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Wake in Fright (1971) is on Amazon Prime (Must See)
Posted on 11/1/26 at 8:14 pm
Posted on 11/1/26 at 8:14 pm
Plot summary:
quote:
John Grant, a cultured schoolteacher bonded to a remote outback schoolhouse, travels to a rough mining town called "The Yabba" for an overnight stop on his way to a Christmas vacation in Sydney. After being lured into a high-stakes gambling game, he loses all of his money and becomes stranded in the aggressive, hyper-masculine town. Unable to escape, he is taken in by a group of intense, hard-drinking locals who subject him to a brutal cycle of alcohol, violence, and psychological decay. The story chronicles his rapid, terrifying descent into madness as the harsh environment strips away his civilized exterior.
This film (not movie) was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1971, was a flop, and then basically disappeared for decades. It was never made into VHS was was only shown on Aussie TV once in the 80s. The original editor searched for the original prints for decades. In the early 2000s, he finally tracked the original 35mm negatives to a shipping container inside a Pittsburgh warehouse. They were packed in boxes labeled "For Destruction" and were scheduled to be incinerated just one week later.
The movie was restored in 2009 and got a second showing a Cannes. I believe it's still the only film to ever get featured at Cannes twice. This movie is unsettling, dirty, gross, and amazing.
Donald Pleasence is absurdly good and absolutely unhinged as Doc Tydon in this film.
quote:
'Doc' Tydon: All the little devils are proud of hell.
John Grant: You mean... you don't think The Yabba is the greatest little place on Earth?
'Doc' Tydon: Could be worse.
John Grant: How?
'Doc' Tydon: [drinking] Supply of beer could run out.
quote:
John Grant: Why did you say that?
'Doc' Tydon: Say what?
John Grant: About them being proud of hell.
'Doc' Tydon: Discontent is the luxury of the well-to-do. If you've got to live here, you might as well like it. Why don't you like Crawford?
John Grant: Jock?
'Doc' Tydon: The touch of his hairy hand offended you.
John Grant: I'm bored with it. The aggressive hospitality, the arrogance of stupid people who insist you should be as stupid as they are.
'Doc' Tydon: It's death to farm out here. It's worse than death in the mines. You want them to sing opera as well?
quote:
'Doc' Tydon: Shall I satisfy your curiosity? I'm a doctor of medicine, and a tramp by temperament. I'm also an alcoholic. My disease prevented me from practicing in Sydney. But out here it's scarcely noticeable. Certainly doesn't stop people from coming to see me. I charge no fees because I'm not interested in money. Anyway, I'm unreliable. But I'm accepted socially because I'm an educated man... or character. I get my food from my friends... my requirements in beer. Which, with some measure of self-control, is the only alcohol I allow myself.
quote:
'Doc' Tydon: [to a semi-conscious John Grant] I cannot accept your premise, Socrates. Affectability... progress... are vanities spawned by fear. A vanity spawned by fear. The aim of what you call civilisation is a man in a smokin' jacket, whiskey and soda, pressing a bottom... button, to destroy a planet a billion miles away, kill a billion people he's never seen.
The movie deals with the urban/rural divide, masculinity, and many other themes that are still very relevant right now.
It's basically never been on major streaming in a wide release, but I bought it on Fandango and saw it was on Prime (as part of its catalog; not just for rent). Apparently the rights have been spread around recently. This is something you should watch before it goes away for another decade.
Posted on 11/1/26 at 8:34 pm to McCaigBro69
I know Amazon once had a failed series about it. I don't know if that's still on Prime. I think that is regarded as kind of shite.
Also, there was a movie a few years ago with Julia Garner called The Royal Hotel, which is a remake of Wake in Fright mixed in with the documentary Hotel Coolgardie (which is about 2 Finnish backpackers who have to work in Coolgardie as bartenders and have to basically live out a similar experience). I never saw it (as I've seen both of the source materials) but it has a really high RT score.
Also, there was a movie a few years ago with Julia Garner called The Royal Hotel, which is a remake of Wake in Fright mixed in with the documentary Hotel Coolgardie (which is about 2 Finnish backpackers who have to work in Coolgardie as bartenders and have to basically live out a similar experience). I never saw it (as I've seen both of the source materials) but it has a really high RT score.
This post was edited on 11/1/26 at 8:36 pm
Posted on 11/1/26 at 9:45 pm to SlowFlowPro
Saw this on TCM or something a couple years ago. Helped spark my passion for kangaroo hunting.
Posted on 11/2/26 at 12:33 am to PowerTool
quote:
Saw this on TCM or something a couple years ago. Helped spark my passion for kangaroo hunting.
Posted on 11/2/26 at 6:45 am to SlowFlowPro
It was a good watch. I had been looking for it for quite some time, particularly when a YouTube copy was poorly pirated to the extend of being unwatchable.
One of the main characters was a region of Australia’s drinking culture. I tried pairing my viewing with a beer but I could not keep up with these guys. It made me uncomfortable with the association of beer drinking and bad decisions.
One of the main characters was a region of Australia’s drinking culture. I tried pairing my viewing with a beer but I could not keep up with these guys. It made me uncomfortable with the association of beer drinking and bad decisions.
Posted on 11/2/26 at 7:16 am to Big Scrub TX
Can confirm there is kangaroo hunting in this movie.
Posted on 11/2/26 at 7:19 am to Willie Stroker
quote:
I tried pairing my viewing with a beer but I could not keep up with these guys
Research the actor who played the sheriff. I don't think he was drinking water on set. He died shortly after filming the movie, too.
quote:
It made me uncomfortable with the association of beer drinking and bad decisions.
Well yeah
Posted on 11/2/26 at 6:29 pm to SlowFlowPro
Watched it last night. One of the worst movies I've ever seen. People clearly have different tastes because nothing about this was enjoyable. What a waste of time.
4 out of 10 and I'm being generous.
4 out of 10 and I'm being generous.

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