The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (film): Difference between revisions
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The film's budget was raised from a variety of sources; $350,000 plus a loan of $50,000 from the [[Australian Film Commission]], $350,000 from the Victorian Film Corporation, $200,000 from Hoyts, $250,000 from Schepisi.<ref name="stratton"/> |
The film's budget was raised from a variety of sources; $350,000 plus a loan of $50,000 from the [[Australian Film Commission]], $350,000 from the Victorian Film Corporation, $200,000 from Hoyts, $250,000 from Schepisi.<ref name="stratton"/> |
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Tommy Lewis was spotted by Fresh Schepisi's wife at Melbourne airport just walking past. He was approached and was eventually cast.<ref>David Roe & Scott Murray, "Fredh Schepisi", ''Cinema Papers'', January 1978 p244-246, 269</ref> |
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Filming began on 8 August 1977 and went for fourteen weeks. |
Filming began on 8 August 1977 and went for fourteen weeks. |
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Revision as of 12:57, 28 October 2012
| The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Fred Schepisi |
| Written by | Fred Schepisi |
| Produced by | Fred Schepisi |
| Starring | Tom E. Lewis Angela Punch McGregor |
| Cinematography | Ian Baker |
| Edited by | Brian Kavanagh |
| Music by | Bruce Smeaton |
| Distributed by | Hoyts |
Release date | 21 June 1978 |
Running time | 120 min. |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$1,200,000[1] |
| Box office | A$1,021,000 (Australia) |
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is a 1978 Australian film directed by Fred Schepisi, and starring Tom E. Lewis (billed at the time as Tommy Lewis), Freddy Reynolds and Ray Barrett.[2] It is an adaptation of the novel The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally.
The story is about an exploited Aborigine who commits murder and goes into hiding. It is based on an actual incident.
For Schepisi the film's reception was a disillusioning experience and he left Australia soon after to work in Hollywood, returning to Australia ten years later to make Evil Angels.[3][4]
Cast
- Tom E. Lewis - Jimmie Blacksmith
- Freddy Reynolds - Mort Blacksmith
- Ray Barrett - Farrell
- Jack Thompson - Rev. Neville
- Angela Punch McGregor (as Angela Punch) - Gilda Marshall
- Steve Dodd - Tabidgi
- Peter Carroll - McCready
- Ruth Cracknell - Mrs. Heather Newby
- Don Crosby - Newby
- Elizabeth Alexander - Petra Graf
- Peter Sumner - Dowie Steed
- Tim Robertson - Healey
- Ray Meagher - Dud Edmonds
- Brian Anderson - Hyberry
- Jane Harders - Mrs. Healey
Production
The film's budget was raised from a variety of sources; $350,000 plus a loan of $50,000 from the Australian Film Commission, $350,000 from the Victorian Film Corporation, $200,000 from Hoyts, $250,000 from Schepisi.[1]
Tommy Lewis was spotted by Fresh Schepisi's wife at Melbourne airport just walking past. He was approached and was eventually cast.[5]
Filming began on 8 August 1977 and went for fourteen weeks.
Awards
The film won the Best Original Music Score (Bruce Smeaton), Best Actress in a Lead Role (Angela Punch McGregor) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ray Barrett) and was nominated for 9 more awards at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) for 1978. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.[6]
The novel was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1972, losing to John Berger's G.
Box office
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith grossed $1,021,000 at the box office in Australia.[7] Because of the promotional costs involved, only $50,000 was returned to the producers. Schepisi lost his entire investment.[1]
Other
"The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" by Australian roots-rock band The Groovesmiths is also based on the story.
See also
References
- ^ a b c David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p134-137
- ^ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/60699
- ^ The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith at the Australian screen
- ^ Murray, Scott (1994). Australian Cinema. St.Leonards, NSW.: Allen & Unwin/AFC. p. 85isbn=1863733116.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ David Roe & Scott Murray, "Fredh Schepisi", Cinema Papers, January 1978 p244-246, 269
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
External links
- The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith at IMDb
- Analysis by Allan James Thomas who teaches Documentary Film Theory at RMIT and La Trobe Universities
- The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith at the National Film and Sound Archive
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