Robbery Under Arms (1985 film)

Robbery Under Arms is a 1985 Australian action adventure film starring Sam Neill as bushranger Captain Starlight.

Robbery Under Arms
Soundtrack cover
Based on	Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood
Written by	Michael Jenkins
Directed by	Donald Crombie Ken Hannam
Starring	Sam Neill Steven Vidler Christopher Cummins Liz Newman Jane Menelaus Andy Anderson Deborah Coulls Susie Lindeman Elaine Cusick Ed Devereaux Tommy Lewis Robert Grubb
Music by	Garry McDonald Laurie Stone
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Mace Neufeld Jock Blair
Cinematography	Ernie Clark
Running time	140 minutes
Production company	South Australian Film Corporation
Budget	AU$7.3 million[1][2][3]
Original release
Release	28 March 1985 (1985-03-28)

There were two versions shot simultaneously – a feature film and a TV mini series.^[1] They were based on the 1888 novel of the same name by Rolf Boldrewood.^[4]

Plot

Joined by bush larrikin, Ben Marston (Ed Devereaux), and Ben's two adventure-hungry sons (Steven Vidler and Christopher Cummins), Starlight leads his gang of wild colonial boys in search of riches, romance – and other men's cattle.

Cast

• Sam Neill as Captain Starlight
• Steven Vidler as Dick Marston
• Christopher Cummins as Jim Marston
• Liz Newman as Gracey
• Jane Menelaus as Aileen
• Andy Anderson as George
• Deborah Coulls as Kate
• Susie Lindeman as Jeannie
• Elaine Cusick as Mum
• Ed Devereaux as Ben
• Tommy Lewis as Warrigal
• Robert Grubb as Sir Frederick Morringer
• David Bradshaw as Goring
• John Dick as Trooper Fall
• Michael Duffield as Mr. Falkland
• Keith Smith as Trooper Spring
• David Jobling as Rourke Bounty Hunter
• Peter Cummins

Production

Jock Blair first had the idea to remake the story in 1981 when he was working at the South Australian Film Corporation. It was originally envisioned that it would be a mini series but it was budgeted at a million dollars an hour which was felt to be too expensive. So it was decided to make a film as well at the same time, based on separate scripts.^[5]

There were two writers and two directors. Writing the script took two years.^[5]

The film was shot partly on location in the Flinders Rangers and at the SAFC studios in Adelaide.^[1] The two directors collaborated well together, and Ken Hannam was relieved to work with the SAFC again after the difficulties on Sunday Too Far Away.^[5]

Production took 20 weeks.^[6]

Box office

Robbery Under Arms grossed $226,648 at the box office in Australia.^[7]

Home media

Robbery Under Arms has been released twice by Umbrella Entertainment: as a two-part dual-layer DVD in a 16:9 transfer (DAVID 0477), also as a three-part two-disc DVD pack in the original 4:3 aspect ratio (DAVID2852) released September 2017.

Extras

Included is a 45-minute "special feature" On Location with Robbery Under Arms, filmed separately by SA Telecasters (Channel 10, which later became Channel 7). It shows much of the art, techniques and social atmosphere involved in the making of the film at Wilpena Pound and Hahndorf, as well as commentary by the major participants.

Producer/Director: Lou Sedivy

Technical producer: Greg Cameron

Technical directors: Mike McAuliffe and David Bates

Executive producer: Trevor Lanyon

See also

• Cinema of Australia