Where a horse’s hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride – Banjo Paterson
Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. As a technical note, references and citations are listed for each show on the site at classicmovierev.com.
I want to take a minute to thank Merrimack – Kid for the lovely review on Apple Podcast. These reviews really help the show grow, and I appreciate it. Thank you. BTW I will get to Powell/Loy films one day. I have covered Loy in a few other movies already.
Today on the Classic Movie Reviews Podcast, we are taking on The Man from Snowy River (1982). This movie is one of the great Australian films that were coming out in the 80s. It is also a western and has American Kirk Douglas playing two roles. So, you can’t hardly go wrong with this one.
The Man from Snowy River (1982) is one of my fun movies. It has some holes which the professional reviewers pointed out. On iMDB.com, this film has a decent 7.3[1] rating. On rottentomatoes.com, this movie has a 95 percent on the Tomatometer and 89 percent[2] audience approval.
The great film critic Roger Ebert said in an April 20, 1983, two- and one-half stars review:
“That doesn’t make this a great Western. It’s corny in places, and kind of dumb, and its subplot about the romance between the boy and the girl seems plundered from some long-shelved Roddy McDowell script. But “The Man from Snowy River” has good qualities, too, including some great aerial photography of thundering herds of horses, and the invigorating grandeur of the Australian landscape.[3]”
New York Times film critic Vincent Canby said in a January 21, 1983 review:
“There are not so many big westerns around that one can easily dismiss the Australian ‘The Man From Snowy River,’ which opens today at the Baronet and 34th Street East Theaters. To appreciate it fully, however, one must have a completely uncritical fondness for Kirk Douglas as he acts his heart out in two roles; for picturesque landscapes; for silly plots, and for dialogue that leans heavily on aphorisms too homespun to be repeated in a big-city newspaper.[4]”
Actors – The Man from Snowy River (1982)
Returning
Kirk Douglas played dual roles as Harrison and his estranged brother Spur. Douglas was first covered in the solid war epic In Harm’s Way (1965).
Australian actor Tony Bonner played the station foreman Kane. Bonner was first covered in another film set in Australia, Quigley Down Under (1990).
New
Tom Burlinson played the man from Snowy River, Jim Craig. Burlinson was born in Canada in 1956. His family moved to England and then to Australia. Burlinson began to appear on stage while still in primary school. He was accepted to the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1974.
Burlinson worked in television through the late 1970s and got his big film break in The Man from Snowy River (1982). He has continued to make movies such as the surfer fest Windrider (1986) and worked on television. He has been very successful as a singer and in stage musicals.
Sigrid Thornton played the protected rich girl Jessica Harrison. In the 1980s, she was a big deal. Thornton started acting as early as 1967. She began appearing on television series in the early 1970s. She began working in Australian films in 1977 but burst onto the international scene with The Man From Snowy River (1982). Another popular movie was The Lighthorsemen (1987). Sadly, she was in Return to Snowy River (1988).
Popular in mini-series, she was the first Australian actress to have a significant role in a U.S. series, “Paradise” 1988-1991. She continues to work in film, on stage, and behind the cameras.
Jack Thompson played the best mountain horseman Clancy. Thompson was born in Australia in 1940. Thompson let high school at 14 to become a jackaroo, a worker at a sheep or cattle station in the outback. He joined the Australian Army in 1960 and later attended university, where he began acting.
Thompson began his acting career on Australian television in 1968, including a spot on “Skippy,” a kangaroo Lassie series. His first movie was in 1971. He became a star at home with The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978). But he found international fame with his fantastic performance in Breaker Morant (1980). He was great again in The Man from Snowy River (1982). Other films include Wind (1992), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), and Star Wars: Ep. II – Attack of the Clones (2002).
He has received significant honors in Australian cinema and continues to work. One of the most interesting and often cited stories about Thompson is that he lived for several years in a menage a trois with Leona King, who was his wife and her younger sister Bunkie.
Story – The Man from Snowy River (1982)
Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) is living in the high mountain country of Australia with his father. The land is hard, and so are the men. The father and son may have to take jobs in the flatlands to keep their mountain place.
After diner, the mare Bessie is disturbed by the presence of a brumby mob (wild horses) that are led by an escaped thoroughbreed. Jim’s father is about to shoot the stallion when Jim suggests they can capture part of the herd and settle their money problems.
The next day the father and son are working on a pen for the brumbies. Jim is using a gelding to drag a log up the hill. The brumby herd, led by the thoroughbred, comes charging through. When the log slips, it fatally injured Jim’s father. The gelding has been injured, and Bessie has joined the herd. As his father dies, he talks about the good times that he had with his old friend Spur.
Jim’s father is buried near their home. After the funeral, Spur (Kirk Douglas) tells Jim about the value of life. The other hill men arrive and tell Jim that he can’t have the homestead until he proves that he has the right to live in the highland. He will have to go to the low country and work for a while.
Jim, who is now horseless, rides in the wagon with the one-legged Spur, back to his home. Jim is determined to get Bessie back from the mob. Spur gives Jim a good horse. Spur harshly advises Jim to give up his dream of catching the herd.
