So, did you know that "the problem with human flesh is that, while rich in protein, it never really satisfies hunger because of the lack of carbohydrates, which provide energy"?
Well, read about it here in this excellent precis of the story of Tasmanian convict and cannibal-by-circumstance (later by choice): Alexander Pearce.
Of course, I've just watched the The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce tonight, and it was a stonker! Great script, great performances, and a fine dramatic soliloquy or two from Pearce's confessant. The film doesn't trouble the scorers at a neat 60 mins, and is faithful to the ripping yarn it is. From memory, Fyodor issued a heads-up on this medium-length film back at the Wreck of the Batavia: Why no film? thread. And let it be known that he was right!
Which brings me back to the theme. Come on film Australia, check out The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce. Its all feasible. And there's so many great Australian historical tales to be told. The themes are often universal - which is presumably part of the sales pitch you want to hear. I've already suggested the Batavia... and here's a few more, for nothing, just off the top of my head.
Australian historical films that must be made include:
* Pemulwoy and the Eora resistance 1789-95.
* Battle Mountain: The Kalkadoon resistance in Nth QLD
* The Castle Hill rebellion (although a mini-series partly addressed it in 1978)
* The Great Strikes of 1891. Sure, Sunday too Far Away is a classic, set during the 1956 shearers strikes. But those were tame as! In 1891 half of rural Queensland was on fire, and the QLD colonial army and assorted militia were sent in.
* The Battle of Brisbane, 1942: Can we handle an all out two-day brawl between Diggers and American GIs, which wrecked downtown Brisbane, and was hushed up by wartime authorities? Yes we can!
6 comments:
And then there are the biopics. Germaine, Gough, The Demidenko Diaries.
Ah, nice lateral take, mein Baron. Who do we get to play them though?
Knowing film Oz, Vince Colosimo will play all three. With cameos from Bud Tingwell.
I was thinking Russell Crowe for H.O.L.T.
That's Vinegar Hill to you.
And anyway, give me Last Night At The Star: The Movie!
Yes, I'd always called it Vinegar hill too Liamista, following Grassby - but it took place at Castle Hill, and is sometimes known as the '2nd battle of Vinegar Hill" , with the first at Vinegar Hill Ireland - its perhaps easier to go with Castle Hill- as it is also known. My sense is there actually is no Vinegar hill in Sydney - it was a contemporary historical allusion?
Und Mein Baron - heh! With Bud Tingwell as a jocular backbencher?
As ive said before, when you arent orignally from melbourne, the 'Harold Holt Aquatic Centre' is ...quite a revelation.
More on that: the events seem to be classed as 1. The Castle Hill Rebellion of 1804, being the uprising in general, and then 2. the ensuing showdown with the Rum Coprs, known as the Battle of Vinegar Hill - becuase they were Irish and the first battle (in Ireland) was recent history, 1798. Possibly involving some of the same people! The two leaders were in fact United Irishmen.
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