Mad Max (1979)

In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

James McCausland (screenplay), George Miller (screenplay)

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne

4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Max
Joanne Samuel	...	Jessie
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Toecutter
Steve Bisley	...	Jim Goose
Tim Burns	...	Johnny the Boy
Roger Ward	...	Fifi
Lisa Aldenhoven	...	Nurse
David Bracks	...	Mudguts
Bertrand Cadart	...	Clunk
David Cameron	...	Underground Mechanic
Robina Chaffey	...	Singer
Stephen Clark	...	Sarse
Mathew Constantine	...	Toddler
Jerry Day	...	Ziggy
Reg Evans	...	Station Master

Storyline

Taking place in a dystopian Australia in the near future, Mad Max tells the story of a highway patrolman cruising the squalid back roads that have become the breeding ground of criminals foraging for gasoline and scraps. After some grisly events at the hands of a motorcycle gang, Max sets out across the barren wastelands in search of revenge.

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Plot Keywords:

post apocalypse | motorcycle gang | biker | revenge | dystopia | 

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Taglines:

A 400H.P. movie that runs on adrenalin, high octane and raw nerves!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

DIRECTOR TRADEMARK (George Miller): (doctor): Miller's past as a doctor is referenced in St. George's hospital, which features in the film. Mad Max Rockatansky is named for nineteenth century pathologist Carl von Rokitansky, originator of the Rokitansky procedure, the most common method for removal of the internal organs in an autopsy.

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Goofs

When Nightrider's stolen black MFP car is approaching Max's interceptor, the shot from Nightrider's point of view shows Max's stationary car close to being in the middle of the road, but in the opposing shots from close to Max's car it is parked halfway off the left side of the road.

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Quotes

Bubba Zanetti: We're here to meet a friend. Comin' on the train.
Station Master: Nothin' comin' on the train except a couple of crates and a, uh, coffin!
Bubba Zanetti: Our friend.

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Alternate Versions

MGM's 2002 DVD release, called the "Special Edition," contains the original Australian English dialog track. There are also options that play the film with American International's replacement U.S. dubbed track as well as a pan and scan version. This DVD version runs 93 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

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Soundtracks

Licorice Road
(uncredited)
Written and Produced by Nic Gazzana
Performed by Robina Chaffey
Sung by Creenagh St. Clair

User Reviews

A quarter of a century on now (from the original filming) and still an icon of Aussie movie making!

It was the very rawness and budgetary constraints of this little flick that made it what it was. A new kind of action hero in a new kind of world! Gibson's laughably underpaid (though unavoidably so) contribution cannot be underestimated. He imbued Max with more than the script actually merited. An attitude perhaps that struck a chord with many office-desk (wannabe) vigilantes. After all, Max takes control of his own life - is not cowed by authority. Max is everyman, the one inside us that few get the chance to let loose. He is part Jesus, part Che, part James Dean, all Australian yobbo! But this guy gets the job done - drop Max into Iraq next month and see how far Saddam Hussein gets trying to stock up on sarin!

Raw energy is what MAD MAX was all about! Distilled, tempered and inflamed by the time THE ROAD WARRIOR came around but at this juncture. a man on a mission and with the best tricked-up car since....well, THE CAR ! For those of you incidentally, totally mortified that his glorious black-hearted Interceptor was rendered dead-meat in MAD MAX 2, be comforted by the fact that it DOES in fact reside still in a museum in London (Why there and not Sydney I know not...perhaps for the same reason Australia still is not host to the cricket-ashes urn!) What chance of either's return when Greece can't even get the Elgin Marbles back?

Much has been made (and remembered) of the high-power car chases in this film, held by many in absolute reverence. In fact after the main cops vs The Nightrider work-out in the first few minutes of the flick, its pretty much all downhill in the action stakes - nothing subsequently in MAD MAX (1) comes near this brief sequence. This situation (with a way bigger budget) was inarguably reversed by the time THE ROAD WARRIOR came along. The stunts in THAT film have never been surpassed and remember this was without CGI fx.

MAD MAX has that indefinable 'something" the sequels didn't...perhaps just a raw innovation couldn't be duplicated - rather like ur first kiss. It might not have been the best, but it sure IS fondly remembered.

Details

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mad Max

Filming Locations:

Craigieburn Motor Wreckers, Hume Highway, Craigieburn, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$8,750,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,771,757

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kennedy Miller Productions, Mad Max Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 93 min (special edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono 4-Track Stereo (Japan theatrical release) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1