The Lighthorsemen (1987)

In 1917 when the British forces are bogged down in front of the Turkish and German lines in Palestine they rely on the Australian light horse regiment to break the deadlock.

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writer:

Ian Jones

Stars:

Peter Phelps, Nick Waters, John Larking

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Phelps	...	Dave Mitchell
Nick Waters	...	Lighthorse Sergeant
John Larking	...	Station Master
John Heywood	...	Dave's Dad
Di O'Connor	...	Dave's Mum
Shane Briant	...	Reichert
Ralph Cotterill	...	Gen. Friedrich von Kressenstein
Bill Kerr	...	Gen. Sir Harry Chauvel
Grant Piro	...	Charlie
Tony Bonner	...	Col. Murray Bourchier
Serge Lazareff	...	Rankin
Gary Sweet	...	Frank
John Walton	...	Tas
Tim McKenzie	...	Chiller
Jon Blake	...	Scotty

Storyline

Palestine, 1917. The British advance has been stopped by the Turkish line running from Gaza to Beersheba. The latest attack on Gaza has failed. The attacking forces included a regiment of Australian mounted infantry, the Light Horse... Lighthorseman Frank is wounded in a skirmish with Bedouin. He is replaced by a young soldier, Dave, who proves to be a crack shot, but reluctant to fire at the enemy. Dave proves himself during a German biplane attack. Recuperating in hospital, he meets a sympathetic nurse, Anne... The regiment is called upon for a bold flanking attack on Beersheba. But how do you convince the Turks the main attack will come at Gaza? And how do you attack across a desert without water?

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | world war one | desert | epic | year 1917 | 

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Taglines:

The fall of an empire..... The birth of a legend..... A true story of war, love and courage.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

South Australian Film Corporation Umbrella Entertainment - Blu Ray

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jinetes de leyenda

Filming Locations:

Outback, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 10,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,645, 10 April 1988, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

FGH, Film Victoria, International Film Management

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1985, director Simon Wincer showed the film's screenplay written by Ian Jones to American distributor RKO in the USA who became keen on the project. As such, RKO acquired the world-wide rights for $6 million, in a reportedly record pre-sale for an Australian theatrical feature film at the time, and under the proviso that Wincer would direct the picture. Executive producer Antony I. Ginnane's IFM financed the remaining cost of the film's budget. 1985 was the year that Wincer's American cinema movie 'D.A.R.Y.L' (1985) premiered in theaters globally.

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Quotes

Dave: Hey, Scotty, you're not Scotch, are you?
Scotty: No.
Dave: Then, why do they call you Scotty?
[Scotty thinks]
Scotty: Cause I'm Irish.

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Alternate Versions

The English cut in the UK reportedly ran about thirteen minutes less than the Australian release.

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Connections

Featured in South Australian Film Corporation 40th Anniversary Showreel (2012)

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Soundtracks

AUSTRALIA WILL BE THERE
Music and lyrics by W.W. 'Skipper' Francis
By Arrangement with Allans Music (Australia) Pty. Limited

User Reviews

Incredible Effects

Despite the ubiquitous appearance by Sigrid Thorton, and my having to eat crow over my previous comments on Anthony Andrew's acting ability (no scenery chewing or hamming it up here), I very much enjoyed this outstanding Aussie film.

Simon Wincer has directed a wide variety of films, some bad (like the Cheryl Ladd waste of celluloid "Bluegrass" and the turkey "Pharlap") and some very good (like the intense "Harlequin" and the great A&E mini "PT Barnum"). I find this one to be particularly special due to it containing one of the best war sequences on film.

Wincer and his crew have excellently interwoven a beautifully done drama with incredible special effects. The battle sequence at the end if the film is so powerful that even seen on video on an average size home TV it is astounding. Not only is the Lighthorsemen's assault wonderfully choreographed, but the reaction shots of the cast are well performed. You can see the private struggles going on in the face of the big one.

This is not a movie for the faint of heart nor should it be dismissed as just another war movie by those a little leery of the genre.