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Newsfront

  • 1978
  • G
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
875
YOUR RATING
Newsfront (1978)
DramaHistory

In post-war Australia the men and women of Cinetone struggle to produce the weekly news reels for the movie-going public.In post-war Australia the men and women of Cinetone struggle to produce the weekly news reels for the movie-going public.In post-war Australia the men and women of Cinetone struggle to produce the weekly news reels for the movie-going public.

  • Director
    • Phillip Noyce
  • Writers
    • Phillip Noyce
    • Bob Ellis
    • David Elfick
  • Stars
    • Bill Hunter
    • Gerard Kennedy
    • Wendy Hughes
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    875
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Phillip Noyce
    • Writers
      • Phillip Noyce
      • Bob Ellis
      • David Elfick
    • Stars
      • Bill Hunter
      • Gerard Kennedy
      • Wendy Hughes
    • 12User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 11 wins & 7 nominations

    Photos13

    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Bill Hunter in Newsfront (1978)
    Bill Hunter in Newsfront (1978)
    Bill Hunter in Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)
    Newsfront (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bill Hunter
    Bill Hunter
    • Len Maguire
    Gerard Kennedy
    Gerard Kennedy
    • Frank Maguire
    Wendy Hughes
    Wendy Hughes
    • Amy Mackenzie
    Chris Haywood
    Chris Haywood
    • Chris Hewitt
    John Ewart
    John Ewart
    • Charlie
    Don Crosby
    • A.G. Marwood
    Angela Punch McGregor
    • Fay
    • (as Angela Punch)
    John Clayton
    John Clayton
    • Cliff
    John Dease
    • Ken
    Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown
    • Geoff
    Lorna Lesley
    • Ellie
    Mark Holden
    Mark Holden
    • Len's New Assistant
    Drew Forsythe
    • Bruce
    Tony Barry
    Tony Barry
    • Greasy
    Alexander Archdale
    • Sir Charles
    Bill Lyle
    • Macka
    Paul Jones
    • Charlie's Assistant
    Bruce Spence
    Bruce Spence
    • Redex Trial Driver
    • Director
      • Phillip Noyce
    • Writers
      • Phillip Noyce
      • Bob Ellis
      • David Elfick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Much of the newsreel footage seen in the film is real, including the footage seen early on in which the cameraman was filming the Japanese sniper who killed him.
    • Connections
      Featured in Traps (1985)

    User reviews12

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Great doco, average screenplay
    When respected film critic David Stratton rates a movie as his all time Australian favourite it's a high bar to reach. And there's no doubt Newsfront conveys a terrific sense of post WW2 life and times, fortified by the injection of a generous dose of archival newsreel footage.

    But despite boasting so many of Australia's finest new wave actors, there's a certain emotional pull missing from the fictional narrative, script and characters around the real life events. Even the film's saddest moment, occurring during the 1955 Maitland floods, whilst technically clever on one level, lacked gravitas (not aided by the newsreel inspired music). And the stunning Wendy Hughes, who plays a strong female lead in the early going, becomes oddly passive and morose by the latter stages. Perhaps it was a deliberate pattern that went to Len Maguire's (played by Bill Hunter) effect on women, his ex-wife portraying a similar demeanour throughout.

    Also curious was the back and forth between colour and black & white, which I found mildly distracting for lack of any logical pattern.

    Interestingly, the project was originally conceived as a documentary, and whilst the surrounding story added some depth and context to the political and historical aspect, as a drama it felt like a skipping stone through time. Writer Bob Ellis' displeasure at the cuts to his screenplay might have been justified. Or maybe the production tried to achieve too much.

    All criticism aside, overall Newsfront is an above average movie that will engage, until the final Cinetone credits, anyone with an interest in Australian cinema and history.
    helpful•1
    0
    • jldowsing
    • Sep 3, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1978 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Journalfilmarna
    • Filming locations
      • Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia(Redex car rally)
    • Production companies
      • Palm Beach Pictures
      • New South Wales Film Corporation
      • The Australian Film Commission
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • A$600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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