Peter Rowe
19812153
They're
a Weird Mob
1966 112
mins
Comedy 35mm Colour
Optical Soundtrack: Mono Rated
G
Director:
Michael Powell
Production
Company:
Williamson-Powell International Films
Producer:
Michael Powell
Associate
Producer:
John Pellatt
Unit
Manager:
Bruce Bennett
Scriptwriter:
John Imrie (Emeric Pressburger). From a novel by Nino
Culotta (John O'Grady). (Imrie &
Culotta are both
pseudonyms).
Cinematography:
Arthur Grant
(Eastmancolor)
Camera
Operator:
Keith Loone, Graham Lind, Dennis Hill
Editor:
Gerald
Turney-Smith
Art
Direction:
Dennis Gentle
Production
Management: Emeric Pressburger
Production
Supervisor: Lee
Robinson
Casting:
Gloria Payten
Sound:
David
Copping
Sound Recording:
Alan Allen,
Sound
Re-recording: Ted
Karnon
Sound
Editors:
Bill Creed and Don
Saunders
Costume
Design:
Chris Jacovides
Wardrobe
Mistress:
Barbara Turnbull
Make-up:
Joan Adelsteine, Barbara Still
Hair: Leon Daunais
Dialogue
Coach:
Max Meldrum
Location
Manager:
Jefferson Jackson
Assistant
Director:
Claude
Watson
2nd Assistant Director: David
Crocker
Continuity:
Doreen Soan
Music:
Alan
Boustead and Laurence Leonard
Music
Director:
Laurence Leonard
Songs:
Walter Chiari - 'I Kiss You, You Kiss Me', Reen
Devereaux - 'Big Country' and 'In This Man's
Country'
Cretan
Dance:
Mikis Theodorakis, from
[Powell & Pressburger, 1957]
Technical
Adviser:
John
O'Grady
Cast:
Walter
Chiari
Nino Culotta
Clare
Dunne
Kay Kelly
Chips
Rafferty
Harry Kelly
Alida
Chelli
Giuliana
Ed
Devereaux
Joe
Slim de
Grey
Pat
John
Meillon
Dennis
Charles
Little
Jimmy
Anne
Haddy
barmaid
Jack
Allen
fat man in bar
Red Moore
texture
man
Ray
Hartley
newsboy
Tony
Bonner
lifesaver
Alan
Lander
Charlie
Keith
Peterson
drunk man on ferry
Muriel
Steinbeck
Mrs Kelly
Gloria
Dawn
Mrs Chapman
Jeanie
Drynan
Betty
Gita
Rivera
Maria
Judith
Arthy
Doreen
Warburton
Edie
Barry
Creyton
hotel clerk
Graham
Kennedy
as
himself
Robert
McDarra
hotel manager
Robert
Brophy
(Sources: BritMovie.co.uk 2003; Christie
1994, 134-5; Nash & Ross 1987, 3366; Pike & Cooper 1998 238; Screen
Sound website 2003).
Released:
October
1966 (Christie 1994, 135)
Box Office: Estimates range between two and three million.
Australian Film
Commission ranks it as the 67th highest gross of all
Australian
films at $2,417,000 (AFC website 2003). No figures are available as
to the number of tickets sold. On this score They're a Weird Mob would
certainly rank as one of the highest in Australian history. The record
run
at the State Theatre in
(Shirley & Adams 1989, 228).
Bibliography of discourse by those involved in
the production:
O'Grady, John. 'Filming the Weird Mob.' Bulletin,
O'Grady, John 'Box Office Bandits' Script
Screen & Saac V.1, No.6. November/December 1968 p.5-7. (His experiences
writing a script for the film of his novel They're a Weird Mob, and the poor return
he and the production company made on this very successful film. (Portrait and
still) (Reis 1997, 72).
They're a Weird Mob - The Story of Making the
Film. [Motion
Picture: sd;b&w;57min].
Thornhill, Michael, and Quinnell, Ken. 'Sydney
- Italian Style: An interview with Michael Powell.' Film Digest, No.7 January 1966, p.3-4.
(The director discusses his film, They're
a Weird Mob, currently in production). (Reis 1997,
513).
Bibliographies of
reviews, discussions, essays and articles.
'Review, author/title unknown.' Daily Cinema,
'They're
a Weird Mob.' Monthly Film
Bulletin, V. 33, November 1966, p. 172-173. (Review, credits) (Reis 1997,
513).
