This classic 50s family film holds up nicely, with a well-paced and often surprising story, involving a cast of Australia's best actors at the time, including Chips Rafferty as the 'tough nut fair' local cop who keeps the town safe under his firm but fair hand; Bud Tingwell as the cheery local headmaster, Reg Lye as Smiley's often absent boozy-drover father, Guy Doleman as the swaggy who saves Smiley when he is bitten by a snake, John McCallum as the slippery pub-owner, and Margaret Christensen as Smiley's long-suffering mother. English actor Ralph Richardson also appears as the jovial pastor who is not above punching out the occasional villain.
The film was an English production, but captures many aspects of Australian society at the time, as well as how we wished ourselves to appear. It was a box-office success and prompted a successful sequel in 1958. It's still an entertaining film.
The film was an English production, but captures many aspects of Australian society at the time, as well as how we wished ourselves to appear. It was a box-office success and prompted a successful sequel in 1958. It's still an entertaining film.