Year Released: 1982
Directed by: George T. Miller
Starring: Tom Burlinson, Sigrid Thorton, Kirk Douglas, Jack Thompson
(PG, 104 min.)
Genre: Drama, Action and Adventure, Romance

“A boy becomes a man when a man is needed.” –John Steinbeck

Escape from our weary world for the adventure of a lifetime. This epic Australian film from over 4 decades ago has it all. Romance, music and scenery to die for, and arguably the best and most thrilling horse chase in film history. I will never forget it, and neither did others who have seen it.

Clint Eastwood and Unforgiven be damned. This is by far the best western of the modern era. It’s an Aussie tale, but that does not disqualify it in my books. Lonesome Dove has its group as does Unforgiven. But George Miller's The Man from Snowy River is downright majestic. Adron Garner

Shawshank is superb. Roman Holiday is perfect. Raiders is a blast. But The Man from Snowy River has been, is, and always will be my favorite movie. For me, it's everything a movie ought to be: uplifting, heartwarming, optimistic, romantic, adventurous. It swept me away when I was 13 and its magic hasn't dimmed at 34. What a wonderful movie. –Tex Vanwinkle

These frank accounts remind me why I appreciate viewer’s comments so much. Why I loathe that sneering breed of film critics that seems to have overtaken their ranks nowadays, and reminding me of that wonderful quote by Brendan Behan:

“Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves.” ― Brendan Behan.

***

The story of a boy suddenly alone in the world. The men who challenge him. And the girl who helps him become a man.

The tag line above is decent, but Different Drummer will go with Steinbeck’s quote, “A boy becomes a man when a man is needed.” It is the need that forces a boy to become a man; the girl is just a further incentive.

Our film starts out like another of Different Drummer’s favorites, Iron Will, which involves the icebound plains of America, sled dogs, and sudden death.

When his father’s sled plummets into a river, Will’s dreams are also sucked below the icy waters. The only chance to save the family farm and maybe pay for college is a marathon dogsled race with its $10,000 prize.

Except for the fact that we are in Australia, and it’s horses and not sled dogs we are dealing with in The Man from Snowy River, much is the same for young Jim Craig (Tim Burlinson) when his father dies trying to trap the wild horses (Brumby mob as the Aussies say it) near their mountain home. The family cabin is still his, but Jim has no means to sustain it and has to go to the despised flatlands to earn some money and prove himself “worthy to live there” as the local mountain men tell him.

Things get off to a seemingly good start when he rescues young Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thorton) from being dragged in the dust by the spirited thoroughbred colt her father has just purchased for 1000 pounds, which in late century Victoria was quite a bundle, at least 100 times that amount in US dollars today.

While her father is grateful, the fiery Jessica is not. Brushing herself off, she tells Jim, “If I’d wanted your help, mate, I would’ve asked for it.”

And then we know, of course, that this is a match made in heaven, and that the father’s gratitude toward young Jim will not survive that soon to be ignited passion.

Harrison’s crew doesn’t appreciate Jim much either, as his hard work and efficiency make them look bad. But Jim seems to be moving up for a while, even being allowed to serve the Harrisons dinner at their crystal and linen bedecked table. Harrison (Kirk Douglas) even deigns to ask Jim’s opinion of his plan to tame the mountains for his cattle to graze. Jim’s response, however, chills any prospects he might have had there at Harrison’s station (ranch).

“Well, sir. I think you might sooner hold back the tide than tame the mountains.”

Certainly a chill between Harrison and Jim, but things begin to thaw between Jim and Jessica, especially when Jim is shunned from the cattle roundup and has to stay back with the women folk. Jessica even persuades Jim to break the new colt. Reluctantly he agrees, if only to save it from the hard hands of Curly, who breaks horses the hard, rough, old fashioned way.

Jim has the same respect for horses as he does the mountains, as he later tells Jessica.

“You’ve got to treat the mountains like a high-spirited horse; never take it for granted.”

Horse lovers will enjoy the excerpts from his gentle breaking of the colt that Jim swears doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.

Watching him work with this animal as well as the assorted horses he rides in the film, one imagines that Tim Burlinson has ridden horses all his life, but that was not the case at all as he was “… totally untrained as a horseman when he was first plucked from an audition of 2,000 young lads for the film.” (Ivan M. Lincoln)

***

Much of the film is based on the poem “The Man from Snowy River” by Barton (Banjo) Patterson. The romance between Jim and Jessica, the tensions between Jim and her father, as well as the backstory about Jessica’s mother Victoria and the two brothers who sought her hand (Kirk Douglas in a duel role as his peg-legged brother Spur) are all invented for the feature film.

Incidentally, however, the name of Jessica’s mother, Victoria, is another bit of lore from Banjo Patterson and his famous song, “Waltzing Matilda,” which is the unofficial National Anthem of Australia. It tells the story of a young itinerant worker (swagman) going on foot in the outback, waltzing actually meaning traveling on foot, and matilda referring to the pack slung over one’s back. It’s a sad tale of his poaching a sheep (a jumpbuck), being caught and pursued, and then drowning himself in the watering hole (billabong) rather than being caught. Take a listen if you like:

As for the poem itself, here are the relevant excerpts describing the hunt for the pricey colt that had gotten away. Just as in the poem, Harrison has reluctantly agreed to let a mountain boy (Jim) take part in the pursuit.

“The Man from Snowy River” –Barton (Banjo) Patterson

When they reached the mountain’s summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat _
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringy bards and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

But pictures might speak louder than words. Here is that scene, the main reason I will never forget this film. (It was not performed by Tim Burlinson, although the actor did do most of the other riding scenes in the film.)

Right now we all need to be reminded of the courage and character that has shaped and inspired free people throughout the ages. See this film with your family, or if you have seen it before, it is time to give The Man from Snowy River another look.

More than ever we require an infusion of Jim Craig’s grit, Jessica’s passion, and the hearts of those magnificent horses, those drinkers of the wind who allow us to soar with them.

Not to miss.

–Kathy Borich
🥁🥁🥁🥁1/2

Trailer

Film-Loving Foodie

Spur, Jim’s friend, the outcast brother of Harrison, is a real character. He lives in a hut and works his gold claim in the rickety shaft right next to it. A shaft almost and old a rickety as Spur himself, who hobbles around on a peg leg, the story behind it buried and hidden almost as well as the yellow ore itself.

No one can stand Spur’s cooking, which usually consists of cursed wallaby stew. But every once in a while he comes up with the real stuff. Perfect Hereford raised beef, just as tender and delicious as what his brother raises down below. If a few head wander into that sheltered grassy meadow hidden near Spur’s mountain retreat, one cannot help but accept the fatted calf, right?

Enjoy our delicious recipe for Aussie Marinated Steak, but don’t look too closely at the H branded on the side of beef from which it came.

Aussie Marinated Steak

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup beer
4 tbs marmalade
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp ginger
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1 piece Australian beef rump steak (beef)

Directions

1.     Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a large shallow dish.
2.     Add the piece of steak and turn around a few times to coat well.
3.     Cover with cling wrap and chill for about 4 hours, turning meat occasionally. Heat bbq to hot. Drain steak and sear on both sides to hold in the juices.
4.     Cook to desired taste. For rare 8-10 minutes on each side, medium, 10-12 minutes and well done 15 minutes.
5.     Brush with the marinade during cooking.