DOCSLIB.ORG

The MISSING PAGE the QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER of the TONY HANCOCK APPRECIATION SOCIETY FOUNDED in 1976 Volume 6 Number 4 - October 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The MISSING PAGE the QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER of the TONY HANCOCK APPRECIATION SOCIETY FOUNDED in 1976 Volume 6 Number 4 - October 2014 The MISSING PAGE THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE TONY HANCOCK APPRECIATION SOCIETY FOUNDED IN 1976 Volume 6 Number 4 - October 2014 R.I.P. BILL KERR 10 June 1922 - 28 August 2014 Top Photo: Tony Hancock, Moira Lister, Bill Kerr & Sid James - Bottom Photo: Sid James, Tony Hancock & Bill Kerr Exclusive Interview with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson * Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Hancock’s Half-Hour with a copy of the very first script FREE INSIDE!! RIP BILL KERR - A TRIBUTE by Mick Dawson Like all of us in the Society, I was saddened to hear of the death of Bill Kerr, just before my wife and I were leaving for a holiday in Australia of all places! I am grateful to our Audio and Video Librarian Mick Dawson, who sent in this brief tribute and memory of the man, along with some photographs that were taken when Mick and his wife Ros vis- ited him in 2005. Well Bill, the fish in the Mur- time to appreciate the measure of a I’ve still got the receipt for our beer rumbidgee River are swimming person but I like to think that we and sandwiches that we had out- more safely, the black swans on liked each other. From the moment side the Tea Rooms in Kings Park the Swan River are floating about that you picked us up in your beaten where you talked, quite naturally, with drooping heads and I swear up old car (it reminded me of some- to people making us feel “very im- that the wild flowers along the thing out of an Ealing film rather portant”. Margaret River are wilting a bit than a well-known actor’s car) we For all these memories, Bill, thanks now that the Murrumbidgee Kid got along well. You stole Ros’s heart a lot. It’s only a very small snap- from Wagga Wagga is no longer immediately just like Constance in shot in your full and interesting life with us. The Elopement way back in 1959. (but a significant one in ours) that Mind you I can tell you now that others will ameliorate. you were probably the worst driver with whom I have ever travelled. Bill and Ros Dawson pictured Driving along, in the early morn- in front of the Perth skyline ing, you started to take the wrong exit to cross to the other side of the Swan River. No problem just swing straight back through the yellow box and push your way back into the main stream of Perth’s early morning rush hour traffic. Amid brakes squealing, horns belting out loudly and, I imagine, lots of ripe The wonderful parting memory Aussie vernacular inside the other that we have is when, at the end of cars you said “sorry kids, I don’t get the day, you drove us back and on A proud Mick Dawson and Bill Kerr to this side of the river too often”. the pavement we were giggling and Well we had to laugh which was a singing, to the amusement (or was main part of your life. You enter- it embarrassment) of the pedestri- It is nine years, practically to the tained us all day along with your ans, “We’ll meet again, don’t know day, when it was my and Ros’s priv- friends at “Storyteller Productions” where don’t know when…”. ilege to spend that unique day with (I wonder if they’re still there?). If only we could Bill, If only we could. you. I know that a day is insufficient BILL KERR 2011 WALK OF HONOUR PLAQUE by Barry C. Barnes Thanks also go to Barry C. Barnes for these photocopies of Bill’s Walk of Honour Plaque that was laid on in his old home town of Wagga Wagga. We’re sorry that they are such bad quality, but they are the best that could be reproduced from the poor photocopies that Barry sent in. The Plaque was unveiled by The Mayor of Wagga Wagga Wayne Geale, on the 17th of May 2011 and in his open- ing speech he said: “The Baylis Street Walk of Honour was instigated in 1998 to recognise the substantial contributors to the City of Wagga Wagga. Bill’s contribution to the community was through his acting abilities, the arts and his famous tag line ‘The Boy from Wagga Wagga’. Through his affectionate mockery, Wagga Wagga became famous throughout Britain” 2 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2014 Volume 6 Number 4 The MISSING PAGE October 2014 IT IS NOT RAINING HERE ALSO After last issue’s shock announcement of the stepping down as President of our beloved Anthony Aloysius St. John Dan Peat, I’m pleased (and proud) to say that things Hancock are now back on an even keel with the promotion of The Lad Himself (1924 - 1968) yours truly, to that elevated position and one, where “Stone Me, What A Life!” I shall try and steer the good ship THAS onward and The basic aims of The Tony Hancock Appreciation So- ciety are to promote the works of Tony Hancock for the upward, building on the strong foundations laid down continued awareness and enjoyment of the general pub- by Dan over the past 25 years! lic and to collect and classify the recorded works of Tony Hancock for the benefit of members. No active individual I’m fortunate in having a strong committee to work with me (listed opposite) and hope receives payment for service to the Society, which is a voluntary organization. All members details and infor- that some of you lot might like to get more involved, by applying for some of the vacan- mation