The Australian Story

The Australian Story, (also known as Kangaroo) is the first full colour Hollywood blockbuster ever filmed in Australia. Shot in 1952 and taking two years to make by Academy Award winning filmmaker Lewis Milestone (All Quiet On The Western Front, Ocean's Eleven) the Technicolor film explores a twisted tale of mistaken identity, deception and budding romance. Set during the harsh drought of 1910, cattle farmer Michael McGuire (Finlay Currie) mistakes career outlaw Richard Connor (Peter Lawford) as his long-lost son. Ever the opportunist Connor and his partner Gamble (Richard Boone) seize the offer to join McGuire and journey to the outback where they convince McGuire's daughter Dell (Maureen O'Hara) that they have come to help the old station owner save his cattle. Ready to mount a major swindle, the two criminals are caught up in a whirlwind of danger and jeopardy -from kangaroo mobs and cattle stampedes to out-of-control bush fires - the adverse and unpredictable conditions of the outback take the men by surprise as they both find themselves vying for Dell's affection. Also featuring Aussie icons Chips Rafferty and Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, The Australian Story is an epic scale production in the sweeping tradition of The Overlanders, a dramatic and historically centred drama set against an unmistakably sun scorched landscape.