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Thank God that BBC has bought it back off Channel 5. They cut about ten minutes out of it when it was last shown. It always seemed bizarre to me that Channel 5 was cutting nudity.
This is being shown on BBC4 on Sunday 9th August 2009 at 11pm. In 16:9 widescreen too :)
Thank God that BBC has bought it back off Channel 5. They cut about ten minutes out of it when it was last shown. It always seemed bizarre to me that Channel 5 was cutting nudity.
Walkabout
BBC4 ... Sunday 15th April 2012 ... 9.00-10.35pm
'I was stunned. The images of the Outback were of an almost hallucinogenic intensity ... the desert seemed acute, shrill, and incandescent. The Outback was beautiful and haunting.'
Australian author - Louis Nowra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x186dbPIoM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rm4UnC29BI
Very welcome repeat showing by BBC4 - presented in widescreen - of Nicolas Roeg's 1971
classic drama ... set in the burning heat of the Australian Outback and featuring an outstanding performance by Jenny Agutter.
Spoiler:
The haunting music score is by John Barry.
Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg, David Gulpilil, John Meillon, Robert McDarra, Peter Carver
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Emma
Last edited by mrs_emma_peel; 10-04-12 at 04:01 AM.
They were showing it in the afternoon. Worse was the horrible pan-and-scan version. If you've never seen this film before, you don't have to be a fan of Jenny. It's an amazing and thought-provoking film on themes of identity, culture, the family unit and patriarchy (note how the children refer to their dad, but never to their mother), Western technology versus native hunter-gatherer societies, memory and desire. Warning: there are scenes of real animal slaughter, which many have found upsetting or offensive (though not as offensive as the US trailer, which plays on miscegenation fears). The screenplay was mostly improvised. Luc was too young and David's lack of acting experience (he was hired when Roeg saw him ceremonially dancing) for any detailed and rigid script.Originally Posted by Wolfgang
For those who haven't read the book, it's very different. For a start, the children are American, and the girl is much younger. The greatness of the film is purely Roeg's and Bond's and not to be found in the book. This was the last film Roeg was able to be DP as well.
I did watch it once years ago - but can't particularly remember it now - so was thinking of maybe watching it on Sunday. But must say the mention of animal cruelty puts me off somewhat...
I think this is a great movie, and no doubt at my time of reply, it's been and gone on television. I have read the book and must say I don't remember the American influence.. however it was some time ago. Nevertheless, it has remained in my memory for the beauty of the scenery and the poignency of the relationship between the children and the young Aboriginal. All in all, it stays with me as one of the best.. I think the Australians have made some wonderful "quiet" films.
You haven't missed it: http://filmdope.com/forums/ac...y-agutter.html
It was an American book, hence the film's two producers being American (though they set up an Australian production company to make it). Roeg had wanted to film it in 1966 with Hayley Mills IIRC but couldn't get financial backing.
No, it was Jenny who was cast in 1966 before funding problems caused the delay. She'd wanted the part as it was supposed to have been financed by Apple and she hoped to meet the Beatles! It was Nic Roeg's wife who recommended Jenny to him.
Watched it again last night .....
Every bit as good as I remembered it.....
Cheers
Sgt S
probably the best film ever made (at least up there in the top 10) is showing again Tuesday 3 Dec BBC1 12.05am, as it's the Beeb this won't be the awful cut 4:3 pan and scan version Channel 5 inflicted on the world!
Thanks for that, timer is set.
The listing says it's in 16:9 Widescreen but unfortunately not in HD.
Was Walkabout cancelled? all I got recorded was 24 hour news!!
No, I spotted it before I switched off the TV at about midnight.
Ah yes, I remember first watching this on BBC Four back in 2012. Wonderful film- very interesting themes about culture and communication, Jenny Agutter is fantastic and the locations in the Australian outback look amazing.
By the way Phil, it's on iPlayer until next Wednesday, so you can still watch it.
A director's cut of this movie was released in 1997 with 5 additional minutes. This cut is identical to the original British release version (100 minutes): the film was shortened by five minutes for its original American release.
To receive a 'AA' (14 and over) UK cinema certificate the BBFC requested cuts to remove full frontal nude shots of the girl during the swimming scene. However the cuts were rescinded upon appeal and the film was released uncut.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067959/...f_=tt_ql_trv_5
Fans of Jenny have a feast tonight, from 12.35am (BBC2). First up Walkabout (Australia 1970) which will be shown uncut. This is not just for Jenny's fans though, it's one of the all-time great classic s of world cinema, a thoughtful, interestingly filmed & edited musing on cultural differences with an absolutely brilliant score by John Barry. If you've never seen it I envy you catching it for the first time. I've seen it probably 100 times and still am mesmerised by this excellent film. And I still hope it ends differently.
Followed by her first film, made when she was 13, East of Sudan (UK 1964).
Factual correction; she was 11.
The UK blu-ray is only about a fiver (at the time of writing) on Amazon. You never know when these things are gonna rocket in price...
Remember reading the book at school, then seeing it on telly, sometime around the Moviedrome era. Seriously haunting score and cinematography. I love the slow dissolve of the boys face in close up, with the elegiac music playing in the background. They truly don't, and probably cant, make films like this any more.
Ah, East of Sudan! Or more accurately West of Surbiton, in the jungles of darkest Shepperton. This must have been a very cheap movie to make as nearly half of it was scenes from The Four Feathers or stock footage of various animals. The original footage was shot in cheap and cheerful Techniscope, so would only have used half the normal amount of film stock. Stars Anthony Quayle and Sylvia Syms are a very long way from Ice Cold in Alex! This was produced by Charles H. Schneer, directed by Nathan Juran, photographed by Wilkie Cooper and with music by Laurie Johnson, all of whom were also behind First Men in the Moon. Both films went out on a double bill as a Rank release in August 1964, surely a unique example of a double bill composed of consecutive films by the same director on their first run.
Last edited by odeonman; 25-01-16 at 01:52 AM.
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