Theyre a weird mob is a 1966 australian film based on the novel of the same name by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta, the name of the main. He mixes with bricklayers, policemen, lifesavers, makes friends, learns the language, engages in fisticuffs, gets. This is an australian film, about australians with australian financial backing. Trailer to the movie theyre a weird mob, 1966 film based on the novel of the same name by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta, the name of the main character of the book. Documentary about the making of the film theyre a weird mob about an italian adjusting to life in australia. To use the fair dinkum language communicated by the films narrator, it. All critics 1 fresh 1 regarded as a classic, this film takes a kindhearted look at sydney in the mid 60s. Again, i sat there with my jaw lolling unattractively as nino culotta stumbles from one misadventure to another. Sydney, australia world premiere of theyre a weird mob in. A time when we opened our doors to many foreigners who were struggling to get.
The film provides an example of the work of famous british filmmaker michael powell 190590. Essay by peter krausz, reproduced from 100 greatest films of australian cinema with permission. Theyre a weird mob film is within the scope of wikiproject australia, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of australia and australiarelated topics. Unfortunately, its pretty weak stuff from the acclaimed british filmmakers. Leaving aside the films willingness to engage with national stereotypes for laughs, and its domestic box office success, the film can actually be credited with the first stirrings towards government intervention in and support of the local industry. According to a book published in 2006, edited by scott hocking, that i bought in melbourne in 2007, which collates the choices of various critics and other. But the acerbic lawson also pointed out that powells movie is a frustrating glimpse of what it would be like to have our own film industry, of how it might be to have your. It could herald the rebirth of the australian film industry. A little later, rights to the book were bought by actor gregory peck, who intended to turn it into a movie. The critics have never really warmed to theyre a weird mob. The film is based on a book written by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta which is also the name of the main character walter chieri, an italian. The story of making the film theyre a weird mob 1966 imdb. Theyre a weird mob is a fish out of water story based on the 1957 best selling novel by john ogrady of an italian immigrant whos hoodwinked into coming to sydney and is taken in by his coworkers and finds romance.
The book was the first published novel by ogrady, with an initial print run of 6,000 hardback copies. Theyre a weird mob italian import walter chiari scores in a role that seems tailormade an italian journalist who emigrates to australia to write for an italian journal in sydney edited by. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. Theyre a weird mob 1966, directed by michael powell. Nino culotta, both narrator and apparent author of the novel, travels from northern italy on an assignment from his boss to write about what kind of people these australians are for publications back home.
An essay published on the website slamdunkstudios argues that the political message that underlines theyre a weird mob, is assimilation. A year after theyre a weird mob came out in australia, the uk edition was published as how to be an australian, complete with a slang glossary, so readers could understand what was going on. Theyre a weird mob is a 1966 film based on the novel of the same name by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta, the name of the main character of the book. The stars of the comedy film the weird mob having lunch on the. Its also a rather indescribable film and i dont really know what it is despite having seen it. Andrew pike and ross cooper, australian film 19001977. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. Theyre a weird mob nfsa national film and sound archive.
The first australian film to be made in 7 years, its success meant that the australian government was pressed to provide money for further film funding. Walter chiari, ed devereaux, john meillon, tony bonner, clare dunne, chips rafferty, alida chelli, slim degrey, charles little, anne haddy, michael powell, theyre a weird mob they are a weird mob, theyre a weird mob, they are a weird mob, michael powell, walter chiari, ed devereaux. It was the penultimate collaboration of the british filmmakers michael powell and emeric pressburger plot. Theyre a weird mob rewatched like crocodile dundee in reverse. Graham kennedys short cameo in theyre a weird mob 1966 is his first feature film appearance, although he was an uncredited extra in on the beach 1959 nino culotta played by walter chiari is an italian migrant who has recently arrived in australia and is looking for work. Regarded as a classic, this film takes a kindhearted look at sydney in the mid 60s. Writing in nation, sylvia lawson offered a typical contemporary view, calling the film tenthrate, slapdash and very scrappylooking. Theyre a weird mob 1966 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Theyre a weird mob is a popular 1957 australian comic novel written by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta, the name of the main character of the book.
This interesting feature covers the inception of the film and its genesis, from the original novel by john ogrady to the filming of an australian classic. The tensions of the rich wave of migration to australia after world war ii were satirised and sanitised by the enormously popular adaption of nino culottas john ogradys comic novel theyre a weird mob. Filmmakers have presented many different images of the city and its diverse inhabitants. Theyre a weird mob roadshow home entertainment senses. Reen devereux, words and music song over the opening credits to the film, theyre a weird mob. While weird mob does indeed cast a strangers eye over some unflattering aspects of australian culture, my concern here is with the way a strangers eye is cast over the city of sydney. Theyre a weird mob, film critic adrian danks argues, is essentially about ninos acculturation through adoption of mainstream concepts of australian culture, and particularly through language. Theyre a weird mob is destined to be one of the great successes in 1966 in australia. Theyre a weird mob rewatched luke buckmaster film the. Sydney, australia world premiere of theyre a weird mob in australia. A rare 1960s hit from the codirector of the red shoes, this warm tale of an.
This documentary treats comedy fans to a behindthescenes look at the making of theyre a weird mob, an australian film about an italian man who arrives in sydney to work at his cousins magazine, only to discover that the job no longer exists and he cannot understand what any of the locals are saying. Theyre weird mob is one of the original funny movies australia produced with an international cast complete with local actors who later in life also filled our screens in memorable movies. Its a warming and optimistic story told with unpretentious charm. Theyre a weird mob was also probably the first australian film made with a realistic eye to international distribution, not only because much of the movie seems to delight in explaining and translating many examples of aussie lingo, but because it takes delight in simply showing australians being australians and them being a weird bloody. Theyre a weird mob 1966 directed by michael powell. The first of michael powells australian ventures, a very bizarre comedy about the prejudicial problems that face a young italian who emigrates to. Theyre a weird mob the 100 greatest australian films. Theyre a weird mob is a popular australian comic novel written by john ogrady under the pseudonym nino culotta, the name of the main character of the book. I knew nothing about theyre a weird mob before watching it, except that it was the work of legendary film duo michael powell and emeric pressburger although pressburger is credited under a pseudonym. With ed devereaux, dennis hill, peter menzies, john ogrady. It was the penultimate collaboration of the british filmmakers michael powell and emeric pressburger. Certainly everybody in the motion picture in australia is vitally interested in the success of the film. Low this article has been rated as lowimportance on the projects importance scale. Comic novel by john ogrady under the pseudonym nino culotta written in 1957.
Theyre a weird mob is a 1966 australian film based on the novel of the same name by john ogrady under the pen name nino culotta, the name of the main character of the book. A guide to feature film production melbourne, oxford university press in association with the australian film institute, 1980. Theyre a weird mob they are a weird mob nonusa format, pal, reg. The hedonistic modernity of sydney in theyre a weird mob. The weird mob of the films title refers not to the migrant but to the very strangeness of australian culture as perceived via the gaze of a foreigner. It was one of the last collaborations of the british filmmakers michael powell and emeric pressburger. Its an australia that no longer exists, making the. Theyre a weird mob 1966 clip 1 on aso australias audio and. It is also the name of the 1966 film based on the book, which was one of the last collaborations of the british filmmakers michael powell and emeric pressburger. This great movie is a true microcosym of australia at that time. Theyre a weird mob film wikipedia republished wiki 2.
1263 865 1549 608 577 1022 779 1550 213 15 419 173 449 1015 339 935 729 1424 665 1521 1085 533 1250 851 530 573 760 1046 455 1188 1019 308 888 862 1292 102 126 223 658 670 881