The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)
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- 2h 2min
- Biography, Crime
- 22 Jun 1978 (Australia)
- Movie
After suffering racist abuse throughout his life - which intensifies following his marriage to a white woman - a half-Aboriginal farmhand finds himself driven to murder.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 10 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Tommy Lewis | ... |
Jimmie Blacksmith
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Freddy Reynolds | ... |
Mort Blacksmith
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| Ray Barrett | ... |
Farrell
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| Jack Thompson | ... |
Rev. Neville
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Angela Punch McGregor | ... |
Gilda Marshall
(as Angela Punch)
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Steve Dodd | ... |
Tabidgi
(as Steve Dodds)
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| Peter Carroll | ... |
McCready
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| Ruth Cracknell | ... |
Mrs. Heather Newby
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| Don Crosby | ... |
Jack Newby
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| Elizabeth Alexander | ... |
Petra Graf
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| Peter Sumner | ... |
Dowie Steed
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| Tim Robertson | ... |
Healey
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| Ray Meagher | ... |
Dud Edmonds
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Brian Anderson | ... |
Hyberry
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Jane Harders | ... |
Mrs. Healey
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Julie Dawson | ... |
Martha Neville
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| Jack Charles | ... |
Harry Edwards
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| Arthur Dignam | ... |
Man in Butcher Shop
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| Robyn Nevin | ... |
Mrs. McCready
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| Gregory Apps | ... |
Smith
(as Greg Apps)
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Jillian Archer | ... |
Young Nun
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John Bowman | ... |
Mullett
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| Bryan Brown | ... |
Shearer
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| Michael Carman | ... |
J.C. Thomas
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Bill Charlton | ... |
Jones
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Liddy Clark | ... |
Kate
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Aileen Corpus |
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| Matthew Crosby | ... |
Timmy Newby
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Marshall Crosby | ... |
Peter Newby
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Zona Dixon |
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| Ian Gilmour | ... |
Eddie
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Ken Grant | ... |
Wilson
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Alan Hardy | ... |
Carmichael
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| Lauren Hutton |
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| John Jarratt | ... |
Michaels
(as John Jarrett)
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Phemise Jonas |
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James Keneally |
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Thomas Keneally | ... |
Cook
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Hagar Laikburner |
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Katie Lilley | ... |
Vera Newby
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Rose Lilley | ... |
Jane Newby
(as Rosie Lilley)
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| Terry McDermott | ... |
M.P.
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Lorraine Mafi-Williams | ... |
(as Lorraine Mafi)
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Ray Marshall | ... |
Constable in Jail
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Zac Martin | ... |
Drunken Aborigine
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Justine Saunders | ... |
Nancy
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| Alexandra Schepisi | ... |
Baby Healey
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| Rob Steele | ... |
Claude Lewis
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Richard Ussher | ... |
English Clerk
(as Richard Usher)
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Wesley Williams |
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Barbara Wyndon |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mervyn Drake | ... |
Kelly (uncredited)
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Peter Farmer | ... |
Minister (uncredited)
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Kevin Miles | ... |
Knoller (uncredited)
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Karlene Rogerson | ... |
Girl at Brentwood (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Fred Schepisi | ||
Written by
| Fred Schepisi | ... | (screenplay) |
| Thomas Keneally | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Fred Schepisi | ... | producer |
| Roy Stevens | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Bruce Smeaton | ||
Cinematography by
| Ian Baker | ||
Editing by
