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Storm Boy | |
---|---|
Directed by | Henri Safran |
Written by | Sonia Borg Sidney Stebel |
Based on | Storm Boy by Colin Thiele |
Produced by | Matt Carroll |
Starring | Greg Rowe Peter Cummins David Gulpilil |
Cinematography | Geoff Burton |
Edited by | G. Turney-Smith |
Music by | Michael Carlos |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Budget | AU$320,000 [1] |
Box office | AU$2,645,000 (Australia) |
Storm Boy is a 1976 Australian drama film based on the 1964 book of the same name by Colin Thiele, about a lonely boy and his pet pelicans living in a coastal wilderness with his reclusive father. It was the third feature film made by the South Australian Film Corporation, and is a highlight of the New Wave of Australian Cinema from the 1970s. The film was financed by SAFC, Seven Network and the Australian Film Commission.
Mike (Greg Rowe) is a lonely young boy wandering through the fierce deserted coast of South Australia's Coorong, near the mouth of the Murray River. He and his reclusive father 'Hide Away' Tom (Peter Cummins) live in the isolated sand dunes facing the Southern Ocean. In search of friendship, Mike encounters another recluse in the wilderness, Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil), an Aboriginal man estranged from his tribal people. Fingerbone names Mike "Storm Boy" and enlists the child's help caring for three orphaned pelican chicks.
Eventually, Mike's Dad insists that he release the grown birds back into the wild. However one particular pelican, named 'Mr Percival' by Mike, returns. The bird forms a deep bond with the boy until sadly, Mr Percival is shot by duck hunters. With the wise guidance of Fingerbone Bill, Mike learns of the cycle of life and is eventually sent by his father to attend boarding school for which the people of the nearby village raised the money.
Colin Thiele had little involvement in the scripting of the film. His only requirement was that his novel was not turned into a sex comedy. [2] The budget came from the South Australian Film Corporation, the Australian Film Commission and the Seven television network.
Shooting began in May 1976, with exteriors shot near Goolwa and interiors in the SAFC's studio at Norwood. Eleven-year-old Greg Rowe was an untrained actor, selected from over 70 applicants. [1] Three pelicans played the lead pelican. [3] In 2009 Mr Percival died at Royal Adelaide Zoo, aged 33 years old.
Storm Boy was a hit, grossing $2,645,000 at the box office in Australia, [5] which is equivalent to $13,674,650 in 2009 dollars.
It was a popular children's film both in Australia and Britain and won a medal at the Moscow Film Festival in 1977 for best children's film.
Award | Category | Subject | Result |
---|---|---|---|
AACTA Awards (1976 AFI Awards) | Best Film | Matt Carroll | Won |
Best Direction | Henri Safran | Nominated | |
Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted | Sonia Borg | Nominated | |
Sidney Stebel | Nominated | ||
Best Actor | David Gulpilil | Nominated | |
Best Sound | Bob Cogger | Nominated | |
Best Production Design | David Copping | Nominated | |
Best Costume Design | Helen Evans | Nominated | |
ACS Award | Cinematographer of the Year | Geoff Burton | Won |
AWGIE Award | Best Writing in a Feature Film - Adapted | Sonia Borg | Won |
Sidney Stebel | Won |
In 2016, the 40th anniversary of the original film adaptation, Screen Australia announced support for a remake of the 1976 film. [6] Australia's National Film and Sound Archive also placed on limited releasing a digital re-mastering of the original 1976 film, for use at film festivals.
The new Storm Boy film, produced by Michael Boughen and Matthew Street, has a screenplay written by Justin Monjo and is directed by Shawn Seet. [7] The cast includes Geoffrey Rush, Finn Little, Jai Courtney and Erik Thomson.
Coorong National Park is a protected area located in South Australia about 156 kilometres (97 mi) south-east of Adelaide, that predominantly covers a coastal lagoon ecosystem officially known as The Coorong and the Younghusband Peninsula on the Coorong's southern side. The western end of the Coorong lagoon is at the Murray Mouth near Hindmarsh Island and the Sir Richard Peninsula, and it extends about 130 kilometres (81 mi) south-eastwards. Road access is from Meningie. The beach on the coastal side of the peninsula, the longest in Australia, is also commonly called The Coorong.
