Peter Weir’s award-winning film Gallipoli launched actor Mel Gibson’s film career. Screenwriter David Williamson stars in a cameo role during a football game in Egypt.
Archy Hamilton [Mark Lee] is an idealistic 18-year-old stockman trained by his uncle, Jack [Bill Kerr], to become a sprinter. He meets Frank Dunne [Mel Gibson] at an athletics carnival where they are encouraged to enlist in the army.
However, troublemaker Les McCann [Harold Hopkins] points out Archy is under-age so he and Frank travel across the desert to Perth. (Actually, the Australian War Museum’s website says the minimum age for enlistments during World War I was 18, not 21 as shown in the movie.)[i]
Archy is accepted into the Light Horse, but Frank cannot ride so he joins the Infantrymen with three mates, Billy [Robert Grubb], Barney [Tim McKenzie] and Snowy [David Argue].
The army doctor observes Snowy has bad teeth.
“Supposed to shoot the enemy, not bite them,” Snowy retorts.
They are trained in Egypt whilst climbing the pyramids, play football, drinking and haggling with local merchants.
Two humorous scenes include the troops’ sex-education lesson and Snowy’s disgust when his mates visit a brothel.
Archy and Frank meet up again Egypt during a training exercise before they are sent to Gallipoli.
Trench Warfare in Gallipoli
The terrible conditions, hardship and boredom of trench warfare are accurately portrayed in the film.
Poignant moments include the troops reciting the Lord’s Prayer, writing letters and saving possessions to be sent home to loved ones.
Historian Les Carlyon observes in his book, Gallipoli, that the film’s final scenes were inaccurate and unfair to the British. It suggests the British ordered Australians to run out and commit suicide. (Actually, it was two incompetent Australians, Brigadier General Frederic Hughes and Colonel J M Antill, who were responsible for this tragedy.)[ii]
Most of Gallipoli was filmed in South Australia, including the battle scenes.
The soundtrack features Jean Michael Jarre’s Oxygène during the running sequences and Adagio in G Minor at Gallipoli during sombre scenes.
Special Features
The Special Edition DVD includes never-seen-before interviews with director Peter Weir and Mel Gibson about making the film.
Gallipoli veterans also share their experiences in a brief documentary, Boys of the Dardanelles.
The Murdoch Letter, written by Keith Murdoch in 1915 to the British Prime Minister which changed the course of the campaign, is introduced by his widow, Dame Elisabeth. (Keith’s son Rupert was one of the film’s producers.)
[i] Encyclopedia-Enlistment, Australian War Museum
[ii] Carlyon, L, Gallipoli, Pan McMillan Australia, Sydney, 2001, pp 409-410
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