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Movies Filmed in the Eastern Suburbs of Adelaide

Filmed entirely in Campbelltown and Norwood in 1917 Our Friends the Hayseeds, was a silent comedy drama that was very well received wherever it was shown.1 It was based on the popular stage adaptations of Steele Rudd’s Dad n’ Dave stories. The director was Beaumont Smith, this was his first film, and he then went on to be one of the most prolific film makers of the silent era. During the filming of a bushfire scene, the fire got out of control and caused some anxious moments for the cast, who ended up as black as coal heavers, according to the press of the day.2

Another movie filmed in the Eastern Suburbs was in 1918, it was also a silent movie and was shown to Adelaide audiences, and received great acclaim.3 The movie was called The Woman Suffers.4It also was filmed entirely in South Australia with the exception of one Melbourne Cup scene, which was filmed using five cameras, at the 1917 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. The papers of the day were glowing in their appreciation of the cinematography, saying it showed Adelaide to the world.5 Parts of the film were made at Morialta and Waterfall Gully. The film was banned in New South Wales, but in no other State.6 Some believed it was because of the content, highly ground breaking for the time. The story was of two young females who became pregnant, out of wedlock, one of whom took her own life. The director, Raymond Langford, believed it was because pressure was brought to bear on the New South Wales Government by Australian Films, and Union Theatres, who had a virtual monopoly on showing films, all imported from overseas.7 His belief was reinforced, when his next film, was refused to be shown by these two Corporations. They were attempting to discourage independent film makers in Australia, and presenting their audience with the imported product only.

Above is a scene from The Woman Suffers (Raymond Longford, Australia 1918), located in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA). Anon, 2016. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA). [online] YouTube. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGaOeIZLNXadoevCSuL2N8g> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].

In the 1970's The South Australian Film Corporation opened its studio in Norwood. The Dunstan Government had encouraged them with state grants. The Film Corporation was so successful that other states soon followed South Australia's example. Some of the films made at Norwood included:

  • Sunday Too Far Away Director Ken Hannam
  • Picnic at Hanging Rock, Directed by Peter Weir.10
  • Breaker Morant, Director Bruce Beresford.
  • Storm Boy, Director Henri Safran.11
  • The Money Movers, Director Bruce Beresford. 12
  • The Fourth Wish, Director Don Chaffey.13
  • Weekend of Shadows was directed by Tom Jeffry.14

In all of these films some scenes were filmed in the studio at Norwood. Other scenes were filmed in locations around the Eastern Suburbs. In Breaker Morant, the trial scene was filmed in the Norwood studio. The scene in Lord Kitchener's Pretoria HQ was filmed in Rostrevor College.15In the 1975 film, Down the Wind, a Scott Hicks movie, a scene was filmed in Morialta Gorge.16Parts of the film Blue Fin were shot in Tudor Street Dulwich.17

By the 1980's the Norwood studio was in need of an upgrade. The South Australian Film Corporation moved to the vacant Phillips factory at Hendon. In 1984 they opened two huge sound stages there. Films made at Hendon include:

  • Gallipoli, directed by Peter Weir
  • The Club directed by Bruce Beresford
  • The Lighthorsemen directed by Simon Wincer
  • Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie.

Meanwhile films were still being made in the Eastern Suburbs. Probably the best known of all locally made films was Shine, Directed by Scott Hicks. It received eight nominations for an Academy Award but only one was successful, that of best actor in a leading role, won by Geoffrey Rush. Many scenes were shot in Adelaide. If you look carefully you will recognise the Salisbury Avenue and Payneham Road corner at Royston Park.

In 2005 Look Both Ways was made in Adelaide. It is the story of how a fatal rail accident affects a number of people. They re-assess their lives after taking stock of their situation. Parts of Norwood appear in the film, including the Norwood swimming pool and parts of Kensington.18 The director was Sarah Watt. In 2006 the film 2.37 was made in St. Ignatius College, Athelstone.19In the movie a student commits suicide in the school toilets at 2.37. The rest of the story is of how six other students are affected by the event. It was directed by Murali K. Thalluri.

With a budget of Aus$2.5 million, Broken Hill was filmed in 2009. Again St Ignatius College appears, as does Norwood.20Prince Alfred College at Hackney is also shown. The film is directed by Dagen Merrill. The story is of a talented musician and composer who lives in the outback, and he dreams of being accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He needs a band that can play his music, a situation that seems impossible in the outback. That is until fate takes a hand, and he teams up with a talented group of prison inmates.

In 1994 The South Australian Film Corporation changed, from a production company to a film support company. The idea was to assist independent film makers to make, promote and distribute their films. Film makers who took advantage of this new direction were, Peter Weir, Jack Thompson, Scott Hicks, Rolf De Heer, Bryan Brown, Geoffrey Rush and Bruce Beresford. All of whom had spent time in Hendon. In 2008 they moved to Glenside to the old Glenside Mental Hospital. With State Government help of $43 million, they opened a state of the art film making complex. The new complex at Glenside is virtually a studio for hire. Glenside was associated with the 2011 British movie Oranges and Sunshine. The film is a true story about England's stolen generation. These were children who were told their parents were dead, and were shipped out to Australia by various organisations. They faced terrible abuse, both physical and sexual, after being promised Oranges and Sunshine in their new home. The facade of the old Glenside Hospital is used as the Bindoon Boys Town 80 Kilometres north of Perth Western Australia. As well as appearing in the film Glenside was used in the production of it.21

Researched and compiled by Jim Nelson, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library "Digital Diggers" group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

  1. "AUSTRALIAN MOTION PICTURES.". The Mail (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 3 February 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  2. "BURNING UP THE HAYSEEDS.". The Sunday Times (Sydney: National Library of Australia). 4 March 1917. p. 28. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) Tuesday 26 March 1918 p 9
  4. Anon, 2016. The Woman Suffers (1918). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009829/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016]
  5. Quorn Mercury (SA : 1895 - 1954) Friday 12 April 1918p 3
  6. Merv Wasson, "The Woman Suffers: Why Ever Was She Banned?", Cinema Papers, July 1984 p158-160
  7. Anon, 2016. Curator's notes The Woman Suffers (1918) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online. [online] Aso.gov.au. Available at: <http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/the-woman-suffers/notes/> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  8. Anon, 2016. Curator's notes The Woman Suffers (1918) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online. [online] Aso.gov.au. Available at: <http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/the-woman-suffers/notes/> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  9. David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p17
  10. Anon, 2016. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073540/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  11. Anon, 2016. Storm Boy (1976). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076767/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  12. Anon, 2016. Money Movers (1978). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077944/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  13. Anon, 2016. The Fourth Wish (1976). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074544/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  14. Anon, 2016. Weekend of Shadows (1978). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078482/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  15. Anon, 2016. Breaker Morant (1980). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  16. Anon, 2016. Down the Wind (1975). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072903/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  17. Anon, 2016. Blue Fin (1978). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077249/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  18. Anon, 2016. Look Both Ways (2005). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  19. Anon, 2016. 2:37 (2006). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472582/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  20. Anon, 2016. Broken Hill (2009). [online] IMDb. Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212909/locations> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].
  21. Fenton, A., 2016. Sunshine and shadows of lost children. [online] Adelaide Now. Available at: <https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/sunshine-and-shadows-of-lost-children/news-story/5ffe38776e45128dcfe6d41f4f7916ed> [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016].