David Dhalatnghu Gulpilil was an Australian actor and dancer. He was known for his roles in the films Walkabout (1971), Storm Boy (1976), The Last Wave (1977), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Tracker and Australia (2008).
Colin Milton Thiele was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably the novels Storm Boy, Blue Fin, the Sun on the Stubble series, and February Dragon. As Vice Principal and Principal of Wattle Park Teachers College and Principal of Murray Park CAE for much of the 1960s and 70s he had a significant impact on teacher education in South Australia.
Storm Boy is a 1964 Australian children's novel written by Colin Thiele, about a boy and his pelican. The story, set in the Coorong region of South Australia, focuses on the relationships the boy has with his father Hide-Away Tom, the pelican, and an outcast Australian Aboriginal man called Fingerbone.
Blue Fin is a 1978 Australian family film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Hardy Krüger, Greg Rowe and Elspeth Ballantyne. It is based on a 1969 Australian novel written by Colin Thiele.
Sunday Too Far Away is a 1975 Australian drama film directed by Ken Hannam. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance or the "Australian New Wave", which occurred during that decade.
Ruby Charlotte Margaret Hunter, also known as Aunty Ruby, was an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist, and the life and musical partner of Archie Roach.
Greg Rowe is an Australian former child actor who starred in Australian films such as Storm Boy (1976) and Blue Fin (1978), both based on novels by Colin Thiele. His last film was Freedom (1982), directed by Academy Award nominee Scott Hicks. As of 2016, he lives with his wife and two children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The following is a complete list of books and other writings by Colin Thiele, the prolific Australian children's writer.
South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972 to engage in film production and promote the film industry, located in Adelaide, South Australia. The Adelaide Studios are managed by the South Australian Film Corporation for the use of the South Australian film industry.
Mad Dog Morgan is a 1976 Australian bushranger film directed by Philippe Mora and starring Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson and David Gulpilil. It is based upon the life of Dan Morgan.
Mr Percival was an Australian pelican, noted for his appearance in the 1976 Australian film Storm Boy. He was one of three trained pelicans used in the film, based on the 1964 novel of the same name. He lived at the Marineland aquarium at West Beach until it closed in 1988, then at the Adelaide Zoo. Mr Percival, whose zoo name was Gringo, fathered seven chicks with partner Alto, the last in 2007. He died of old age on 2 September 2009.
Robbery Under Arms is a 1985 Australian action adventure film starring Sam Neill as bushranger Captain Starlight.
The Outsiders was the name of an Australian-West German co-production which was made in Australia in 1976. It starred Andrew Keir as Charlie Cole and German actor Sascha Hehn as Pete Jarrett. It also featured other prominent Australian actors including John Jarratt, Wendy Hughes, Leonard Teale, Ray Barrett, Peter Cummins, John Meillon, Megan Williams, John Ewart, Judy Morris, Vincent Ball, Terence Donovan, Serge Lazareff, Peta Toppano, David Gulpilil and Roger Ward. The series was shot in English and Sascha Hehn was dubbed by Australian actor Andrew Harwood.
Satellite Boy is a 2012 Australian adventure drama film about a young Aboriginal boy struggling to maintain the traditions of his heritage in the modern world when a mining company expands into the region. Written and directed by Catriona McKenzie, the film premiered domestically on 10 December 2012 at the Perth International Arts Festival, two days after being released at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The inaugural government-funded Adelaide International Film Festival (AIFF) took place in Adelaide, Australia, from 28 February to 7 March 2003, with screenings, special events and forums presented in various cinemas and locations. Established by South Australian Premier Hon. Mike Rann to stimulate the local film industry and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the South Australian Film Corporation, the festival showcases and explores contemporary screen culture with a program of screenings, special events and forum sessions.
Trevor Jamieson is an Aboriginal Australian stage and film actor, playwright, dancer, singer and didgeridoo player.
Storm Boy is a 2019 Australian drama family film based on the 1964 novella by Colin Thiele of the same name. The adaptation was directed by Shawn Seet and stars Geoffrey Rush and Jai Courtney. Thiele's novel was previously adapted in 1976.
Another Country is a 2015 documentary film about the intersection of traditional Australian Aboriginal culture and modern Australian culture. It features actor David Gulpilil narrating a story about his home community of Ramininging in the Northern Territory.
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