Essington (film)
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Hugh Keays-Byrne
| Essington | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Thomas Keneally |
| Directed by | Julian Pringle |
| Starring | Chris Haywood Hugh Keays-Byrne |
| Music by | Peter Sculthorpe |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Alan Burke |
| Cinematography | Lloyd Shiels |
| Running time | 103 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 26 November 1974 |
Essington is a 1974 TV film about a convict named Squires who arrives with a detachment of Royal Marines at Port Essington.[1]
According to the Canberra Times "it is both an historical narrative and an allegorical treatment of Australian history."[2]
In the 1840s, the settlement of Port Essington is run by Governor Macarthur. The inhabitants include Macarthur's wife, Private Evans, and a convict, Bob Squires, who has good relations with the local aboriginal population.
Private Evans falls for an aboriginal woman and goes missing from the settlement.
Cast
- Chris Haywood as Bob Squires
- Jacqueline Kott
- Sandra McGregor
- Wyn Roberts
- Michael Craig
- Cornelia Frances
- Melissa Jaffer
- John Hargreaves
- Ralph Cotterill
- Hugh Keays-Byrne
- Justine Saunders
- Wendy Hughes
- Steve Dodd
- Drew Forsythe
Reception
Thomas Keneally won Best Script at the 1976 Logie Awards. Chis Haywood won Best Performance by an Individual Actor.[3]
Michael Craig called it "a wonderful script; macabre, funny, tragic and optimistic, and extremely well directed by Julian Pringle."[4]
