South Australian Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 32 min (short version) (edited) (short)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1