Wake in Fright (1971)

Oh man, haven't watched this movie in a bit. It was vastly superior this time around (when my expectations were lowered and I got to just watch it and absorb it). I did a google search and I'm not sure if a thread has ever been made about this movie.

Trailer

Basic summary is an arrogant school teacher in the Aussie outback (who is stuck there due to teaching regs) gets stuck in a town in the middle of nowhere on his way to Sydney for Christmas break. Basically, he ends up stuck in this weird, overly hospitable, area that he loathes and ends up deconstructing.

Donald Pleasence destroys it as Doc Tydon, an alcoholic doctor who lives on the fringe (of the fringe).

The movie deals with many themes centered around the urban/rural divide, masculinity, and many other themes that are very relevant right now.

quote:

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'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.

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quote:

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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?

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quote:

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'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.

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The movie is great and was almost lost to time. It has a really interesting history. One of the few movies ever to be featured at Cannes twice.