Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection

A new 35mm print of this feature documentary is now available on request. Courtesy of David Elfick, and sponsors Kodak (Australasia) and Atlab Australia

National Film and Sound Archive National Collection
Title Number 107

Classification: G rating

Crystal Voyager (1973)

Screen shot from Crystal Voyager

Director: David Elfick

Year of Production: 1973

Duration: 76 mins
Format: 35mm, (1:1,85) Colour
Mono Optical soundtrack: remastered to Dolby® Digital

Production Company: Tracks Motion Picture
Producers: David Elfick

Director of Photography: George Greenough, Albert Falzon, Greg Weaver

Composer: Original music by Mick Liber, produced by G. Wayne Thomas

Music: 'Echoes' by Pink Floyd

Cast: George Greenough, Nat Young, Richie West

Synopsis

Surf documentary about American expatriate surfer-cameraman, George Greenough. His voice-overs explain his surfing philosophy accompanied by an original music score by Mick Liber from Python Lee Jackson. The film documents Greenough as he surfs, shapes surfboards, shoots for a Hollywood film and builds his boat. The final 23 minutes is a climatic sequence of a montage of images inside the tube of the wave, accompanied by Pink Floyd's piece of the same name, Echoes.

Background

Crystal Voyager was one of Australia's most successful surf movies, grossing more than $100,000 on its initial Australian release, before being picked up by British Hemdale Corporation. Crystal Voyager gained substantial press on its release, mostly due to its reception in Cannes and its record-breaking 6-month run in London's West End, where it played a double bill with Rene Laloux's animated science-fiction film, Fantastic Planet and grossed more than 100,000 pounds.

In Australia, the film premiered at the Sydney Opera House on December 5, 1973, and had a successful 3-week run before going to other States. This restored version of the film is different to the original 16mm release; re-edited by Elfick and Greenough, the release on 35mm format resulted in it becoming a record-breaking box office smash hit in London.

Composer Phil Judd also won for Best Original Music Score.

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