| Brian Kavanagh | ||
Editorial Department
| Arthur Cambridge | ... | grading |
| Margaret Cardin | ... | negative matcher |
| Bill Gooley | ... | lab liaison |
| Mark Norfolk | ... | second assistant editor |
| Ken Sallows | ... | assistant film editor |
| Jill Stevenson | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Rhonda Schepisi | ||
Production Design by
| Wendy Dickson | ||
Costume Design by
| Bruce Finlayson | ||
Makeup Department
| Deryck De Niese | ... | makeup designer |
| Cheryl Williams | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Richard Brennan | ... | pre-production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Greg Allen | ... | second assistant director |
| Ken Ambrose | ... | first assistant director |
| David Tayles | ... | third assistant director |
Art Department
| Ray Brown | ... | construction manager |
| Jill Eden | ... | props buyer |
| Nick Hepworth | ... | stand-by props |
| Igor Lazareff | ... | assistant production designer |
| Ray Pattison | ... | construction manager |
| Geoff Richardson | ... | construction assistant |
| Mark Rochford | ... | props buyer |
Sound Department
| Bob Allen | ... | sound |
| William M. Anderson | ... | sound editor (as William Anderson) |
| Peter Burgess | ... | sound editor |
| Dean Gawen | ... | sound editor |
| Chris Goldsmith | ... | boom operator |
| Malcolm Hocking | ... | second boom operator |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Steve Lambeth | ... | dubbing assistant (as Stephen Lambeth) |
| Suzi Pointon | ... | dubbing assistant (as Susy Pointon) |
Visual Effects by
| Roger Cowland | ... | visual effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Brian Adams | ... | gaffer |
| Ray Brown | ... | key grip |
| Alan Cole | ... | clapper loader |
| Paul Gantner | ... | best boy |
| Steve Greenaway | ... | camera assistant |
| Ted Nordsvan | ... | generator operator |
| John Pollard | ... | still photographer |
| Ellery Ryan | ... | assistant camera |
| Tony Sprague | ... | key grip |
| John Swaffield | ... | focus puller |
| Joel Witherden | ... | key grip |
Casting Department
| Bob Maza | ... | casting: Aboriginals |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Daro Gunzberg | ... | standby wardrobe (as Daro Gunzburg) |
Music Department
| Robert John | ... | musician (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Jan Tyrrell | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Colin Chase | ... | assistant transportation manager |
| John Chase | ... | transport manager |
Additional Crew
| Lynn Barker | ... | production accountant |
| Michael Caulfield | ... | actors' tutor |
| Howard Creamer | ... | aboriginal adviser |
| Carolynne Cunningham | ... | production assistant |
| Michael Davis | ... | second catering |
| Geoff Freeman | ... | unit publicist |
| Ken Grant | ... | chief wrangler |
| Barry Hogarth | ... | mechanic |
| Ray Kelly | ... | aboriginal adviser |
| Frank Manley | ... | caterer |
| Pam Stockley | ... | production secretary |
| Sylvia Van Wyk | ... | producer's secretary |
| Andrea Way | ... | production coordinator |
| Mark Williams | ... | wrangler |
Production Companies
- The Film House (produced through)
- Australian Film Commission (with the assistance of)
- Film Victoria (with the assistance of)
- Hoyts Distribution (with the assistance of)
Distributors
- Hoyts Distribution (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1979) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- New Yorker Films (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (1980) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Arthouse Productions (1994) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Eureka Entertainment (2019) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Industrial Entertainment (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- London Live (2020) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Odyssey Video (1984) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Shout! Factory (2019) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2018) (Australia) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (tv) (VOD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2023) (World-wide)
- Walton Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Al et al (titles)
- DDA Public Relations (PR consultants)
- Twickenham Film Studios (dubbing mixing)
- Anvil Studios (music recorded at)
- National Philharmonic Orchestra (by: music)
- Panavision Australia (camera)
- Colorfilm Pty. Ltd. (processing)
- Freeway CAM B.V. (collection account management)
- RCA Victor (music publisher)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The true story of a part aboriginal man who finds the pressure of adapting to white culture intolerable, and as a result snaps in a violent and horrific manner.
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The chant of the underdog. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | AUD1,280,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Tommy Lewis had never had any acting experience when he was cast as this film's lead character Jimmie Blacksmith. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith: Melbourne Premiere from 'Willesee at Seven', June 1978 (1978). See more » |
| Quotes |
McCready:
You can't say we haven't given you anything. We've introduced you to alcohol, religion. Jimmie Blacksmith: Religion. McCready: Influenza, measles, syphilis. School. Jimmie Blacksmith: School. McCready: A whole host of improvements. See more » |