Coombs, Henry. 'More than just a historical curiosity, and better than
you think'. In The Powell and Pressburger
Pages (website).
http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/66_Weird/Weird01.html
Godfrey, Hugh. 'They're a Weird Mob.' Film Digest, No. 16, October 1966, p.
19-20. (Review. See also No. 7, January 1966, p. 3 for an article on its making)
(Reis 1997, 513).
Higham, Charles. 'Following the "Mob".' Bulletin, V. 89,
Higham, Charles. 'Weird result.' Bulletin, V. 89,
Higham, Charles. 'Characters which are larger
than life: Michael Powell begins to line up the weird mob for the film.' Bulletin, V.85,
Higham, Charles. 'On Film: The Old Wave at
Bondi.' Bulletin, V. 88,
Higham, Charles, and Tivey, Beverley. 'A
Close-up of The Mob.' Bulletin, V. 87,
Lawson, Sylvia. 'Co-productions.' Nation, No. 236,
Lawson, Sylvia. 'Godard's Breathless.' Nation, No. 182,
Lawson, Sylvia. 'They're a dull mob.' Nation, No. 203,
Stan (Raymond Stanley). 'They're a Weird Mob.' Variety, V. 244, No. 4
Tivey, Beverley. 'Who's Afraid of Filmmaking?'
Bulletin, V. 88 ,
Other reviews can be found in these less
referenced publications:
The Age (
Bulletin (
Film Digest (Sydney), January 1966 & October
1966.
Film Weekly (
Monthly Film Bulletin
(
Nation (Sydney),
Sun Herald (
This Movie's on-line
presence:
www.britmovie.co.uk/directors/m_powell/filmography/050.html
(Production details, credits, rating and
synopsis).
http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/66_Weird/index.html
(Several amateur reviews, mostly
derisive).
www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/66_Weird/Weird00.html
('Fascinating' trivia. Quite limited in fact)
(Production and background details, credits and
synopsis).
Note: I have accessed They're a Weird Mob in many detailed
on-line movie guides, but they don't contain further information. All have a
combination of credits and synopsis only. Because of its age, reviews and
articles appear in hard-to-get print (listed above) rather than on the
web.
The making of the film and the business of
making money:
They're a Weird Mob [Powell, 1966] is based on the hugely popular
novel of the same name, written under the pseudonym of Nino Culotta by John
O'Grady. Gregory Peck was interested in making this film in 1959, but that never
eventuated (Pike & Cooper 1998, 234). It was not until October 1965 that the
eventual co-production began shooting. Esteemed British director Michael Powell
(The Thief of Bagdad (sic) [1939], The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp [1943], The Red Shoes [1948], Peeping Tom [1960] etc.) and his long
time collaborator Emeric Pressburger formed a production partnership with
Australian theatrical company J.C. Williamson Ltd to film They're a Weird Mob. Until this time all
films made in
Powell fled
Such was the stigma attached to him
Pressburger chose to participate in
The
$600,000 came from three major sources, one third from the Rank
Organisation;
another
third came from the National Film Finance Corporation in
the rest
was made up in
The release
was handled by Greater Union's distribution arm, British Empire Films (BEF), who
screened it initially at their "giant" State Theatre in
An
advertisement from The West
Australian newspaper on
It read as
follows:
You
Beaut!!
WE'VE DONE
IT!!
"THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB" has
broken
the all time long run record at
State
Theatre,
No other film has run longer
than
13 weeks in this giant
Theatre's 37
years' history (opened
The Rank/Williamson-Powell
Aus-
tralian production of John
O'Grady's
"THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB" is
now
starting
its 14th week.
Records all over
Australia-including:
Winter
Garden Theatre, 9th
week.
Forum Theatre,
13th week.
State
Theatre, 13th week.
Ambassadors Theatre,
9th week.
In 13 weeks release
across the nation
over
1,350,000 of the
Weird
Mob have seen
themselves.
DON'T
MISS
US (G)
HOYTS
DAILY AT-
AMBASSADORS
1.55 P.M.
8.00 P.M.
(Source: The West Australian, 19 Nov 1966,
36).
