Gallipoli (1981)
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Two young Australian runners find their lives intertwined as they enlist in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I.
The story
In Western Australia in May 1915, Archy Hamilton, a prize-winning sprinter, and Frank Dunne, an unemployed ex-railway labourer, both seek to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. After a series of events, including a journey to Perth, they eventually join the army. They are sent to the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire to participate in the Gallipoli campaign. The film follows their journey from enlistment to the harsh conditions of the trenches, where they begin to lose their innocence regarding the true nature and purpose of war.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In May 1915, Archy Hamilton and Frank Dunne travel to Perth to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. After a journey involving a freight train and a desert trek, they join the army, with Frank enlisting in the infantry and Archy in the Light Horse. They are transported to Cairo, where they train and spend time in the city before being sent to the Gallipoli peninsula. At Anzac Cove, they endure grueling trench conditions. Frank's friends suffer heavy losses during the Battle of Lone Pine. During the Battle of the Nek, Archy is designated as a message runner but recommends Frank for the role. The attack is launched, but due to unsynchronized watches, the artillery ends early, leading to a massacre. Despite reports of a failed attack, Colonel Robinson orders the charge to continue. Frank attempts to deliver a message to General Gardner, who is reconsidering the attack, but the phone lines are repaired and the order to continue is reaffirmed. Archy joins the final wave of the charge. Frank arrives just as Archy is struck by bullets across his chest, falling backward in a final, tragic moment of carnage.
- First release year
- 1981
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- Australia
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Weir
- Writers
- David Williamson · screenplay; Peter Weir · story
- Cast and characters
- Mel Gibson · Frank Dunne; Mark Lee · Archy Hamilton; Bill Kerr · Jack; Harold Hopkins · Les McCann; Charles Yunupingu · Zac; Ron Graham · Wallace Hamilton; Gerda Nicolson · Rose Hamilton; Robert Grubb · Billy (Lewis)
- Genres
- war drama; adventure drama
- Themes
- loss of innocence; Australian identity; mateship; larrikinism; coming of age
- Tone and mood
- devastating; emotionally wrenching; anti-war
- Premise and plot tags
- war; historical; drama; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film was well-regarded by critics and helped elevate the reputation of the Australian film industry. It was a domestic success but had modest international box-office results. It is still considered one of the best-loved Australian films, though its historical accuracy remains a subject of debate.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 91% · review count: 46; Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- The film was the first production of Associated R&R Films.; The cattle station scenes were shot in Beltana, the salt lake at Lake Torrens, and Adelaide railway station.; The film was listed as Number 1 in the 20 to 1 episode 'Great Aussie Films'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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