Down in the town, Jim sees a wealthy rancher named Harrison (Kirk Douglas) that looks like a prosperous version of Spur. Harrison is picking up a colt that is worth 1,000 pounds. The colt is lead off the train by a drover. A barking dog causes the colt to buck, and the drover loses control. Jim steps in and calms the horse.
The drover is Jessica (Sigrid Thornton), the spirited daughter of Harrison. She cracks hard on Jim for helping. The lawyer handling the horse sale meets Jim and agrees to help him find a job.
Spur works in his gold mine, that never really produces, and always seems to be about to collapse. The unofficial leader of the mountain men Clancy (Jack Thompson) shows up at Spurs mine. During their conversation, it is revealed that Spur was in a partnership with Jim’s father.
Jim goes to Harrison’s ranch and is hired. Meanwhile, Clancy and Spur discuss their life choices over Wallaby stew. Spur plans to work with Jim on the mine. One of the maids expresses her surprise to the foreman, Kane (Tom Bonner), that Harrison hired a mountain man.
Jim takes a bit of grief from Curly and another worker, as he is put down for being from the mountains. Jessica comes out to saddle her horse, and Jim impresses her with his rope work. Harrison comes in and doesn’t like his daughter being around the hands and wants her to be more ladylike.
The men in the bunkhouse are discussing the forthcoming high-country herding, and they will need to wait for Clancy to arrive. When Jim says that Clancy was a friend of his father’s, Curly, and most of the hands laugh at him.
Clancy arrives at the station, ready for the muster. Clancy goes straight to Jim and says he is sorry about the death of his father, and they were good mates. Later at dinner, Harrison, Clancy, Jessica, Rosemary (Lorraine Bayly), Jessica’s aunt, and the lawyer talk about how Harrison made money selling meat to the miners. There is some tension between Harrison and Lorraine, who is a bit of a feminist.
Jim brings in a load of firewood. Clancy asks Jim about taming the mountains, and Jim says it can’t be done. Clancy asks about Harrison’s brother in the mountains, and he says he has no brother.
Kane comes in and tells Jim that he will not be going on the muster. Jim is sore about being left behind, and Jessica doesn’t care for it either. Jessica is under the tutelage of Rosemary when Jim brings in the tea. He is invited to stay for a cup. Jessica says she never knew her mother.
Jessica comes to Jim and wants him to help her break the valuable colt. Jim is an excellent horse trainer. He and Jessica grow closer. The colt is broken during an instrumental interlude.
One day the brumbies run by, and Jim sees Bessie. He jumps on the colt and tries to give chase. The colt refuses to jump the gate and throws Jim. Jim survives the stampede of horses, but the thoroughbred attempts to kill him. Jessica says they will keep the secret that Jim rode the horse.
The muster comes back with the cattle herd. Harrison finds the wounded Jim in bed and sends him to retrieve 20 stray cows still on the mountain. Jim goes to see Spur and tells him that he is working for Harrison. Spur doesn’t want to talk about his brother, but he is interested in Jessica. Spur tells Jim where to find the missing cows.
Harrison sees evidence that the colt has been ridden. He blows a gasket talking to Jessica. Rosemary tells that the thoroughbred is leading the brumbies. Jessica takes up for Jim. Harrison says Jim will be fired, and Jessica is being sent to a woman’s boarding school. Harrison slaps Jessica when she talks back and says she is as deceitful as her mother. Rosemary wades into Harrison, and he says Jessica might not be his daughter. Jessica takes a horse and escapes into the mountains, even though a storm is brewing.
Jim begins moving the 20 cows down as Jessica searches the hills for him. Jim is perfectly prepared for the weather, but Jessica is in trouble. She loses her horse and falls to a ledge.
All of Harrison’s men are drunk. He orders Kane to get all of the men ready. Most of the bunkhouse men are of no help. On the mountain, Harrison leaves the men behind.
Jim sees the fresh hoof-prints. He searches and finds Jessica’s horse dead. Jim keeps looking until he finds Jessica. She tells the story of the firing to Jim. Jessica tells Jim she wants to be with him. Jim says he will take the cattle down, and he will return Jessica. He says that he will take her to Spur’s place. Jessica is stung by rejection, but Jim knows he has nothing to offer yet. Finally, they get all kissy-face and maybe a little more.
Spur is in his mine when the roof gives in, almost killing him. When he gets up, he sees the gold vein he has been looking for 20-years. When Jim and Jessica get to Spur’s place, he is surprised that she doesn’t know Spur. Jim and Jessica make themselves at home in the cabin, and Jessica sees a picture of her mother.
Spur is shocked when he sees Jessica, and he calls her Matilda. Jessica is shocked that she has an uncle. Jessica asks about the picture, and Spur says there is pain and suffering in the past. Spur agrees to take Jessica back to the station. Jim goes back for the cows.
After sharing a meal of Harrison beef, Spur and Jessica head down in the wagon. Harrison finds a note that Jim has left telling Jessica is safe.