are covered under The Data Protection Act and cies that we have in the THAS at the moment. See the advert on page 9. cannot be used by any other than the THAS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Our most recent position that has become available - and the reason why this mag- stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, azine may be a little late in getting to you - is that of Membership Secretary, follow- recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writ- ing the unexpected resignation of Cyrilla Rogers, just before this issue went to press. ing of The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. All views, comments and letters reproduced in this publication are Sadly Cyrilla has had a few setbacks in her life lately and part of her letter of resigna- entirely those of the individual author concerned and in tion reads: “I have decided that I wish to resign as Membership Secretary with immediate no way reflect the views of the general membership of the THAS. effect. I don’t seem to be able to get on top of things and as soon as I have it all goes pear- Published by The Tony Hancock Appreciation shaped again. I am sorry to let everyone down but my heart is not in it or anything else Society. www.tonyhancock.org.uk for that matter at the moment.” Having spoken to Cyrilla, I’m sure I speak for all of us in Committee Members and Officers the Society in sending her - and her late husband Ray - our heartfelt thanks for all they have done for us over the years and hope that her problems sort themselves out soon PRESIDENT & EDITOR along with enjoying better health. I also wish to apologise to any members who have Andrew Clayden 9 Roydon Road, The Maltings Business Centre, not received their magazines or answers to questions and ask that they contact me (at Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire SG12 8HQ my address opposite) in order that I can deal with them. T: 01920 870355 On a happier note, I like all readers will be tuning into Radio Four at 11.30am on Friday E: [email protected] the 31st of October for the first of The Missing Hancock shows, ‘The Matador’. Imme- MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY diately after it finishes, over on BBC Radio 4 Extra at noon you can hear a directors’ * Situation Vacant * commentary as Andy Hamilton introduces the first episode of the series, stopping the To apply please contact The President action to talk to co-producer Neil Pearson and the actor charged with playing Hancock TREASURER Ken Clarke himself, Kevin McNally, about the challenges and joys of recreating a 1950s sitcom in 24 Heenan Close, Frimley Green, Camberley, 2014. Having been fortunate enough to be in the audience at some of the recordings, Surrey GU16 6NQ I’m sure we’ll be in for a treat over the next five weeks as the BBC celebrate Sixty Years E: [email protected] since the first broadcast of Hancock’s Half-Hour. So keep your ears peeled for other LOCAL EVENTS ORGANIZER and BACK Hancock related shows over the coming months! ISSUES of The Missing Page, Piltdown Glory & Railway Cuttings @ £1.10 per issue from I received a handwritten card from the show’s co-producer (and honoured guest - Keith Fisher 26 French’s Well, Horsell, Woking, along with Kevin McNally) Neil Pearson, thanking us for making him and Kevin so wel- Surrey GU21 3AS come at this year’s Bournemouth Reunion. Neil writes: “Kevin and I had a wonderful WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR Martin Gibbons day. Many thanks for your hospitality and great good luck for the future” You can see 9 Shelley Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8NS the advert for next year’s Reunion on this issue’s back page, and we’ll be announcing E: [email protected] our honoured guests in our next issue and on our website (www.tonyhancock.org.uk).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • HATTIE JACQUES Born Josephine Edwina Jacques on February 7" 1922 She Went on to Become a Nationally Recognised Figure in the British Cinema of the 1950S and 60S
    Hattie Jacaues Born 127 High St 1922 Chapter Twelve HATTIE JACQUES Born Josephine Edwina Jacques on February 7" 1922 she went on to become a nationally recognised figure in the British cinema of the 1950s and 60s. Her father, Robin Jacques was in the army and stationed at Shorncliffe Camp at the time of her birth. The Register of Electors shows the Jacques family residing at a house called Channel View in Sunnyside Road. (The register shows the name spelled as JAQUES, without the C. Whether Hattie changed the spelling or whether it was an error on the part of those who printed the register I don’t know) Hattie, as she was known, made her entrance into the world in the pleasant seaside village of Sandgate, mid way between Folkestone to the east and Hythe to the west. Initially Hattie trained as a hairdresser but as with many people of her generation the war caused her life to take a different course. Mandatory work saw Hattie first undertaking nursing duties and then working in North London as a welder Even in her twenties she was of a generous size and maybe as defence she honed her sense of humour after finding she had a talent for making people laugh. She first became involved in show business through her brother who had a job as the lift operator at the premises of the Little Theatre located then on the top floor of 43 Kings Street in Covent Garden. At end of the war the Little Theatre found itself in new premises under the railway arches below Charing Cross Station.
