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IMDbPro

The Lighthorsemen

  • 1987
  • PG
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
The Lighthorsemen (1987)
DramaWar

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.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.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
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Simon Wincer
    • Writer
      • Ian Jones
    • Stars
      • Peter Phelps
      • Nick Waters
      • John Larking
    • 30User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos51

    Anthony Andrews in The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Anthony Andrews in The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Anthony Andrews in The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Peter Phelps and Sigrid Thornton in The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Anthony Andrews in The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Jon Blake in The Lighthorsemen (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Phelps
    Peter Phelps
    • Dave
    Nick Waters
    Nick Waters
    • Lighthorse Sgt.
    John Larking
    • Station Master
    Jack Heywood
    Jack Heywood
    • Dave's Dad
    • (as John Heywood)
    Di O'Connor
    • Dave's Mum
    Shane Briant
    Shane Briant
    • Reichert
    Ralph Cotterill
    Ralph Cotterill
    • Von Kressenstein
    Bill Kerr
    Bill Kerr
    • Chauvel
    Grant Piro
    Grant Piro
    • Charlie
    Tony Bonner
    Tony Bonner
    • Bourchier
    Serge Lazareff
    • Rankin
    Gary Sweet
    Gary Sweet
    • Frank
    John Walton
    • Tas
    Tim McKenzie
    • Chiller
    Jon Blake
    Jon Blake
    • Scotty
    Matthew Randell
    • British Sgt.
    Peter Douglas
    • Cockney Lance Corp.
    Patrick Frost
    • Sgt. Ted Seager
    • Director
      • Simon Wincer
    • Writer
      • Ian Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film depicts a large use of horses and horse-riding and it has been noted that no horses were put-down nor injured during the making of this picture.
    • Goofs
      At the rest camp just after the 2 soldiers pass the British Major and addresses the Colonel about the men wearing shorts at the end the Colonel calls the Major 'Sir', this wouldn't happen as a Colonel is a higher rank to Major.
    • 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.

    • Alternate versions
      UK versions are cut by 6 secs to remove cruel horsefalls.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Palestine, October 1917 (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      AUSTRALIA WILL BE THERE
      Music and lyrics by W.W. 'Skipper' Francis

      By Arrangement with Allans Music (Australia) Pty. Limited

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Spectacular Australian film about the men of a World War I light horse unit involved in the 1917 Battle of Beersheeba.
    This impressive flick is based on a true story and most of the characters in the film were based on real people and dealing with the continued coming of age of the Australian nation and its soldiers . The film follows Four Australians, Frank (Gary Sweet), Scotty (Jon Blake who was injured in a car accident and he suffered permanent paralysis and brain damage until his recent death) an Irish-Australian, Chiller (Tim McKenzie) and Tas (John Walton) in Palestine in 1917, part of the 4th Light Horse Brigade of the British and Commonwealth Dominion forces. When Frank is wounded and dies of his wounds, he is replaced by Dave (Peter Phelps). Dave finds himself unable to fire his weapon in combat and is transferred to the Medical Corps, where he will not need to carry a weapon, but where he will still be exposed to the fighting . After the Second Battle of Gaza ended in complete failure, General Archibald Murray (Tony Bonner) , the commander in chief of the British forces in Egypt and Palestine, was replaced by the distinguished cavalry commander, General Edmund Allenby (Anthony Hawkins) , formerly the commander of the British Third Army on the Western Front to carry out the British plan the capture of Beersheba. During an attack by Turkish cavalry, Major Richard Meinertzhagen (Anthony Andrews) deliberately leaves behind documents indicating that the attack on Beersheba will only be a diversion. At the ending there takes place the Battle of Beersheba (Turkish: Birüssebi Savaşı) that was one critical element of a wider British offensive, known as the Third Battle of Gaza, aimed at breaking the Ottoman defensive line that stretched from Gaza on the Mediterranean shore to Beersheba ; it took place on 31 October 1917, as part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign during World War I . Notable was the charge of the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade, which covered some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to overrun and capture the last remaining Ottoman trenches, and secure the surviving wells at Birüssebi . The total losses incurred by the Desert Mounted Corps was 53 men killed and 144 wounded. The heaviest Allied losses were suffered by the British infantry of XX Corps, which lost 116 killed in action, although the total number of men killed during the battle from the British force was far greater, totalling 171 men.

    It follows in the wake of other Australian New Wave war movies such as Breaker Morant (1980), Gallipoli (1981), and the 5-part TV series Anzacs (1985). Recurring issues of these films include the Australian identity , such as mateship and friendship , ANZAC spirit , the loss of innocence in war, and breathtaking battles spectacularly filmed . Acceptable acting from main and support cast including prestigious Aussie/English actors such as Anthony Andrews , Shane Bryant , Sigrid Thornton , Tony Bonner , Gary Tweed , Bill Kerr , though none of the performances are really bad, but none are very good . Gorgeous outdoors are well photographed by cameraman Dan Cundey . Despite being set in Palestine and Egypt, the film was shot entirely on location in Victoria and Hawker, South Australia . Rousing and emotive musical score was composed by Mario Millo. It was nominated for Best Achievement in Cinematography and won an Australian Film Institute award in 1988 for Best Original Music Score and another for Best Achievement in Sound. It grossed a lot of money at the box office in Australia . Sensational directorial by the notorious filmmaker Simon Wincer, a Western expert, as he emigrated Hollywood and subsequently directed to Tom Selleck in ¨Monte Walsh¨ , ¨Crossfire trail¨ and ¨Quigley Down Under¨ to Paul Hogan in ¨Relampago Jack¨ and ¨Cocodrile Dundee in L.A.¨ and usually directs episodes for TV mini-series, such as ¨Into the West¨, ¨The Ponderosa¨ , ¨Lonesome Dove¨ and ¨The adventures of young Indiana Jones¨ , among others . Rating: good for the sensitive direction and proficient film-making ; the result is a sort of pacifist-aggressive war adventure . Worthwhile watching .
    helpful•9
    0
    • ma-cortes
    • Aug 11, 2012

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • South Australian Film Corporation
      • Umbrella Entertainment - Blu Ray
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Light Horse Men
    • Filming locations
      • St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia(beach, Mediterranean Sea)
    • Production companies
      • FGH
      • Film Victoria
      • International Film Management
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • A$10,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $33,779
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,645
      • Apr 10, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $33,779
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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