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Film Details - Shell Film Unit [Australia] , 1954
Producers:
John Heyer
Production Companies:
Shell Film Unit [Australia]
Director of Photography:
Ross Wood
Editors:
John Heyer
Composer:
Sydney John Kay
Cast:
Tom Kruse, William Henry Butler, Jack the Dogger, Old Joe the Rainmaker, the Oldfields of Etadinna, Bejah, Malcolm Arkaringa, Vallis Barlow, Georgina Barlow, Douglas Stewart, John Heyer (Narrator), Helen Barlow (Narrator), Kevin Brennan (Narrator).
Release Dates:
1. 1954 (Australia). Also screened at the 1954 Venice Film Festival (Italy); 1954 Edinburgh Film Festival (Scotland); 1955 Cape Town - festival screening (South Africa); 1956 Trento - festival screening (Italy); 1956 Johannesburg - festival screening (South Africa); 1956 Montevideo - festival screening (Uruguay).
2. Released on videocassette format in 1993 by Film Australia. Re-released on DVD format by Film Australia in 2004.
Location:
- Queensland (Betoota, Birdsville Creek, Birdsville); Central Australia; South Australia (Birdsville Track, Clifton Hills, Cooper's Creek, Diamentina Flood Plains, Dulkaninna Station, Etadunna, Flinders Ranges, Goyders Lagoon, Kopperamana, Lake Harry Station, Marree, Mount Gason Station, Mulka, Mungeranie, Strzelecki Desert, Sturt Stony Desert, Tirari Desert).
Awards:
- British Academy of Film and television Awards, BAFTA (1955) Best Documentary Film (nominated)
- Venice Film Festival (1954) Absolute Grand Prize - John Heyer (winner)
Notes:
Back of Beyond is arguably the most notable production by the Shell Film Unit under the charge of John Heyer. One of the first Australian films to make an impact at international film festivals (and notably winning the Grand Prix at Venice in 1954), it was widely screened non-theatrically around Australia.
Subjects:
- Birdsville Track SA / Qld, North East South Australia, Far North South Australia, South Australia,
- Australian Outback, Central Australia,
- 1952