    [Show full text]
  • Brass Bands of the World a Historical Directory
    Brass Bands of the World a historical directory Kurow Haka Brass Band, New Zealand, 1901 Gavin Holman January 2019 Introduction Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6 Angola................................................................................................................................ 12 Australia – Australian Capital Territory ......................................................................... 13 Australia – New South Wales .......................................................................................... 14 Australia – Northern Territory ....................................................................................... 42 Australia – Queensland ................................................................................................... 43 Australia – South Australia ............................................................................................. 58 Australia – Tasmania ....................................................................................................... 68 Australia – Victoria .......................................................................................................... 73 Australia – Western Australia ....................................................................................... 101 Australia – other ............................................................................................................. 105 Austria ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • HANCOCK's HALF HOUR COLLECTIBLES Notes To
    HANCOCK’S HALF HOUR COLLECTIBLES Notes to Accompany Volume 3 All photographs copyright (C) BBC (unless otherwise stated) The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society is delighted to have given its support to the production of this new and unique series concerning the lost works of Tony Hancock. Tony Hancock: BBC Publicity Shot for Hancock’s Half Hour, November 1956 The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society (THAS) Since its creation in 1976, the THAS has dedicated itself to preserving and promoting the works of Tony Hancock and, more crucially, to finding his broadcasts that were missing from the archives. Over the decades, these efforts have yielded a wealth of material, most notably lost episodes of his most beloved work on Hancock’s Half Hour for both television and radio. Many of these have now been located and returned to the BBC; some feature in this special series of Collectibles, now into 1 its third volume. However, many still remain lost at this time. In addition, our efforts have found other material – shows recorded before Hancock became a household name – from series such as Calling All Forces, Variety Bandbox and Star Bill. Again, examples of these can be found in this series. In the previous volumes, there was an extensive analysis of missing recordings from Hancock’s radio career, and, as ever, we remain hopeful that some of these recordings will emerge from private collections or, perhaps, the archives of the BBC or other institutions. In these notes, we will focus on a number of missing recordings and shows outside the ‘core’ work Hancock did on his eponymous series and those that preceded it.
    [Show full text]
  • Hancocks Half Hour: Complete Series One & Two Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    HANCOCKS HALF HOUR: COMPLETE SERIES ONE & TWO PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Ray Galton | 1 pages | 18 Sep 2014 | BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House | 9781471368004 | English | London, United Kingdom Hancocks Half Hour: Complete Series One & Two PDF Book Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. He ruined him as well. Bill wants Sid to train her up to Derby winning standards. SID You must be off your chump. A pause. Harry arrives, wearing his new riding gear. Edit Cast Series cast summary: Tony Hancock I hope… WHA??! Steeplechase jockeys always weigh more. The final television series, renamed simply Hancock , starred Hancock alone. Not much time to rewrite at this stage, presumably. Previous Entry Sonic the Hedgehog 15 — Review. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. All episodes still exist, for many years the TS version of "The New Secretary" was the only version known to exist until an off-air audio recording of the original version was found in See all 2 brand new listings. Despite all this, Harry has entered Sabrina for the Britannia Steeplechase. Laura Crowhurt and Tom Capper portray Hattie Jacques and Bill Kerr respectively, and they manage to capture the essence of both actors, without being completely slavish, giving an opportunity for their very own personalities to shine through. Like this: Like Loading Trivia It has been reported how Tony Hancock was prone to an attack of nerves before filming an episode. Robin Sebastian appeared in all the parts originally taken by Kenneth Williams. Hidden categories: Use British English from July Use dmy dates from March All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October Articles with unsourced statements from April Articles needing additional references from October All articles needing additional references.
