Mad Dog Morgan

Horrorphile

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Mad Dog Morgan

March 9th 2009 23:49

It’s always fascinating discovering “dirty history”. Mad Dog Morgan (1976) tells the exploits of Daniel Morgan, an Irishman who came to Australia in the 1850s to pan for gold only to succumb to the wayward charms of opium, forced to became a desperado, then a bushranging anti-hero to the poor locals as he robbed the wealthy land-owners, traveling on horseback from Victoria into New South Wales and back again, keeping the police in befuddled pursuit for many years.

Directed by Philippe Mora, who penned the screenplay based on a story called Morgan and Bold Bushranger by honored writer and historian Margaret Carnegie, Mad Dog Morgan appears to have been a forgotten low-budget treasure, a rare find indeed. It was brought to my attention after being featured in the excellent documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008) and subsequently got a new widescreen Region 4 DVD release (the only other DVD release prior was a dreadful cut version and full-frame crop of the movie’s original 2.35:1 ratio put out by Troma).

Dennis Hopper as Daniel Morgan

Dennis Hopper plays Morgan with gusto and conviction. It’s not his best work, but considering he was in the middle of his drug and alcohol-fueled wilderness years he (stands and) delivers a surprisingly compelling performance. He’s upstaged however by his ridiculous-looking fake beard … and by the stunning Australian landscape.

Bill Hunter as Sgt. Smith

David Gulpili plays Billy, the young Aboriginal man who nurses Morgan after discovering him badly injured from a gunshot wound. They travel and rob together with Billy teaching Morgan the law of the land whilst Morgan’s infamous reputation grows. Jack Thompson plays Detective Mainwaring and John Hargreaves plays Baylis, a bounty hunter, both men in steely determination to capture Morgan, dead or alive (preferably dead). Frank Thring plays Superintendent Cobham and Bill Hunter plays Sergeant Smith, one well-spoken, the other leery, both bastards.

Mad Dog Morgan Philippe Mora and Frank Thring

Frank Thring as bald Supt. Cobham with director Philippe Mora in a non-speaking cameo

The cast is literally a who’s who of classic Australian drama, and the odd bit of comedy (Graham Blundell has one short scene as an ex-pat Italian who’s robbed by Morgan, and Bruce Spence appears briefly but gets shot). Robin Ramsey is hilarious as an ex-pat French photographer Roget, keen as Dijon to capture the Mad Dog on film.

Jack Thompson as Detective Mainwaring

Mad Dog Morgan may not be entirely accurate with its history, but it makes for a rollicking piece of deep trashy fun with fantastic production values considering its budgetary limitations (Mike Molloy’s cinematography is outstanding; John Seale was camera operator). The performances are rock solid (Thompson, Hunter and Hargreaves shine best, but Hopper holds his own, and Gulpili exudes a quiet charisma). The movie is easily director Mora’s best work, head and shoulders above anything else he’s made. Keep in mind this is the same director who made the execrable Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf, Howling III: The Marsupials and The Return of Captain Invincible.

Morgan is branded and abused whilst in prison

Mad Dog Morgan was the first Australian feature to receive a wide release in America. So how come the movie vanished into the B-movie wilderness?! It’s the Ocker version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, more interesting a tale than Ned Kelly, and I’m sure Nick Cave was influenced by it when he wrote The Proposition (2005); actually it would make a great double feature, Mad Dog Morgan is a mongrel worth barking about!

Mad Dog Morgan David Gulpili and Dennis Hopper

Billy (David Gulpili) treats Morgan's gunshot wound

Perhaps the exploitation elements kept it from being properly recognised; it is quite violent, crude and vulgar in places, but ultimately those are some of its best qualities. The Proposition is a far more disturbing movie, and filthier too. Admittedly Mad Dog Morgan meanders all over the joint, being more episodic than cohesive as a whole. But that is also part of its quirky, grubby charm, it reflects part of the madness that was slowly chewing away at Morgan’s psyche (there’s an extraordinary nightmare sequence where Morgan has a vision of himself engulfed in flames falling off a cliff, but in reverse, arguably one of the most dangerous Aussie stunts ever captured on film – performed by the legendary Grant Page).

WARNING! SPOILER AHEAD!

Stand and deliver ya dirty rotten mongrels!

After Roget has finally got his photograph of Morgan’s body lying prone beside a posed MacPherson (Wallas Eaton), the man who mortally shot him, and Supt. Cobham demands Morgan’s head be severed, “… And cut off the scrotum too, it might make an interesting tobacco pouch”, the real Daniel Morgan’s death-mask is depicted as the movie’s final macabre image. One gets the picture Philippe Mora was keen to put the Mad Dog on a pedestal.

Mad Dog Morgan won best Western at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.

I could only find this low-rent, ignorant trailer put together by Troma (the voice-over calls it Victorian England, not Victoria, Australia!):

Mad Dog Morgan DVD (packed with great extras!) is courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment, many thanks!

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

18 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

March 10th 2009 02:04

Bryn

You really know how to disturb the ghosts of the past.
I remember Mad Dog Morgan very well. At the time I saw it I was in two minds. I liked the character, hated the stick on beard, loved the landscape hated the way it seemed so disjointed in parts.

Frank Thring is still an old favorite as an old world style actor. Shame how death ruined the career of a great villain of the cinema.

I can understand why the film did not do well. There were plenty of good things about the film but overall it did not come off as a great film. Just another reasonable western with funny accents.

Comment by Bryn

March 10th 2009 04:00

Horrorphile

Damo, seems we agree once again ...

Did you see it at the movies?? SBS? VHS?

Comment by katyzzz

March 10th 2009 21:45

Photography Tips
MS Paint Art

Brilliant work, as always, for one moment I thought you were throwing personal comments around here, and I loved it so rushed right over, but I see it's the movies again and our own ghoulish Bryn, the old Welsh fella.

Comment by Lilla

March 10th 2009 23:50

From The Home Front
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Bryn,

I didn*t read the spoiler. Somehow this one got through (?) I have never seen it. WOW it looks great. I really like DH, although I doubt he was ever really that young *lol* or the others! How dramatic is that trailer Intro. too funny.

I am wildly curious now to see how Dennis handled the accent (which can make it or break it for me), although I see its predominantly Irish? I remember in other movies back then, so many of the English and American actors couldn*t handle the Australian accent at all, *lol* including me as an immigrant.

I like the storyline here v. much with enough reality to hold my attention, I think. I will certainly look out for it.

Thanks for remembering this one..

Lilla ..

Comment by stu-kicks

March 11th 2009 00:40

stu kicks

when is this movie coming out it looks like it mite be ok

Comment by Bryn

March 11th 2009 02:51

Horrorphile

katyzzz, always the opportunist!

cheers for the props

Lilla, Dennis holds the Irish accent reasonably well actually, but it does slip in and out. The location shooting is the real star of the movie though.

stu, it was first released in '76, however this new and definitive DVD edition should be available from any good video store.

March 18th 2009 01:35

Horrorphile

Stu, did you not understand what I said? First Strike is not an Aussie movie, neither is Once Were Warriors. I was asking what your favourite Aussie movies were.

I've seen the poster for the Cambeltown flick. Can't judge a movie by the poster though. Some locals cinemas have refused to book the movie.

To be brutally honest Stu, I can't stand the way you write, so unless you've completely changed your writing style, then I doubt I will be visiting your blog. I call a spade a spade.