Smiley

You could not grow up in the UK in the fifties without seeing a Smiley flick. They were almost exotic in that all the actors were speaking English, but it was that spicy Aussie version. These flicks colored or informed my view of Australia and Aussies in many ways. Aussies I met later in London did not always like the impression that Smiley had made on the Brits. The felt that it gave the wrong view that all Aussie were hicks, and did not know Shakespeare from milk shake. Australia was so far away and yet connected to the UK by a really thick umbilical. The flick was released as the emigration of thousands of UK citizens to Australia was beginning to ebb, and I wonder what effect it might have had on those who were thinking of leaving the 'old country' and going to the 'lucky country'.

Too bad Netflicks does not have it....what was I thinking?

I was greatly entranced by this little film.

It chronicles the misadventures of a likable outback boy, Smiley, who has his heart set upon a bike. He undertakes to do chores for various townspeople - the publican, the reverend, and the obliging policeman - to raise money, but is constantly set back (he has to pay for a damaged bike, and broken windows). I must disagree with the other reviewer, however, and say that apart, from Smiley, his mates, and the laconic Chips Raffetry, I did not find the Australian accent pronounced at all. Indeed, the film featured many adults attempting to bring across that pseudo-English accent that characterized the cultural cringe before the New Wave of Australian cinema in the 1970s.

I was surprised that this was a 20th Century Fox co-production, but maybe that accounts for why SMILEY looks like it was made for a generic international children's market - why there is a map of America in the classroom of an outback school, why a laconic Smiley calls 'yabbys' crayfish, and why opium is the choice of smuggled goods in the outback etc It is indeed a simple story, but offers lovely scenery and a generally capturing performance of the title role in particular. It is politically incorrect if not downright patronizing to Aboriginals and seems to push religious devotion somewhat quite constantly (quoting scripture, praying etc), but it is generally a product of its time.

I remember seeing this film and being delighted with both Chips Rafferty, who played the constable and Sir Ralph Richardson, who was the Reverend. The tale focuses on a boy in the outback whose mother is keeping the homefires burning while his father is working as a stockman. The boy, Bruce Archer, appeared in this film and the sequel, as did Rafferty, is trying to save his money for a horse and gets unwittingly involved transporting drugs being sold by one of the local merchants. When his ne'er-do-well father returns home and drinks up his savings, he runs off into the bush and is saved by an Englishman, a "Tommy," passing through. The bad guys are taken care of and the tale ends on a happy note. The most memorable thing about the film is its simple depiction of rural Australian life and, of course, the craggy face of Rafferty, who always reminded me of Walter Matthau.

Check it out if you have a chance. I believe you'll be glad you did.

Sure it looks old and the actors speak in an unusually strong Aussie accent that can be off-putting even for this Down Under fellow but its simplicity, scenery shots and innocent story really is wonderful.

I remember seeing this as a kid one summer holiday (the type of movie they put on at midday to entertain us kids along with old Tarzan flicks and bad, bad oh! so bad Sci Fi relics).

Instantly it hit chords within me. As an Australian country lad watching this, I could smell the sun on the gum leaves and the as above-mentioned accents where, yes, goddamn awful BUT so familiar.

For an Aussie, anywhere (and all others everywhere else), watch this film...enjoy it for what it is...

In an Australia where sheep are green -- I suppose the chemical process prints have faded -- Smiley wants to buy a bicycle. There's lots of beautiful photography of outback Australia and the way Smiley goes blithely about his business with the adults going about theirs is interesting, but the boy in the title is so cute and his voice annoys me, Ralph Richardson does a perfect imitation of Wilfred Hyde-White as a CoE vicar.