The overlanders
By: Dora Birtles ; with a new afterword by the author.
Series: Virago modern classic -- no.271
Publisher: Virago
Published: 1987
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 224
Description: The Overlanders is the story of 'one man' and his small group of drovers' journey crossing three state's of Australia and 2000 miles with over a thousand head of cattle. The film is set in 1943 outback Australia and is based on the true story of a cattle drive in 1942 organized by the government to vacate the land of people and supplies in the threat of a Japanese invasion. Depicting a 'realistic' view of Australian culture and landscape, the Overlanders gave an insight into the nature of rural Australia and it's people to the international market and the rest of the country. Plot The film the Overlanders is set in 'outback' Australia during 1943. Ellipsis plays a very large role in the structure of the film. As the story involves the two year journey of a group of drovers and a thousand head of cattle, the plot must be shortened to fit the time frame of the film. In this case approximately 91 minuets. The film begins with a voice over setting the scene and providing background information to the viewer. Such as an impending Japanese invasion and the migration of people to the south. Their were two principal locations for the film, one MacDonald range country Alice Springs was directed by Watt, the second was directed by John Heyer. This was situated along part of the Murranji track which runs 1500 miles, west to east, across Australia. Starting in Western Australia and ending in Queensland the track covers a vast amount of terrain, from grassy plain to rugged valley's.
Notes: Originally published, London , Shakespeare Head, 1946.