Bitter Springs

United Kingdom, 1950

Film
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The year is 1900 and sheepfarmer Wally King is given the rights to territory in the Australian outback. He sets out with his family to claim the land, but having made the hazardous 600 mile journey through wilderness, they find that the “permanent water” - Bitter Springs - is home to First Nations people who refuse to relinquish it. A violent struggle develops , which can only be resolved when the white man’s gun is replaced by compromise. Remarkably, for its time, the film attempts some balance in presenting the point of view of encroaching European settlers and First Nations claims for land rights. Starring Tommy Trinder, Chips Rafferty, Gordon Jackson, Jean Blue, Michael Pate, Charles Tingwell, Nonnie Piper, Nicky Yardley and Henry Murdock.

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Credits

director

Ralph Smart

producer

Sir Michael Balcon

production company

Ealing Studios

Duration

01:26:00:00

Production places
United Kingdom
Production dates
1950

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

303302

Language

English

Audience classification

G

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Black and White

Holdings

16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)

Wikidata

Q4919025

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/82162--bitter-springs-a/ |title=Bitter Springs |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=30 September 2023 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}