My Brilliant Career (1979)
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- G
- 1h 40min
- Biography, Drama
- 19 Feb 1981 (Netherlands)
- Movie
A proud young woman in early 20th century Australia must choose between marriage and independence.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Judy Davis | ... |
Sybylla Melvyn
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| Sam Neill | ... |
Harry Beecham
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| Wendy Hughes | ... |
Aunt Helen
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| Robert Grubb | ... |
Frank Hawdon
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| Max Cullen | ... |
Mr. McSwatt
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Aileen Britton | ... |
Grandma Bossier
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| Peter Whitford | ... |
Uncle Julius
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Patricia Kennedy | ... |
Aunt Gussie
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| Alan Hopgood | ... |
Father
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| Julia Blake | ... |
Mother
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| David Franklin | ... |
Horace
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Marion Shad | ... |
Gertie
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Arron Wood | ... |
Stanley
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Sue Davies | ... |
Aurora
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Gordon Piper | ... |
Barman
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James Moss | ... |
Pub Drinker
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Bill Charlton | ... |
Joe
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Suzanne Roylance | ... |
Biddy
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Zelda Smyth | ... |
Ethel
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Bobbie Ward | ... |
Mrs. Butler
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| Basil Clarke | ... |
Butler
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Amanda Pratt | ... |
Blanche Derrick
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Dorothy St. Heaps | ... |
Mrs. Derrick
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Gerry Duggan | ... |
Squatter
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Babs McMillan | ... |
Miss Benson
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| Carole Skinner | ... |
Mrs. McSwatt
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Tony Hughes | ... |
Peter McSwat
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Tina Robinson | ... |
Lizer McSwat
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Aaron Corrin | ... |
Jimmy McSwat
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Sharon Crouch | ... |
Sarah McSwat
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Robert Austin | ... |
Willie McSwat
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Mark Spain | ... |
Tommy McSwat
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| Simone Buchanan | ... |
Mary Anne
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Hayley Joye | ... |
Rosie Jane
(as Hayley-Joye)
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Kathleen Percival | ... |
Baby
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Ray Meagher | ... |
Mailman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Gillian Armstrong | ... | (as Gill Armstrong) |
Written by
| Eleanor Witcombe | ... | (screenplay) |
| Miles Franklin | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Margaret Fink | ... | producer |
| Jane Scott | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Nathan Waks | ||
Cinematography by
| Donald McAlpine | ... | director of photography (as Don McAlpine) |
Editing by
| Nicholas Beauman | ||
Editorial Department
| Margaret Cardin | ... | negative cutting |
| Frans Vandenburg | ... | assistant film editor (as Franz Vandenburg) |
Casting By
| Hilary Linstead | ||
| Liz Mullinar | ||
Production Design by
| Luciana Arrighi | ||
Art Direction by
| Neil Angwin | ||
Costume Design by
| Anna Senior | ||
Makeup Department
| Jill Porter | ... | makeup artist |
| Cheryl Williams | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Jane Scott | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Steve E. Andrews | ... | third assistant director |
| Mark Egerton | ... | first assistant director |
| Mark Turnbull | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Anne Aitken | ... | assistant props (as Annie Aitken) |
| Sue Armstrong | ... | assistant props buyer |
| Danie Daems | ... | construction crew |
| Ken Hazelwood | ... | construction crew |
| Kim Hilder | ... | assistant art director |
| Billy Malcolm | ... | scenic artist (as Bill Malcolm) |
| Paul Martin | ... | construction crew |
| Clark Munro | ... | stand-by props |
| David Whan | ... | props buyer |
| Philip Worth | ... | stand-by construction (as Phil Worth) |
| Harry Zettel | ... | assistant props |
Sound Department
| Greg Bell | ... | sound editor |
| Helen Brown | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Don Connolly | ... | sound recordist |
| Ned Dawson | ... | sound recordist: additional crew |
| Peter Fenton | ... | sound mixer |
| Joe Spinelli | ... | boom operator |
| Julian Ellingworth | ... | sound mixer (uncredited) |
| Phil Judd | ... | sound effects recordist (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Roger Cowland | ... | visual effects |
| Daniel Pardy | ... | restoration colorist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Brian Bansgrove | ... | gaffer |
| Sam Bienstock | ... | generator operator |
| David Burr | ... | focus puller |
| Ross Erickson | ... | key grip |
| Paul Gantner | ... | best boy |
| Louis Irving | ... | camera operator |
| David Kynoch | ... | still photographer |
| Grahame Litchfield | ... | grip (as Graham Litchfield) |
| Richard Merryman | ... | second assistant camera |
| Peter Moss | ... | camera operator |
| Paul Moyes | ... | third electrics |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Melody Cooper | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Robin Hall | ... | wardrobe stand-by |
| Terry Ryan | ... | wardrobe master |
Location Management
| Toivo Lember | ... | location manager |
Script and Continuity Department
| Moya Iceton | ... | continuity |
| Edward Ogden | ... | script consultant (as Ted Ogden) |
Additional Crew
| Catherine Barber | ... | unit runner (as Cathy Barber) |
| Kevin Brooks | ... | titles design |
| Helen Everingham | ... | production secretary |
| Treisha Ghent | ... | production accountant |
| Pam O'Neill | ... | assistant accountant |
| Mark Piper | ... | production assistant |
| Jo Buchanan | ... | tutor/chaperone (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Margaret Fink Productions
- New South Wales Film Corporation (in association with)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (in association with)
Distributors
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1979) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Australian Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1982) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Mainline (1979) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Blue Underground (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Blue Underground (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Cinema Club (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Esselte Video (1980) (Finland) (VHS)
- Madman Entertainment (2002) (New Zealand) (DVD)
- SBS Movies (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Sony DADC (2019) (United Kingdom)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Spectrum Films (post-production facilities)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sybylla Melvyn is an independent young woman who soon after arriving to live with her grandmother, and aunt announces she'll never marry and plans on having a career instead. She attracts the interest of several suitors; bumbling Englishman Frank Hawdon, her handsome neighbour, the handsome young farmer, Harry Beecham, who she's attracted to. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Sometimes it is the things that bind us, that truly set us free. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | AUD800,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Judy Davis learned the piano for her role in this film and played her own piano solos. Davis is credited for piano playing in the closing credits. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in My Brilliant Career: Ciné Regards - Judy Davis (1980). See more » |
| Quotes |
[first lines]
Sybylla: Possum Gully, Australia. 1897. Dear fellow countrymen, just a few lines to let you know that this story is going to be all about me. So, in answer to many requests, here is the story of my career... here is the story, of my career... my *brilliant* career. I make no apology for being egotistical... because I am! See more » |