Down Under Westerns?

Hmmmm im not entirely sure that was filmed in the West Aussie outback. I think it was done in the eastern states im not sure but im pretty sure.

The Proposition. Violent as hell and set in Australia.


Charles Manson: Eccentric folk singer from the sixties. Or was he?
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Not a western, and I'm not sure how available it is, but Walkabout was a darn good movie from the 70s set in the outback.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067959/

Also not a western, Gallipoli, a WW1 story, starts in the outback, and I believe it was Mel Gibson's first movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/

The Man From Snowy River might fit the bill. I'm not sure what the time period it's supposed to be, long time since I've seen it.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

I don't think Australia actually does the Western *genre*. But as plenty of other people in this thread have pointed out, there are some Western-like films you can sample. I suppose you could call them "Southerns".

Australian western are rather thin on the ground, since Australia’s settlement began as a British Colony, with a unique history, completely different from that of America. For example, its cowboys were called ‘stockmen’ and its drifters are either called 'swagmen' or ‘bushmen.’

Since 19th century Australia was a penal colony, its strata of prisoners, ticket of leave men, free immigrants, small land owners and large land owners, made the Australian society of the time far more complex than that of the American Old West.

Nonetheless, I can think of two Australian ‘western’ films, strangely enough, both starring Chips Rafferty.

One is ‘The Phantom Stockman’ from 1953, about a bushman named ‘Sundowner’ who tracks down a gang of cattle rustlers with his Aboriginal sidekick.

The other is ‘The Overlanders’ from 1946, which despite being set during World War Two, still has somewhat the feel of a western. In order to save a large herd of cattle on Australia’s north coast from falling into enemy hands, a small band of drovers must overcome countless obstacles as they drive the herd across 1600 miles of outback to Queensland.

rescuers down under

There's, as already mentioned, 'The Proposition' - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/

and

'The Man From Snowy River' - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084296/


There's also these films, which have yet to have been mentioned,

'The Tracker,' which is a bit of a different Western - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212132/

'Ned Kelly,' (2003) A Hollywood co-production that starred Heath Ledger as the famous/infamous Ned Kelly and co-starred Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom and Naomi Watts. Heath Ledger R.I.P. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277941/

'Ned Kelly,' (1970) A famous/infamous British Colour Production starring Mick Jagger as the titled anti-hero. May be hard to get hold of, but may be worth checking out, as the Ned Kelly story (In history) about as Western as it gets here. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066130/

'The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith,' (1978) An acclaimed Australian Production, set in the 19th century. The true story of a part aboriginal man who finds the pressure of adapting to white culture intolerable, and as a result snaps in a violent and horrific manner.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077318/

'Robbery Under Arms,' (1957) is a British Colour Production set and filmed in Australia. Very much more your Western style this one, partially based upon an infamous Bushranger (Highwayman) in our history, Captain Starlight. Stars Peter Finch as Starlight. May be hard to find, especially overseas, though it shows now again on our National Broadcaster's Channel - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050904/

'Robbery Under Arms,' (1985) After searching I found this film, which may be right up your alley. It's ofcourse another adaptation of the same novel the 50s Production was based. Sam Neill plays Captain Starlight. Like the 50s flick, this may be hard to get hold of, but probably well worth looking for, given you how much you appreciate the Quigley movie. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089925/

'Mad Dog Morgan.' (1976)after searching IMDB I found this interesting film,. An Australian Production starring Dennis Hopper as Mad Dog Morgan. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074836/

'We of the Never Never,' (1982) She was a 20th century woman trapped in the 19th century. Jeannie Gunn has been dunked in a river. Treed by an angry bull. And forced to cross the Australian continent the hard way. On horseback. By buckboard. And on foot. She faced being the only civilized woman in an uncivilized land. Hers is a story of personal triumph. It will show you how one woman reached out in a hard, hostile, prejudiced world and managed to find love. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084893/

'Rabbit-Proof Fence,' set in the 1930s, thesetting may be a bit 'modern' to be considered a Western-ish kind of film, but still some of it's themes and the use of landscape will appeal. A well acclaimed film about a sensitive, yet important, subject in Australia's history. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/

'Ten Canoes' Is a movie set around an Aboriginal tribe and largely pre-white settlement. There for it's connection to the 'Western' genre may be very loose, if there is any at all. It's won many awards and may still be worth a look - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0466399/

and there's

'Australia' Directed by Baz Luhrmann ofcourse, though that's more of a Romance/Fantasy/Adventure kind of thing. - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/

BTW If one wants to look a bit more laterally than the Mad Max movies could be considered Westerns of sorts. The Max character has often been likened to Clint Eastwood's 'the man with no name' of the Dollars Trilogy, features the Outback prominently and the society is a bit of a law unto itself, a bit of anarchy, so not unlike a frontier territory where the state has no control. And the baddies in the 2nd movie especially, could be seen as the film's 'Indians' with Max the lone hero who helps the civilians of the 'town' defend themselves. The films feature alot of action, even Adventure, with plenty of chase scenes, many not unlike Indians chasing a stage coach.

There's 'Lightning Jack' which is a Western/Comedy starring Paul Hogan, but he's playing an 'Aussie Oulaw' in America's Wild West - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110353/

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