I found this film on youtube after seeing a few clips on BBC2's 'Coast Australia'. I have just been to Australia and to the Coorong in particular, so was delighted to find the film, for all sorts of reasons. The cinematography was very atmospheric, making the best of the scenery and the weather. The young boy - Mike or Storm Boy - a name given to him by Fingerbone, an Aboriginal man he befriends, was excellent in the part. By the way it has been wrongly stated in other reviews that this was David Gulpilil's film debut - it was not - he played the young aboriginal boy in 'Walkabout' some years earlier.
Storm Boy Synopsis: Mike is a lonely Australian boy living in a coastal wilderness with his reclusive father. In search of friendship he encounters an Aboriginal native loner and the two form a bond in the care of orphaned pelicans.
Gulpilil is always a fine actor. The pelicans were a delight - I had no idea they could be trained like that and watching them and the interaction with Storm Boy was extraordinary.
It might be classed as a film for children, but many adults would enjoy it - I certainly did.
Contents.Plot Mike is a lonely young boy wandering through the fierce deserted coast of South Australia's, near the mouth of the. He and his reclusive father 'Hide Away' Tom live in the isolated sand dunes facing the. In search of friendship, Mike encounters another recluse in the wilderness, Fingerbone Bill , 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 shooters.
With the wise guidance of Fingerbone Bill, Mike learns of the cycle of life and is eventually allowed by his father to attend school for the first time in a nearby village.Cast. as Storm Boy. as Hideaway Tom. as Fingerbone Bill. Judy Dick as Miss Walker. Tony Allison as ranger 1. Michael Moody as boat master.
Graham Dow as Edwards. Eric Mack as Jones. Frank Foster-Brown as Lynch. Michael Caulfield as hunter 1. Graeme Duke as hunter 2.
as The pelican. Paul Smith.
Hedley Cullen. Jim HardingProduction 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. The budget came from the, the and the Seven television network.Shooting began in May 1976, with exteriors shot near and interiors in the SAFC's studio at Norwood. Eleven-year-old Greg Rowe was an untrained actor, selected over 70 other applicants.
Three pelicans played the lead pelican. In 2009 Mr Percival died at Royal, aged 33 years old.The production team later reunited on (1978).
Reception Storm Boy was a hit, grossing $2,645,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $13,674,650 in 2009 dollars.Awards It was a popular children's film both in Australia and Britain and won a medal at the in 1977 for best children's film.AwardCategorySubjectResult(1976 AFI Awards)WonNominatedNominatedSidney StebelNominatedNominatedBob CoggerNominatedDavid CoppingNominatedHelen EvansNominatedCinematographer of the YearGeoff BurtonWonBest Writing in a Feature Film - AdaptedSonia BorgWonSidney StebelWonRemake. ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 306. Paul Davies, 'Sonia Borg', Cinema Papers, Oct-Nov 1978 p109-111, 162. National Library of Australia. 25 August 1976.
Retrieved 5 October 2012. National Library of Australia.
27 September 1978. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
Dayman, Isabelle. (26 July 2016). ', Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2017.External links Wikiquote has quotations related to:Wikimedia Commons has media related to. on. at the. at Oz Movies.
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