Burke & Wills
Encyclopedia
Burke & Wills is a 1985 Australia
n adventure film directed by Graeme Clifford
, starring Jack Thompson
and Nigel Havers
. The film is based on the true story of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition
across Australia.
The film follows the tragic expedition of Robert O'Hara Burke
and William John Wills
in their crossing of Australia's interior in 1860-1. The film's account of the story changes the expedition's ending by having the explorers actually reach the northern coast. This upbeat idea was vehemently criticised by Australian reviewers. The story was also filmed the same year as a comedy, Wills & Burke.
on 2 November 1985 before Prince Charles and Lady Diana; the first Australian Royal Premiere. It opened in other Australian cities on 7 November 1985, was shown at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival
in May, the Toronto Film Festival in September 1986 and was released worldwide in early 1986.
The movie was released on VHS Video in Australia by Charter Entertainment in 1987 and released in the USA on 26 October 1988 by Nelson Entertainment. A version on laserdisc was released in USA, (UPC: 08258902146). The movie has never been released on DVD.
in 2009 dollars.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n adventure film directed by Graeme Clifford
Graeme Clifford
For the opera singer with a similar name, see Grahame Clifford.Graeme Clifford is an acclaimed Australian film director, his directing credits include the Academy Award nominated film Frances, Gleaming the Cube and the mini-series The Last Don, which received two Emmy nominations.Clifford was a...
, starring Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson (actor)
Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
and Nigel Havers
Nigel Havers
Nigel Allan Havers is an English actor. He is probably best known for his BAFTA-nominated role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire, and for his role as Dr. Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series Don't Wait Up...
. The film is based on the true story of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition
Burke and Wills expedition
In 1860–61, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometres...
across Australia.
The film follows the tragic expedition of Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
and William John Wills
William John Wills
William John Wills was an English surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon. He achieved fame as the second-in-command of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
in their crossing of Australia's interior in 1860-1. The film's account of the story changes the expedition's ending by having the explorers actually reach the northern coast. This upbeat idea was vehemently criticised by Australian reviewers. The story was also filmed the same year as a comedy, Wills & Burke.
Plot
Burke and Wills are portrayed as bold but flawed figures. Burke is anxious to return to his sweetheart in Melbourne, and win fame and honor for himself in the 'race' across Australia. Wills is the consummate English gentleman and faithful follower to the end. Impressive Australian desert vistas help to build the dramatic tension as Burke's rash decisions come to a head.Award nominations
At the 1986 AFI awards Burke & Wills received nominations in categories for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Sound and Best Original Music Score.Release
The film premiered in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 2 November 1985 before Prince Charles and Lady Diana; the first Australian Royal Premiere. It opened in other Australian cities on 7 November 1985, was shown at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival
1986 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Sydney Pollack*Alexandre Mnouchkine*Alexandre Trauner*Charles Aznavour*Danièle Thompson*István Szabó*Lino Brocka*Philip French*Sonia Braga*Tonino Delli Colli-Feature film competition:* After Hours by Martin Scorsese...
in May, the Toronto Film Festival in September 1986 and was released worldwide in early 1986.
The movie was released on VHS Video in Australia by Charter Entertainment in 1987 and released in the USA on 26 October 1988 by Nelson Entertainment. A version on laserdisc was released in USA, (UPC: 08258902146). The movie has never been released on DVD.
Cast
- Jack ThompsonJack Thompson (actor)Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
as Robert O'Hara BurkeRobert O'Hara BurkeRobert O'Hara Burke was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled... - Nigel HaversNigel HaversNigel Allan Havers is an English actor. He is probably best known for his BAFTA-nominated role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire, and for his role as Dr. Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series Don't Wait Up...
as William John WillsWilliam John WillsWilliam John Wills was an English surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon. He achieved fame as the second-in-command of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled... - Greta ScacchiGreta ScacchiGreta Scacchi is an Italian-Australian actor.-Early life:Scacchi was born Greta Gracco in Milan, Italy, on 18 February 1960, the daughter of Luca Scacchi Gracco, an Italian art dealer and painter, and Pamela Carsaniga, an English dancer and antiques dealer...
as Julia Matthews - Matthew Fargher as John KingJohn King (explorer)John King was an Irish soldier who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the sole survivor of the four men from the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition who reached the Gulf of Carpentaria...
- Chris HaywoodChris HaywoodChris Haywood is an English-born, Australian-based film and television actor/producer.-Early life:Haywood was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He spent his early childhood in Chelmsford before moving to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire where he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School from...
as Tom McDonagh - Ralph Cotterill as Charley Gray
- Drew ForsytheDrew ForsytheDrew Forsythe is an Australian actor, singer, writer, and comedian.He attended Atherton Primary School, far north Queensland....
as William Brahe - Ron Blanchard as Bill Patton
- Monroe Reimers as Dost Mahomet
- Barry Hill as George Landells
- Hugh Keays-Byrne as Ambrose Kyte
- Roderick Williams as Bill Wright
- Arthur Dignam as Sir William Stawell
- Ken Goodlet as Doctor John Masadam
- Peter Collingwood as Doctor William Wills
- Edward Hepple as Ludwig Becker
- Susannah HarkerSusannah HarkerSusannah Harker is an English film, television, and theatre actor. She is the daughter of English actress Polly Adams and actor Richard Owens, and the great-niece of Gordon Adams. She was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1990 for her role as Mattie Storin in House of Cards...
as Bessie Wills - Martin Redpath as Mayor of Melbourne
- Julia Hamilton as Mrs. Kyte
- Nick Carrafa as Edwin Welch
- John Gregg as Alfred Erwin
- Deryck Barnes as Tom Payne
- Les Foxcroft as Harry
- John Penman as Fat Kid
- Redmond PhillipsRedmond PhillipsRedmond Bernard Phillips was a New Zealand born actor and writer.Phillips was born in Reefton, New Zealand and began acting in the theatre while a student at Victoria University of Wellington...
as Commissioner May - Mark Pegler as Journalist
- Mary Acres as Julia's Dresser
- David Bracks as Lawyer
- Lucy Bell as Kyte's Daughter
- Matthew Savage as Christopher Marsden
Box Office
Burke & Wills grossed $1,567,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $3,729,460in 2009 dollars.
External links
- Burke & Wills Web A comprehensive website containing many of the historical documents relating to the Burke & Wills Expedition.
- The Burke & Wills Historical Society The Burke & Wills Historical Society.
- Burke and Wills 150th Anniversary Commemoration Program Burke and Wills 150th Anniversary Commemoration Program