Despite the
films local success the producers did not have a financial windfall. It's gross
by the end of 1967 estimated at $3,000,000 (in Moran & O'Regan 1985, 167)
far exceeded the $600,000 in production costs. Current gross estimates are less
at $2,417,000 (AFC website 2003). By the end of 1967 one sixth of the gross had
been returned to the producers and total costs were not covered until
1974.
Rank
guaranteed overseas distribution. It had sole rights to do so, but the results
were disastrous. They're a Weird Mob
opened in
It was a
sign of more innocent times. At about the same period inexperienced money
spinners like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley were all having
financial difficulties despite immense gross earnings. The problem for
Williamson-Powell (and probably not Rank as I will explain) was the apparent
dishonesty of Greater Union.
Or was Rank
to blame? The distribution deal signed by all parties left the choice of
distributor to Rank. It elected to use Greater Union (BEF) of which it owned 50
percent (in Moran & O'Regan 1985, 167). Greater
Complaints had been made since the 1920's
about major distributors and exhibitors in
"His appeal, and the
demonstration of wide public interest in local
film, did much to accelerate the steps leading towards government
aid for the industry.
(Pike & Cooper 1998, 238)
Phillip
Adams encouraged Australian filmmakers to distribute independently. Returns for his production The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
[Beresford, 1972] were approximately 50 percent of the gross, whereas They're a Weird Mob and Stork [Burstall, 1971] which was
distributed by Roadshow were 16 and 20 percent respectively (Reade 1979, 191).
At the same time, a foreign film A
Clockwork Orange [1971] had returned 64 percent in
Synopsis:
Italian
sports writer (Giovanni) Nino Culotta [Walter Chiari] is sponsored financially
by his cousin Leonardo to come to
The film itself:
Nino's
first problem in this strange new English-speaking country was with linguistics.
No doubt surprising to him, considering he speaks perfect English. Sayings such
as 'a shout', "what do you do for a crust"? "Not right in the scone", "let's get
cracking", "the Test" (Test cricket) and others left him a little confused, but
he gets the gist quickly. He is enthusiastic and keen to learn. It could be
argued that this use of 'slang' was a little overdone and certainly one scene
used the word 'mate' more often than is natural, but he was mixing with people
of the Anglo-Saxon working class and for the most part the dialogue was in
context.
For an
explanation of the above terms or any others click on any of these
addresses.
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Breakers/8092/ozslang.htm
A drunk on
the Manly ferry was shouting abuse at some Italians. "Taking our jobs",
"speaking your own language", that type of thing that still survives today,
although these days aimed at a different era of migrants and refugees. Nino
would never have that type of problem as he is a 'model' migrant. This facet
of They're a Weird Mob has come in for derision in
recent years.
As
mentioned, Nino was prepared to learn the 'lingo' (local slang) - and he was a
quick learner. He was hard working; resourceful; courteous; and tolerant of
racial stereotyping, indeed, "not bad for an Itie". While some Australians and
their attitudes to the otherness of Nino were negative or suspicious, in most
cases it was well meaning and na•ve, but certainly not monolithic. This I think
is important to note, while this film depicts an unrealistic migrant, almost a
poster boy for the immigration lobbyists, attitudes toward him were real. He was
not universally embraced but because of his willingness to join in he was
generally accepted.
On three
occasions during the film Nino was told he did not look Italian, that he was
bigger than the usual. Pat (Simon de Grey) reckoned he looked more like a
'Jerry" (German). It would appear there is a concrete image some Australians
had/have of what an Italian looks like. Mr. Kelly [Chips Rafferty] was fairly
unimpressed that his daughter was planning to marry this foreigner:
Mr. Kelly:
"Dago aren't ya"?
Nino: "I'm
an Italian, Sir".
Mr. Kelly:
"Dago. Bit bigger than most, but dago just the same".
As is the
way in The Simpsons when Homer says
something inappropriate or offensive to most sensibilities, the producers make
him look stupid. The same was done here. After Nino pointed out that the person
in the framed picture on Kelly's lounge room wall (the Pope) must then also be a
dago, Mr. Kelly had to think that through.
Mr. Kelly:
"Hey do you think we'll ever have an Australian Pope "?
Pure Homer,
I believe.
