Gallipoli(1981)- By Carol Ostling

Title/Year : Gallipoli, 1981
Director/Birth Country/Year Born: Peter Weir, Australia, 1944
Budget: 2.6million 
Gross: $11,740,000(Australia); $5,732,587(USA);$2,854,00(1981 rental in USA and UK)
Synopsis: Two Australian sprinters become soldiers in World War I and are shipped to the Galliopli Campaign. 

Camera/Lighting/ and Editing Technique: Most memorable was the shaky camera whenever there was gunfight or a near by explosion. This was also used to help divert your eyes from some of the mistakes that they made with the guns, such as using rusty guns. There was also a lot of pans and following the movement of the character instead of cutting to. It felt like the takes were a lot longer then a modern day US film. Mostly outdoor/practical lighting. Editing felt like a " hide the edit" version, and would often edit for reaction shots and change of scene. Simple yet effective is what I mostly saw.

Political/ Social Commentary: Mateship(friendship); The attitudes towards war specifically the English and the Australians; Pro-War and Anti-War
Narrative and Visual Keywords: Desert, Running, Australian, mateship, Gallipoli Campaign, Athletes, Death, WWI, Breakdown of command, needless death, coming of age
Main Character/Arc: Archy Hamilton(Mark Lee), Frank Dunne(Mel Gibson) two mates who join the army together and get shipped to the Gallipoli Campaign.

 Notable Collaboration: David Williamson one of Australia’s most well known playwright's. He wrote the screen play for Gallipoli. Brian May, composer and award winner at the Australian Film Institute for best original score for Mad Max. Produced by R&R films, Rupert Murdoch’s father was a journalist during WWI. The other R of R&R is Robert Stigwood best known for the management of Bee Gees and the theatrical productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita(1980 Tony Award for best Musical). Also known  for Grease and Saturday Night Fever.
Historical relevance/recognition:  It took three years to obtain the funds for the film because the government film agency said it was “not commercial”. While the movie did well in Australia when it was brought to the USA the opening weekend only grossed $59,757. After the opening weekend in the USA it quickly gained support and went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe for best Foreign film. Gallipoli helped propel the international career of Mel Gibson. Because of the movies popularity Gallipoli is shown each night in Dardanelles(the battlefield of the campaign and now tourist attraction) in many hotels and hostels. This movie also has historical relevance because it depicts the Gallipoli Campaign and the break down of command that helped become on of the most successful wins for the Turkish Military. Gallipoli Campaign is said to be “ considered to mark the birth of  national consciousness in both of these countries” .
Etc. Archy Hamilton’s character was inspired by a line in the book Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918:

                “Wilfred… was last seen running forward like a schoolboy in a foot-race, with all the speed he could compass” .
 

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_(1981_film)#Box_office

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign

http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Williamson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_May_(composer)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Stigwood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Weir

Reaction answers:

1) The evidence of the ineffective leadership was a primary concept in the second half of the movie. There was lack of communication between the battle front and the Brigade Commander causing lots of death and the failure of a mission. The social class differential was most pronounced in a scene were Archie and Dunne where going to a ball. However, this was an officer’s ball. In order for Dunne to party with his friend he had lie to a man. All the while their commanding officer saw what was going on and requested that Archie make his friend leave.  Not until the commander office got notice to go to the front was Dunne allowed to stay.  

     2)The solider of duty and honor was most seen throughout the movie. Archie was portrayed as the boy who is man who believes that it is everyman’s duty to fight for their country in a time of war. Most of the movie Archie seems to almost be trying to convince Dunne to fight for duty and honor, even when Dunne has signed up. It wasn’t until some of his mates died before he found his duty to fight. He needed to fight to save his friends, and his fight was in running.  

3)Some of the melodramatic poses were when people died. There was also at the very end when Archie died, that seemed like the most melodramatic moment in the movie.

    4)The enemy was shown as more neutral then brutal. The Australians even were playing shooting games with some of the Turks on the front lines. Everyone was laughing and having fun. When the Turks were sending cannon fire, amazingly we saw no one die from cannon fire.