Wills & Burke (1985)
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Cashing in on the release of Burke and Wills, this undistinguished comedy by Bob Weiss tries to turn the tragic crossing of Australia's desert in 1860 into fodder for humor, but it is tasteless fodder in the end. Robert O'Hara Burke (Gary McDonald) and William John Wills (Kim Gyngell) set out from Melbourne with a large caravan of supplies and people, intending to reach the northern coast and the Gulf of Carpenteria. Out of the 19 men who started the trek, only one returned alive. There are a few good performances delineating minor characters in this ostensibly dark comedy. One notable feature of the film is that a young Nicole Kidman plays Julia Matthews, a Melbourne singer who had a long affair with Burke. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Garry McDonald - Robert O'Hara Burke
- Jonathan Hardy - John Macadam
- Mark Little - John King
- Nicole Kidman - Julia Matthews
- Henry Maas - Charles
- Chris Haywood - Constable
- Kim Gyngell - William John Wills
- Peter Collingwood - Sir William Stawell
- Roy Baldwin - Charley Gray
- Roderick Williams - George Landells
- Alex Menglet - William Brahe
- Colin Hay - Publican
- Director(s):
- Bob Weis
- Writer(s):
- Philip Dalkin
- Producer(s):
- Margot McDonald, Bob Weis
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