Stir (film)

Stir is a 1980 Australian film directed by Stephen Wallace in his feature directorial debut. The prison film was written by Bob Jewson, based upon his own experience, while incarcerated, of the 1974 prison riot at Bathurst Correctional Complex and the subsequent Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons.[2] The film was shot in Clare Valley, Gladstone and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It premiered at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Stir
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Stephen Wallace
Produced by	Richard Brennan
Written by	Bob Jewson
Starring	Bryan Brown Max Phipps
Music by	Cameron Allan
Cinematography	Geoff Burton
Edited by	Henry Dangar
Production company	New South Wales Film Corp. Smiley Productions
Distributed by	Hoyts Distribution
Release date	23 October 1980 (AUS)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	AU$485,000[1]

Principal cast

Actor	Role
Bryan Brown	China Jackson
Max Phipps	Norton
Garry Waddell	Dave
Phil Motherwell	Alby
Robert Noble	Riley

Production

Bob Jewson was a prisoner in Bathurst Gaol at the time of the riot and wrote a script, originally called Bathurst, based on the event. Martha Ansara who was working for the Prison Action Group read it and introduced Jewson to Stephen Wallace, who decided to make the film.[4] Other accounts have Tony Green making the introduction.[5]

The New South Wales Film Corporation was looking at investing in some films made by directors who had made successful short films. Wallace had just made the acclaimed one-hour drama The Love Letters from Teralba Road and they asked him if he had any projects. He told them about his prison drama.[5]

As part of his preparations, Wallace had the actors do a clown workshop for four days and a longer workshop of three weeks. Most of them disliked the clown workshop which Wallace later admitted was a mistake.[5]

The original drafts of the script had some female characters, such as a social worker and a girlfriend of Bryan Brown's character, but these were dropped.[5]

The film was shot over five weeks in October and November 1979 in South Australia at an abandoned prison in Gladstone.[1] The makers had trouble sourcing enough extras and had to fly them in from Adelaide; some of the actors who did appear had been to prison. Wallace tried to get more Aboriginal extras but was unable.[5]

During filming the movie was known as The Promotion of Mr Smith until Jewson suggested the shorter title Stir.[4] Wallace:

Bob Jewson said one thing - and I think this is what we tried to make the theme of the film, although it was very hidden - that riots don't happen out of the blue. The prison authorities make you believe that all these criminals that are incarcerated are at all times dangerous and they're trying to get out. But Bob said that's never true; most of them have accepted their lot and they're trying to serve their time. They only get into a riot situation when they're treated badly and unfairly over a long period. He said most people don't want a riot; they know what it's going to mean, longer in jail. [6]

Reception

The film was reasonably popular and according to Wallace it made a profit.[6]

Critical reception

David O'Connell of In Film Australia:

Director Stephen Wallace’s debut steers a harrowing and dogged course into the bowels of prison hell. He was been blessed [sic] by Bob Jewson’s screenplay, which carries with it a certifiable authenticity, being based on his own time inside during the Bathurst prison riots of February 1974... Brutal and profane, Stir is a no-holds-barred, revelatory glimpse into life inside and rates as an Australian classic. The dialogue is loose and jagged and these men, as part of a uniformly excellent ensemble, look every bit the part of desperate beaten-down prisoners.[7]

Accolades

At the 1980 Australian Film Institute Awards, Stir, received 13 nominations but did not win any categories.[8][9]

Award	Category	Subject	Result
AACTA Awards (1980 AFI Awards)	Best Film	Richard Brennan	Nominated
	Best Direction	Stephen Wallace	Nominated
	Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted	Bob Jewson	Nominated
	Best Actor	Bryan Brown	Nominated
		Max Phipps	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actor	Dennis Miller	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Geoff Burton	Nominated
	Best Editing	Henry Dangar	Nominated
	Best Original Music Score	Cameron Allan	Nominated
	Best Sound	Phil Judd	Nominated
		Andrew Steuart	Nominated
		Gary Wilkins	Nominated
	Best Production Design	Lee Whitmore	Nominated

DVD availability

The DVD is available from Umbrella Entertainment and contains a new 16:9 aspect ratio transfer, a 50-minute interview feature with key cast and crew, as well as the original theatrical trailer.[10]

See also

• Cinema of Australia

References

1. David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p330
2. Erickson, Hal. "Stir > Overview". AllMovie. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
3. Stir (1980) - Release dates
4. David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p226-228
5. Barbara Alysen, "Stephen Wallace", Cinema Papers, Oct-Nov 1980 p341-343
6. "Interview with Stephen Wallace", Signis, 21 November 1998 accessed 21 November 2012
7. "Stir film review : In Film Australia - all about Australian films". Infilm.com.au. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
8. "Jack Thompson proposed for best-actor award". The Canberra Times. 54 (16, 410). 30 August 1980. p. 9. Retrieved 19 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "AACTA – Past Winners 1980". 1980 Australian Film Institute Awards. Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 19 June 2018.
10. "Stir Film Review: Cinephilia - Australian Film & more". Cinephilia. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.

External links

• Stir on IMDb
• Stir at AllMovie
• Sir at Australian Screen Online
• Stir at Oz Movies