The Getting of Wisdom (film)

The Getting of Wisdom
Directed by	Bruce Beresford
Produced by	Phillip Adams
Written by	Eleanor Witcombe
Based on	novel by Henry Handel Richardson
Starring	Susannah Fowle Hilary Ryan Barry Humphries
Cinematography	Donald McAlpine
Edited by	William M. Anderson
Production company	Southern Cross Films
Distributed by	Roadshow
Release date	15 June 1977
Running time	101 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	A$525,000
Box office	A$982,000

The Getting of Wisdom is a 1977Australian film directed by Bruce Beresford and based on the 1910 novel of the same name by Henry Handel Richardson.

The film is set in 1890s Victoria, when Laura (Susannah Fowle) enters an exclusive Melbourne ladies' college based on Presbyterian Ladies' College. The film follows her struggle for acceptance, conformity, romance, friendship and achievement over the next four years. Lesbian overtones between two schoolgirls are made explicit in the film, more so than in Richardson’s novel.

It also starred Barry Humphries, John Waters and Terence Donovan, and featured early career appearances by Kerry Armstrong, Sigrid Thornton, Noni Hazlehurst, Maggie Kirkpatrick and Julia Blake.

A musical theme runs through the story, with piano works by Beethoven, Schubert and Thalberg played by Sarah Grunstein.

Laura Rambotham is sent to attend boarding school in Melbourne at the turn of the century. During her second year she tells everyone about a made-up romance between herself and the school's minister, Reverend Shepherd. She forms an attachment with an older girl, Evelyn. When Evelyn leaves, Laura throws herself into her studies and wins the school literary and music prizes.

Bruce Beresford wanted to make the film after The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972) and tried to get finance from Reg Grundy. Grundy said he would think about it if Beresford made a McKenzie sequel. Beresford made Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974) but Grundy declined to make Wisdom.