    [Show full text]
  • ANZAC Stories from the Home Front Catalogue
    1 3 3 Cover Image: Chris Orchard. Making Place/Making Peace 1, 2015 Previous Page: Mrs Passant’s Log Cabin Quilt. c. 1913. PWH Collection #2381 Photograph: Tim Cruchett FOREWORD The City of Wagga Wagga has a long and proud history of support for the Australian Defence Forces. For over a century the servicemen and women of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy have been valued and cherished members of our community. In 2015, Wagga Wagga remembers and commemorates our nation’s ANZAC heritage, and the impact of the First World War and its aftermath on our city, our region and our nation. In conjunction with this anniversary, we are proud to present the exhibition Loss, reverence and longing: ANZAC stories from the Home Front, in partnership with the Pioneer Women’s Hut, Tumbarumba, and Charles Sturt University. This exhibition draws upon the unique collections of the Pioneer Women’s Hut, brought together with responses from contemporary regional artists to artworks and artefacts of the ANZAC era. On behalf of the City of Wagga Wagga, I extend my thanks to our partners in this project, which holds such significance for all of our community, as we remember the sacrifices of our families and our servicemen and women. Councillor Rod Kendall Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Cover Image: Chris Orchard. Making Place/Making Peace 1, 2015 Previous Page: Mrs Passant’s Log Cabin Quilt. c. 1913. PWH Collection #2381 Photograph: Tim Cruchett 5 REAL PURPOSE, REAL ENGAGEMENT LINDA ELLIOTT The year 2015 holds a special place in items from the Pioneer Women’s Hut, it is the hearts and history of the Australian enhanced through the addition of creative people as the centennial commemoration responses to these items from regional of ANZAC.
    [Show full text]
  • 80Th Anniversary of Adelphi Films Brings My Death Is a Mockery, Controversial British Noir Unseen for Over 70 Years, to Bfi Player
    My Death is a Mockery (1952), Stars in Your Eyes (1956), Adelphi Films 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADELPHI FILMS BRINGS MY DEATH IS A MOCKERY, CONTROVERSIAL BRITISH NOIR UNSEEN FOR OVER 70 YEARS, TO BFI PLAYER **MY DEATH IS A MOCKERY – NEWLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS THROUGH BFI PLAYER – https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-my-death-is-a-mockery-1952-online ** ** Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to restore Stars in Your Eyes launches 23 May https://igg.me/at/starsinyoureyes ** facebook.com/BritishFilmInstitute | twitter.com/bfi For immediate release: 23 May 2018, London Adelphi Films holds the honour of being Britain’s longest running independent film company. In celebration of their 80th anniversary year in 2019, Adelphi’s spirited 1952 film noir My Death is a Mockery has been salvaged from the turbulent waves of time and digitally remastered by Adelphi. This dark, bullet-spattered tale of smuggling, murder and capital punishment, unseen for over 70 years, is now available to subscribers on BFI Player. In My Death is a Mockery a down-on-his-luck fisherman (British screen stalwart Donald Houston) is tempted into a dangerous but more lucrative line in black-market booze at the urging of his wayward wife (Kathleen Byron of Black Narcissus fame) after a brief bar-room liaison with a small-time spiv (Tony Hancock’s old radio co-star Bill Kerr, in a rare serious role). A fascinating part of British legal history, My Death is a Mockery was taken out of circulation in 1953 when it became embroiled in the infamous murder trial which led to Derek Bentley’s death penalty.