Back at the ranch, Jessica asks Rosemary about Spur and her mother. Rosemary tells that 20-years ago, the two brothers fell in love with Matilda. She couldn’t decide, so she said she would marry the first to make his fortune. Harrison bet all his money on a horse race and won making a fortune. The other brother, Spur, went to search for gold.
Rosemary is happy to see Spur as Spur flirts with the cook. Rosemary says that Spur and Jim should leave before Harrison gets back. Jim goes to see Jessica instead. Harrison burst into the room and is happy to see his daughter, but he is unhappy with Jim.
Harrison takes Jim for a talk. Jim tells Harrison that he loves Jessica. Harrison says Jim cannot take Jessica to a mountain life. Spur comes in, and he and Harrison begin arguing. Harrison and Rosemary fill in the rest of the story. Spur gave Matilda a colt as a wedding present, but Harrison was so jealous he wanted to kill the horse. Matilda feared for the horse and set it free. Spurs says that he came to tell Matilda. Harrison found the two together, and he shot Spur in the leg. Matilda wanted to leave but died in childbirth with Jessica. Spur tells that the colt grew to be the old stallion that is leading the brumbies. Spur calls for peace. Jim says he is leaving, and he won’t let Jessica come with him. She doesn’t know why. Spur rides out in his wagon, and Harrison comes out to ask if Spur was the father of Jessica. Spur shames him for misjudging Matilda so.
Jim gets ready to leave the bunkhouse, and Curly starts ribbing him about having sex with Jessica. Curly and his friend attack Jim but another man makes Curley drop his weapon. Jim beats the tar out of the two.
As Jim leaves, Curley releases the young colt, so they will think Jim did it for revenge. Kane comes back the next day with news that the colt is with the brumbies mob. They have called all the riders in to search for the horse.
In the mountains, Spur tells Jim that he owns half of the gold mine. They hear a wolf howl, and it is Clancy coming into camp. Clancy says that the colt has been let loose. He invites Jim to come along on the search. Jim doesn’t want to do it until he finds out that Harrison is blaming him for the release of the colt and that he would not be allowed to ride with the group.
In the morning, Harrison offers 100 pounds for the retrieval of the colt. He says scouts will send flares when the mob is sighted. Clancy rides in, followed by Jim. Harrison orders him off, and Clancy defends Jim.
Spur rides back to the ranch to hang out with the ladies.
The riders head to the mountains to follow the signal flares. There are several accidents as the men ride through the rough terrain. They use whips like Florida crackers to herd the animals. Clancy stops the horses, but they breakout under the leadership of the stallion.
Curly slips Jim’s harness off the horse’s head, causing Jim to fall behind. The brumbies make it to a very steep slope and charge down it. Clancy, Harrison, and the others stop at the top, giving up the chase. Jim charges through the crowd and down the slope. He cracks his whip as he goes over.
For some reason, this scene has always reminded me of The Grinch and Max’s initial descent down Mount Crumpit in How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966). I guess it is the drama of the steep slope.
The men watch in as Jim is occasionally seen chasing the brumbies mob. Finally, Jim subdues the herd.
Spur is at the ranch on his wagon when most of the men come in without the horses. Suddenly, Jim is seen in the field, bringing the mob into the corral. Harrison offers Jim the reward, but he refuses, saying that is not why he rode. Clancy is proud of Jim. Jim and Jessica make eyes at each other.
Jim attaches Bessie to Spur’s wagon. Jim says he will be back for the broodmares in the mob, and whatever else is his, meaning Jessica. Harrison says you have a long way to go lad. Spur says, “no brother, he is a man, he is a man.” Clancy says under his breath, the man from Snowy River. Jim waves goodbye to Jessica, and she knows he will be back for her.
Jim rides back to his home, knowing he has earned the right to live on top of the world.
I’ll be right back with conclusions and the World-Famous Short Summary following a word from our sponsors.
Summary – The Man from Snowy River (1982)
Including Jessica in with the horse, gives the impression that she is another broodmare. Not cool.
Thus far, I have not mentioned the sequel Return to Snowy River (1988). It is not worth the time, save for one scene. Avoid it if possible.
The story for The Man From Snowy River (1982) came from a poem by Banjo Paterson[5]. Paterson, who is legendary in Australia even has his picture on their 10-dollar bill. He is probably best-known for writing the song “Waltzing Matilda.”
Matilda was the name of Jessica’s mother[6], and one of the bunk men was named Banjo Paterson (David Bradshaw).
When reading the poem, it is impressive to see how many good lines in the film were taken from the poem. The poem states in one section:
“But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, “That horse will never do
For a long a tiring gallop – lad, you’d better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you.”
So he waited sad and wistful – only Clancy stood his friend –
“I think we ought to let him come,” he said;
“I warrant he’ll be with us when he’s wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.
“He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko’s side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse’s hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen.”[7]
There is another version of the film based on the poem The Man from Snowy River (1920).
World-Famous Short Summary – A country boy can survive
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Beware the moors
[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084296/
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_from_snowy_river
[3] https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-man-from-snowy-river-1983
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/21/movies/man-from-snowy-river.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Paterson
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_from_Snowy_River_(1982_film)
[7] http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/patersonab/poetry/snowy.html
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