Ealing Studios present

Their first Australian Production

The OVERLANDERS sound RCA system - logo

Copyright MCMXLVI by Limited, London, W. 5. England. with John Nugent Hayward Daphne Campbell John Fernside

Jean Blue Peter Pagan Helen Grieve Frank Ransome Stan Tolhurst Marshall Crosby

This film is based on fact, but the characters are fictitious; any similarity to any name or individual is coincidental.

Production Supervisor Jack Rix

Photography by Technical Supervisor Osmond Borradaile A.S.C. Eric Williams

Supervising Editor Leslie A. Norman Editor Unit Manager E. M. Inman Hunter Arch Spiers

Recordist Camera Operator Beresford Hallett Carl Kayser

Research Dora Birtles

Music Composed by John Ireland

Played by The Philharmonia Orchestra

Conducted by Ernest Irving

Filmed in with the full co-operation of the Commonwealth Government and of the Federal and State Departments

Produced by Michael Balcon

Australian Associate Ralph Smart

Written and Directed by

Ealing Studios - logo

Opening voice over narration over image of Japanese soldier reaching out for map of Australia:

In 1942 the Japanese were driving invincibly southward from Singapore. It seemed inevitable that next into their hands would fall the Northern Territory of Australia, largest undeveloped region in the world, with a million head of cattle and a population of only five thousand whites.

Space, scorched earth and space, was Australia's final weapon, but first the vast herds of the north must be saved, and so across Australia moved a mass migration unique in history. From small beginnings the mobs of cattle poured south in an almost unending flood. This is the story of one mob, and of the people who drove it across a continent ...

(In the new modern manner, cast credits ran at the end):

Dan McAlpine Chips Rafferty Bill Parsons John Nugent Hayward Mary Parsons Daphne Campbell Mrs. Parsons Jean Blue Helen Parsons Helen Grieve Corky John Fernside Sailor ("Sinbad") Peter Pagan Charlie Frank Ransome Manager Stan Tolhurst Minister Marshall Crosby Police Sergeant John Fegan Aborigine Jacky Clyde Combo Aborigine Nipper Henry Murdoch