Eliza Fraser (film)
| Eliza Fraser | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Tim Burstall |
| Produced by | Tim Burstall |
| Written by | David Williamson |
| Starring |
Susannah York John Waters John Castle |
| Music by | Bruce Smeaton |
| Cinematography | Robin Copping |
| Edited by | Edward McQueen-Mason |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | Roadshow Umbrella Entertainment |
|
Release date
|
16 December 1976 |
|
Running time
|
130 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$1,200,000 |
| Box office | A$2,200,000 (Australia) A$200,000 (overseas sales) |
Eliza Fraser is a 1976 Australian bawdy adventure drama film, directed by Tim Burstall and starring Susannah York, Trevor Howard, Noel Ferrier and John Castle. The screenplay was written by David Williamson.
The film was the first Australian film with a big-budget, costing A$1.2m to make. English actors Susannah York and Trevor Howard were brought from the United Kingdom to headline this Australian picture, which was filmed in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The film has been described as a classic Aussie tale of colonial hardship and bawdy beginnings, and has been described as a sex romp. The film contains nudity, with exposure of female breasts (including those of York and a nude cameo by Abigail) and numerous back shots.
"Sydney Australia 1836" Captain James Fraser, and his young wife, Eliza Fraser, sail from Sydney on the Stirling Castle. Captain Rory McBryde, the most notorious rake in New South Wales, manages to get on board and tries to seduce Eliza. Captain Fraser stops off at the penal colony of Moreton Bay which is run by Captain Fyans, who tries to seduce convict Bracefell. Bracefell escapes and hides in Eliza's room; Eliza sleeps with him, thinking he is McBryde, but is not unhappy when she sees who it is. She helps Bracefell escape.
The Frasers resume their trip on the Stirling Castle when they and the ship's crew are shipwrecked on an island near Australia on 21 May 1836. They live with the indigenous Aboriginal people, but Captain Fraser is later killed by convicts from Moreton Bay. Eliza meets Bracefell, who is now living with aborigines, and helps rescue her.
Once rescued, Eliza earns her keep at county fairs by regaling audiences with her own tales of her adventures.
"In fact history shows it took eight
months for Eliza to make her fortune.
And history also shows that she retired
with Captain Green to New Zealand
where they both lived happily ever after."
"Our special thanks to the Escot Tribe and Betni Tribe of Mornington Island".
...
Wikipedia