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Cinema Umbrella Australian Cinema
    20152017 UMBRELLAUMBRELLA CATALOGUECATALOGUE AUSTRALIAN CINEMA UMBRELLA AUSTRALIAN CINEMA DVD DVD DCP DVD BD THE ADVENTURES OF BARRY MCKENZIE ANGEL BABY AUTOLUMINESCENT Reviled by the critics! This year marks the 20th Anniversary of this Containing a selection of rare footage and moving interviews Adored by fair-dinkum Aussies! landmark Australian Drama. with Rowland S. Howard, Nick Cave, Wim Wenders, Mick Harvey, Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, In this fan-bloody-tastic classic, directed by Bruce Beresford Winner of 7 AFI Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Bobby Gillespie, and Adalita, AUTOLUMINESCENT traces (his first feature) Australia’s favourite wild colonial boy, the life of Roland S. Howard, as words and images etch Barry McKenzie (Barry Crocker), journeys to the old country Written and directed by Michael Rymer (Hannibal) and light into what has always been ‘the mysterious dark’. accompanied by his Aunt Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) starring Jacqueline McKenzie (Romper Stomper), John to take a Captain Cook and further his cultural and intellectual Lynch (In the Name of the Father) and Colin Friels (Malcolm), “ IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING THAT IS SO MAGICAL, SO UNIQUE education. this multi-award winning drama tells a tragic tale of love YOU WILL PAY THE PRICE... IT’S THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN.” between two people with schizophrenia as they struggle with LYDIA LUNCH life without medication. “ HEARTBREAKINGLY GOOD AND FILLED WITH A DESPERATE INTENSITY.” JANET MASLIN, THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR ALL ENQUIRIES REGARDING UMBRELLA’S THEATRICAL CATALOGUE umbrellaent.films @Umbrella_Films PLEASE CONTACT ACHALA DATAR – [email protected] | 03 9020 5134 AUSTRALIAN CINEMA BP SUPER SHOW DVD LOUIS ARMSTRONG One of the greatest musical talents of all time, Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong raised his trumpet and delivered a sensational concert for the BP Supershow, recorded at Australia’s Television City (GTV 9 Studios) in 1964.
    [Show full text]
  • Get Ebook ^ Hancock S Half Hour: the Americans Hit
    PU0QA5OYLLMI » eBook » Hancock s Half Hour: The Americans Hit Town / the Unexploded Bomb... Find Book HANCOCK S HALF HOUR: THE AMERICANS HIT TOWN / THE UNEXPLODED BOMB VOLUME 3 BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House, United Kingdom, 2013. CD-Audio. Condition: New. AM. Language: English . Brand New. Tony Hancock, Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Bill Kerr star in two classic episodes written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, which showcase the master of misery at his best. The Americans Hit Town: When the US Air Force sets up a base in Cheam, Hancock joins the rush to rent them rooms at exorbitant prices. But the sudden... Read PDF Hancock s Half Hour: The Americans Hit Town / the Unexploded Bomb Volume 3 Authored by Ray Galton, Alan Simpson Released at 2013 Filesize: 7.94 MB Reviews It becomes an incredible ebook which i have at any time go through. It normally fails to charge excessive. Your daily life period will be enhance the instant you full reading this article book. -- Alize Bashirian I This pdf can be worth a read through, and a lot better than other. I really could comprehended everything using this written e book. I am just pleased to explain how this is actually the very best book i have read through in my individual lifestyle and can be he very best publication for actually. -- Jaclyn Price Extremely helpful to all type of folks. It is among the most awesome pdf i actually have study. I found out this pdf from my dad and i recommended this pdf to discover.
    [Show full text]
  • HANCOCK's HALF HOUR COLLECTIBLES Notes To
    HANCOCK’S HALF HOUR COLLECTIBLES Notes to Accompany Volume 1 All photographs copyright (C) BBC The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society is delighted to have given its support to the production of this new and unique series concerning the lost work of Tony Hancock. Tony Hancock,1956. Official BBC publicity picture The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society (THAS) The THAS was first formed in 1976. Since that time, its primary purpose has been always to celebrate and promote the career of one of Britain’s best-loved comedians. However, the ways in which these aims have been applied in 1 practice have changed over the decades. In its early years, when very few episodes from either radio or television had been seen or heard since original broadcast, society newsletters were typically full of pleas to the BBC to schedule repeats of the shows. Similarly, the THAS was keen for the BBC to increase the pace of commercial releases of the series; many fans from the early 1980s can recall living on a diet of one new LP or cassette each year, containing just a couple of shows. Fans were to be frustrated on both fronts for some years despite their persistent efforts. An early newsletter from 1980, for example, details futile exchanges with Equity to find out what the members of the Musicians’ Union wanted to be paid for repeat fees, since these were often cited as a barrier in this matter. In another magazine, it was reported that a THAS letter to David Hatch, then Head of Light Entertainment for BBC Radio, had been met with a dispiriting reply, which was reproduced as follows: ‘Hancock’ has been on the air reasonably recently and I am afraid is not scheduled in the current run of ‘Smash of the Day’.
