Gallipoli [VHS] [1981]

This is a film I have seen several times since it was first issued, and it has always packed a considerable emotional punch. It tells of the accidental friendship of two young Australians, one from a comfortable farming background, the other rather from the other side of the tracks, brought together by their talent as sprinters. Both join up and are transported first to Egypt and then to the Dardanelles. There, at Gallipoli, they play out the last stage of their friendship in the inferno of bullet and shellfire which met the Anzac troops. The film is amusing in places, very characterful, visually very beautiful. The soundtrack seems to me appropriate ; I don't find it dated at all, and the classical pieces fit the sometimes sombre mood and the touching portrayal of the Australian officer who celebrates his wedding anniversary by playing old records of the famous Pearl Fishers' duet. I used to use this film a bit in a film studies course in the school in which I taught and it always left the teenagers silent and thoughtful ; it certainly touched them. Highly recommended.

Uneven but powerful film about the First World War atrocity at Gallipoli where appalling incompetence by the generals lead to thousands of Australian soldiers being ordered above the trenches into direct Turkish gunfire. Gallipoli the film is also largely about the development of the unlikely friendship between country boy Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) and the more streetwise Frank Dunne (Mel Gibson). United as outstanding, competing, athletic prospects Archy leads the more questioning Frank into joining up after they undertake an unscheduled desert trek to Perth.

Like most of the other rookie volunteers, the geographically isolated Archy is incredibly naïve about the war, seeing it as little more than a foreign adventure. After clearly inadequate training in Egypt, the two friends and their comrades land amidst spectacular gunfire in Turkey and are soon disgracefully ordered forward with sudden catastrophic results.

Made by renowned Australian director Peter Weir, the pointless waste of these young lives packs a very powerful punch. Less impressive is the film's development towards this climax with Archy and Frank's burgeoning friendship being under-developed on-screen. Gallipoli's lack of cohesiveness is also not helped by it already feeling dated, not least due to its horrible early 80s music interludes. Still it's a very powerful indictment of a terrible episode of army incompetence and despite its flaws, is well worth seeing.

****DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS****

"Gallipoli" made in 1981 is an Australian film directed by Peter Weir and starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee, all natives of that country. The film is set during the First World War and the title refers to the peninsula of the same name located on the Aegean coast of The Dardenelles in Turkey. It was in this area that between the 25th April 1915 when it was captured, to the 19th December 1915 when it was evacuated, that many ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) soldiers fought and died. The climax to this film is at the brutal battle of "The Nek", which was a terrible killing field for the ANZACs.

The film concerns two young men from rural Western Australia who become close friends whilst competing against each other in a sprint at an athletics meeting. Mel Gibson, looking strangely youthful plays the cynical Frank Dunne whilst Mark Lee portrays the innocent and idealistic Archy Hamilton. Swayed by propaganda which was rife at the time they enlist to fight for their Countrys cause, although many recruits had never heard of the places involved in the conflict. Archy is considerably more enthusiastic about the idea than Frank.

They are then shipped out for training in Egypt where the soldiers indulge in a bit of good natured "Pommy bashing". Well it is an Australian film, so that is "Fair Dinkum". Thrashing us at cricket with monotonous regularity does not seem to appease their appetite for this genial sport! In all too short a time they are transported to the harsh realities of trench warfare in Gallipoli. Having trained with the Light Horse this bloody stalemate is not what they expected and they see the senseless slaughter first hand as their ranks are decimated. At the films ending we see the company go over the top into the face of the Turkish guns. Archie sprints ahead of the others using his great speed. He has no weapon and the camera freezes as he is struck by a hail of machine gun bullets. Frank who has been used as a runner just fails to get back in time with the order to stop the attack.

The film has many impressive scenes. I particularly liked the scene where Major Barton played by Bill Hunter plays his favourite opera piece the night before before the attack. The final scenes are particularly poignant. I was reminded of the scene from perhaps the greatest anti war film of all time "Paths of Glory"(57) where Kirk Douglas is about to lead his men over the top in a doomed attack. All so indescribably sad.

It is vital for us all to remember that 46,000 allied soldiers died and there were 265,000 casualties in the campaign, and it is very likely the Turkish losses were greater. This film is a fitting tribute to all those brave young men who gave their lives in the hell that was Gallipoli. Highly recommended viewing.