The
neighbour living next door to the building site where Nino began working, who
did not like sand thrown over his fence, was not just a neighbour; or the guy
next door; he was the 'chinaman' next door. Their lack of respect for and
knowledge of, other cultures is obvious. Pat is less than complimentary about
The
filmmakers view of the working class was fairly stereotypical, affectionate
undoubtedly, they were all great people, but a bit simple. They were interested
in beer, they were chauvinists, they wolf whistled 'sheilas', they were outdoor
people bronzed in the sun and easygoing. As the closing song says: "It's a man's
country sweetheart, where women can never win". On his first day of laboring
Nino was told to slow down. "Take it easy, no use bustin' a gut". They are also
sport orientated and never shy away from hard work or helping out mates. Not all
of the Sydneysiders were like this though.
Despite the
popular belief that we live in an egalitarian and classless society, They're a Weird Mob shows the division.
Not in an economic sense but in levels of sophistication. Members of the upper
classes are shown to embrace foreign culture. Nino was welcomed by his
girlfriend Kay (Clare Dunne) to a party of the young well-to-do, where a Cretan
dance was being performed. We also see them at an Italian
restaurant.
In a very comical scene featuring a clash
of the classes Nino is introducing his girlfriend to his friends, the brickie's
team. This group of working and partying men was very uncomfortable in their
suits, reluctantly drinking tea and making polite conversation. The tension was
broken in celebratory style when Nino could take no more of the stiffness and
called for beer all round. Nino decided to stay in
Not with
Kay that came later. It was a view over
There is no
doubt in my mind despite some conjecture that this is an Australian film. The
argument over what constitutes Australian cinema is complicated and subjective.
Is The Piano [Campion 1993]
Australian? Is Green Card [Weir
1990]? Is Babe [Noonan 1995]? It all
depends on your opinion but on the surface They're a Weird Mob could not really
claim to be. It is at least (estimates vary) two-thirds English funded, mostly
English produced, English directed, from a book written by a former English
screenplay writer, with an Italian star (in Moran & O'Regan 1985, 160).
Despite all that, it is a story particular to
The film is
rarely talked about on websites devoted to Michael Powell, if it is, the
comments are dismissive. Interviews with Powell never contain questions about They're a Weird Mob. So while the
British and others who deify Michael Powell would prefer his three year
Australian period did not happen, in
Bibliography
Australian
Film Commission. Box Office:
Top
Australian films at the Australian box office, 1966 to 31 December
2002
www.afc.gov.au/GTP/mvboxaust.html (Accessed
Baxter,
John. The Australian Cinema. Angus
& Robertson Sydney, 1970 p. 93.
BritMovie.co.uk. Dedicated to British Cinema,
They're a Weird Mob
www.britmovie.co.uk/directors/m_powell/filmography/050.html
(Accessed 28 February 2003).
Powell,
Michael/Hill, Derek in BritMovie.co.uk, Dedicated to British Cinema. Peeping Tom via search at: http://www.britmovie.co.uk/ (Accessed 29
April 2003).
Christie,
Ian. Arrows of Desire, The Films of Michael Powell and Emeric
Pressburger. Faber and Faber London 1994. pp. 106,
134-5.
Hutak,
Michael. The Bulletin.
Moran,
Albert & O'Regan, Tom. An Australian
Film Reader. Currency Press Paddington, N.S.W. 1985. pp. 160,
167.
Nash,
Robert Jay & Ross,
Pike,
Andrew & Cooper, Ross. Australian
Film 1900-1977, A Guide to Feature
Film Production.
Reade,
Eric. History and Heartburn, The Saga of
Australian Film 1896-1978. Harper
& Row, Sydney 1979. p. 191.
Reis,
Brian. Australian Film: a
bibliography Mansell Publishing Limited,
Shirley,
Graham & Adams, Brian. Australian Cinema: The First Eighty
Years. Angus & Robertson in association with Currency Press 1989. p.
228.
Stratton,
David. The Last New Wave Angus &
Robertson Publishers,
Advertisement Hoyts Ambassadors 1966, 'You
Beaut!! We've Done It!!', The West Australian,
Filmography
Adventures of Barry McKenzie,
The dir. Bruce
Beresford, 1972
Age of Consent dir. Michael Powell,
1969
Babe dir. Chris Noonan, 1995
Born Free dir. James Hill, 1966
Carry on Cleo dir. Gerald Thomas, 1965
A Clockwork Orange dir.
Doctor Zhivago dir. David Lean, 1965
Girl in
dir. Luigi Zampa 1971
Green Card dir. Peter Weir, 1990