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Outback

1970, Movie, R, 99 mins

Outback: Review

A powerful drama set in the "inferno of dust and sweat" known as the Outback of Australia. Unsuspecting schoolteacher Bond stops over in the Outback while on his way to a Sydney vacation. He is soon sucked into the vociferous goings on of a small group of villagers who live on booze, sex, and violence. Before he knows it he is stone drunk and carrying on with a crazed nympho (Kay) who thrives on sex. He then gets taken on a horrifying kangaroo hunt with the drunken adventurers. Pleasence is wonderfully grotesque as an alcoholic doctor who is unable to work in Sydney because of his dependency on drink. It doesn't present a very flattering view of Australia, especially in its lengthier 110 minute version. A similar real-life experience was the inspiration for Australian journalist Kenneth Cook's novel Wake in Fright, on which OUTBACK is based. It is said that British director Joseph Losey had hoped to use the novel as the source for a film to star Dick Bogarde in the Bond role, but instead the property was purchased by an Australian company. Although many of the key players and technical people are British, the film retains a distinctly Australian flavor, due in no small part to the presence of one of Australia's best known actors, Chips Rafferty, who died not long after the film's completion. leave a comment