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Stir (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Stir' is a 1980 Australian film directed by Stephen Wallace in his feature directorial debut. The prison film was written by Bob Jewson, based upon his own experience, while incarcerated, of the 1974 prison riot at Bathurst Correctional Complex and the subsequent Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons. The film was shot in Clare Valley, Gladstone and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It premiered at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081561/releaseinfo Stir (1980) - Release dates]
Cast
* Bryan Brown as China Jackson
* Max Phipps as orton
* Gary Waddell as Dave
* Phil Motherwell as Alby
* Robert Noble as Riley
Production
Bob Jewson was a prisoner in Bathurst Gaol at the time of the riot and wrote a script, originally called 'Bathurst', based on the event. Martha Ansara who was working for the Prison Action Group read it and introduced Jewson to Stephen Wallace, who decided to make the film.David Stratton, 'The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry', Pan MacMillan, 1990 p226-228 Other accounts have Tony Green making the introduction.Barbara Alysen, "Stephen Wallace", 'Cinema Papers', Oct-Nov 1980 p341-343
The New South Wales Film Corporation was looking at investing in some films made by directors who had made successful short films. Wallace had just made the acclaimed one-hour drama 'The Love Letters from Teralba Road' and they asked him if he had any projects. He told them about his prison drama.
As part of his preparations, Wallace had the actors do a clown workshop for four days and a longer workshop of three weeks. Most of them disliked the clown workshop which Wallace later admitted was a mistake.
The original drafts of the script had some female characters, such as a social worker and a girlfriend of Bryan Brown's character, but these were dropped.
The film was shot over five weeks in October and November 1979 in South Australia at an abandoned prison in Gladstone. The makers had trouble sourcing enough extras and had to fly them in from Adelaide; some of the actors who did appear had been to prison. Wallace tried to get more Aboriginal extras but was unable.
During filming the movie was known as 'The Promotion of Mr Smith' until Jewson suggested the shorter title 'Stir'. Wallace:
Bob Jewson said one thing - and I think this is what we tried to make the theme of the film, although it was very hidden - that riots don't happen out of the blue. The prison authorities make you believe that all these criminals that are incarcerated are at all times dangerous and they're trying to get out. But Bob said that's never true; most of them have accepted their lot and they're trying to serve their time. They only get into a riot situation when they're treated badly and unfairly over a long period. He said most people don't want a riot; they know what it's going to mean, longer in jail.
[https://archive.today/20121220130512/http://www.signis.net/malone/tiki-index.php?page=Stephen+Wallace&bl "Interview with Stephen Wallace", 'Signis', 21 November 1998]. Retrieved 21 November 2012
Reception
The film was reasonably popular and according to Wallace it made a profit.
Critical reception
David O'Connell of 'In Film Australia':Accolades
At the 1980 Australian Film Institute Awards, 'Stir', received 13 nominations but did not win any categories.
DVD availability
The DVD is available from Umbrella Entertainment and contains a new 16:9 aspect ratio transfer, a 50-minute interview feature with key cast and crew, as well as the original theatrical trailer.
See also
*Cinema of Australia
References
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