Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection

Bryan Brown in 'Stir'
Bryan Brown in 'Stir'

Stir (1980)

A new 35mm print of this feature and trailer are now available on request.
Courtesy of Smiley Films, Kodak (Australasia) and Atlab Australia

National Film and Sound Archive National Collection
Title Number 268173

Classification: M rating

A scene from Stir
A scene from Stir

Synopsis

Bryan Brown plays China Jackson: a prisoner who after going public on television about the prison bashings by warders is then returned a few years later to the prison where the assaults occurred. What follows is a sadistic portrayal of his rebellion against the brutal authorites. Stir is a film that confronts a thorny aspect of Australian life: The treatment of our prison population since European settlement, which has been characterised by violence, with a brutal few rendering docile an intimidated group by terror.

Background

Stir was made during a period when a number of ex-prisoners wrote and spoke about their experiences through plays and journalism. Bob Jewson, who wrote the script was a prisoner in Bathurst Gaol during a riot and his script is based on this and other similar events. The film was initially rated R in September 1980 but changed to M after an appeal in September 1980 just prior to it's release in October 1980. Stir was made on a budget of $485,000 and filmed on location in Gladstone – South Australia.

Director
Stephen Wallace

Year of Production: 1980
Duration: 101 mins
Format: 35mm, Colour
Soundtrack: Mono, remastered to Dolby® Digital

Production Company
Smiley Films Pty Ltd

Producer
Richard Brennan

Scriptwriter
Bob Jewson

Director of Photography
Geoff Burton

Production Designer
Lee Whitmore

Editor
Henry Dangar

Sound Recordist
Gary Wilkins

Composer
Cameron Allan

Cast:
Bryan Brown (China Jackson)
Max Phipps (Norton)
Dennis Miller (Redford)
Gary Waddell (Dave)
Phil Motherwell (Alby)
Edward Robshaw (Partridge)
Michael Gow (Andrew)
Robert 'Tex' Morton (The Governor)
Ray Marshall (Chalmers)
Syd Heylen (Old Bob)
Robert Noble (Riley)
Paul Sonkkila (McIntosh)
Keith Gallasch (Tony)
Les Newcombe (Hogan)
James Marsh (Webster)
Peter Kowitz (Lewis)
Tony Wager (Visiting Justice)
Maurice Saidi (Barker)
Kevin Storey (Chickenman)
Chris Smith (Warder with Baton)

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