    [Show full text]
  • An Introductory History of British Broadcasting
    An Introductory History of British Broadcasting ‘. a timely and provocative combination of historical narrative and social analysis. Crisell’s book provides an important historical and analytical introduc- tion to a subject which has long needed an overview of this kind.’ Sian Nicholas, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television ‘Absolutely excellent for an overview of British broadcasting history: detailed, systematic and written in an engaging style.’ Stephen Gordon, Sandwell College An Introductory History of British Broadcasting is a concise and accessible history of British radio and television. It begins with the birth of radio at the beginning of the twentieth century and discusses key moments in media history, from the first wireless broadcast in 1920 through to recent developments in digital broadcasting and the internet. Distinguishing broadcasting from other kinds of mass media, and evaluating the way in which audiences have experienced the medium, Andrew Crisell considers the nature and evolution of broadcasting, the growth of broadcasting institutions and the relation of broadcasting to a wider political and social context. This fully updated and expanded second edition includes: ■ The latest developments in digital broadcasting and the internet ■ Broadcasting in a multimedia era and its prospects for the future ■ The concept of public service broadcasting and its changing role in an era of interactivity, multiple channels and pay per view ■ An evaluation of recent political pressures on the BBC and ITV duopoly ■ A timeline of key broadcasting events and annotated advice on further reading Andrew Crisell is Professor of Broadcasting Studies at the University of Sunderland. He is the author of Understanding Radio, also published by Routledge.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Going Over the Top' with Archy Hamilton
    ‘Going over the top’ with Archy Hamilton Reflections on sacrifice, stoicism and Christian faith at Gallipoli tide Stephen Pickard In 1991 I began teaching theology at United Theological College (UTC) in Sydney. I shared a course with a colleague on Australian History and Culture. My contribution (not being that well versed in the actual history!) was to help students develop some skills in the theological interpretation of our history. One theme that seemed to have been neglected, except perhaps by our poets, was suffering and its impact on our way of life. In this context I gave some lectures on war and focused on the Gallipoli tradition. As part of that venture I always showed the last three minutes of the famous film Gallipoli (1981).1 The story, as we know, centred around two young men in Western Australia who were very good runners, who subsequently enlisted when Australia joined the Great War, their exploits in the army and their Stephen Pickard is Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Professor of Theology, Charles Sturt University and an Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. ‘Going over the top’ with Archy Hamilton journey to Gallipoli. The film ends in a gut-wrenching manner when the young soldiers are ordered to advance on the Turkish strongholds in the sure and certain knowledge that they will soon be mowed down by enemy gunfire. The final scenes are frozen as Hamilton (Mark Lee), as part of the third wave of attack, goes over the top of the trenches.
    [Show full text]
  • The Films of Peter Weir
    THE CINEMATIC MYSTICAL GAZE: The films of Peter Weir RICHARD JAMES LEONARD Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2003 Cinema Studies Program School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies and Archaeology The University of Melbourne Abstract Peter Weir is one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed and commercially successful directors. Ever since Weir’s feature film debut with The Cars that Ate Paris in 1974, his work has been explored for unifying themes. Scholars have analysed his films from many perspectives: the establishment of identification and identity especially through binary oppositions in the diegesis;1 the creation of an oneiric atmosphere as a way of exploiting the spectator’s dream experience;2 a clash of value systems;3 the ambiguous nature of narrative structure and character motivations leading to the creation of a sense of wonder;4 the experience of the protagonist placed in a foreign culture wherein conflict arises from social clashes and personal misunderstandings;5 and at the particular ways his films adapt generic codes in service of a discernible ideological agenda.6 To the best of my knowledge there has been no study of the mystical element of Weir’s work in relation to the construction of a cinematic mystical gaze or act of spectatorship. Within a culture defined by its secularity and a national cinema marked by quirky comedies and social realism, almost all of Weir’s films have been described as mystical, arcane or interested in metaphysics. Such an observation could warrant no further investigation if it is held that this critical commentary is but hyperbole in its attempt to grasp what constitutes a Peter Weir film.
    [Show full text]