Product: Mad Max (1979)
Rating: 5.0
Before Mel Was Mel
I remember seeing "Mad Max" in the spring of 1980. Now this was the days before multiplexes. "Mad Max" was distributed by American International Pictures, Samuel Z. Arkoff's outfit whose forte was drive-in fare i.e. Grade B action and horror films. I was seventeen at the time and the way this film was promoted was appealing to me. The TV commercials were full of car chases and fast action. When I saw the film naturally it was a real rush. It didn't disappoint in the action department and the good guys were good and the bad guys were vile. Something seemed a little off to me, though. The landscape didn't look like anything that I was familiar with in America. The speaking parts seemed a little off even though they were distinguishable American accents. One of actresses in a minor role, Sheila Florence(May) was familiar to me from a popular Australian women's prison soap-opera from that time,"Prisoners of Cell-Block H". Never mind. If this film was reviewed at all it was generally dismissed as exploitation trash. I forgot about this film completely until I read a review of it in "Time" magazine, I think it was Richard Schickel, a couple months later extolling the virtues of this high-octane action thrill-ride. The next I heard of Mel Gibson he was appearing in the highly praised "Gallipoli" this time speaking in an Australian accent. Summer of 1982, "The Road Warrior"(or "Mad Max 2" as it was known overseas) was released to better box office and critical acceptance. Home video was breaking at that time and both "Road Warrior" and it's lesser received original were released around the same time. The legend continued to grow. I watched "Mad Max" numerous times over the years and always enjoyed it but those bogus accents were always a detriment even as Mel Gibson's celebrity continued to grow. I'd watch it and try to imagine what it should sound like by inserting in my mind Mel Gibson's actual voice instead of that lame dubbed voice. Now,finally, we have the version that should have been available all along, "Mad Max" in all it's down-under glory. For those who don't remember the original "American-version" of "Mad Max" don't even bother to seek it out. I don't feel the least bit nostalgic for it. This is the "Mad Max" that should have been available all along and we can leave the old "Max" to the garbage heap.