While best known for their UK set comedies Ealing Studios also made several movies in Australia and this is one of them .It is based on a fine novel by D'Arcy Niland and revolves around Jim Macauley (played by a genuine Aussie ,the great Peter Finch).He is an itinerant salesman -a swag man in 'Strine (Aussie English)who on returning from his latest walkabout finds his wife (Elizabeth Sellars)is living with another man -one able to offer her the material comforts she seeks .He decides to go on his travels again this time taking with him his daughter Buster (Dana Wilson).she is his "shiralee"-the Aboriginal word for "burden".the movie deals with the way they come to learn from each other and is an emotionally moving look at father-daughter relationships as they work through illness,hardship and threats of separation.
It is free of sentimentality and the Finch-Wilson double act is captivating .the monochrome photography of Paul Beison is superb and the only minor blot is the slightly misfiring comedy sequences revolving around Sid James and Tessie O'Shea -scenes others may well enjoy more than I did An Australian made mini-series ,later edited into a single episode version,starring Bryan Brown is also worthwhile but this little known gem is the better picture
It is free of sentimentality and the Finch-Wilson double act is captivating .the monochrome photography of Paul Beison is superb and the only minor blot is the slightly misfiring comedy sequences revolving around Sid James and Tessie O'Shea -scenes others may well enjoy more than I did An Australian made mini-series ,later edited into a single episode version,starring Bryan Brown is also worthwhile but this little known gem is the better picture