Botany Bay (film)
| Botany Bay | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Farrow |
| Written by | Jonathan Latimer |
| Starring | Alan Ladd James Mason Patricia Medina |
| Music by | Franz Waxman |
| Cinematography | John Seitz |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 1953 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.9 million (US)[1] |
Botany Bay is a 1953 American drama film directed by John Farrow and starring Alan Ladd, James Mason and Patricia Medina.[2] It was based on a novel of the same name by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall.[3]
Contents |
Plot [edit]
In 1787 prisoners are shipped from Newgate Jail on the Charlotte to found a new penal colony in Botany Bay, New South Wales. Amongst them is Hugh Tallant (Ladd) an American medical student who had been wrongly imprisoned. During the journey he begins to clash with the villainous Captain Gilbert (Mason), and is soon plotting a full-scale mutiny against him.[4]
Production [edit]
There was film interest in the book even before its publication because of the success of Mutiny on the Bounty, also from a novel by Nordhoff and Hall. In 1941 Joel McCrea expressed interest in playing the lead.[5]
The film was originally planned to be made in 1946, starring Ray Milland with location shooting in Australia.[6] However these plans were delayed when Paramount became concerned about the cost. [7]
Four koalas and two kangaroos were flown from Australia to appear in the film.[8][9] The koalas were the first to be exported from Australia in 25 years and were later transferred to San Diego Zoo.[10]
The only Australian born members of the cast were Murray Matheson and Brendan Toomey. Aboriginal characters were played by African-American actors.[11]
Historical Basis [edit]
There was a real ship called the Charlotte which sailed with the First Fleet under a Captain Gilbert.
Cast [edit]
- Alan Ladd as Hugh Tallant
- James Mason as Captain Gilbert
- Patricia Medina as Sally
- Jonathan Harris
- Cedric Hardwicke as Governor Arthur Phillip
- Malcolm Lee Beggs as Nick Sabb
- Anita Sharp-Bolster as Moll Cudlip (billed as Anita Bolster)
References [edit]
- ^ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045574/
- ^ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/27402
- ^ "FILMS.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 27 March 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "JOEL McCREA IN BOTANY BAY?".". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 12 June 1941. p. 19. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Ray Milland to Make Film at Botany Bay.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 19 March 1946. p. 11 Supplement: The Sydney Morning Herald Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Hollywood Goes All Australian.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 11 September 1946. p. 13 Supplement: Woman's Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Koalas To Go To U.S. For Film.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 4 January 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Kangaroos, Koalas Go To U.S.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 7 January 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Our Koalas Draw Big Crowds To U.S. Zoo.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 10 January 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Early adventure in "Botany Bay".". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) (1933 - 1982: National Library of Australia). 18 June 1952. p. 31. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
External links [edit]
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