GALLIPOLI (1981)

One of the earliest films from Oscar-nominated Austrailian director Peter Weir (Witness, Dead Poet's Society, The Truman Show, Master & Commander), this is a stirring tale of one of THE pivotal events in the history of Australia: their campaign with British forces to fight the Turkish forces in World War I on the hills of Gallipoli more than a hundred years ago.  The story focuses on two young Austrailian sprinters (Mark Lee, Mel Gibson) who enlist together and form a strong bond, before eventually facing the brutal realities of "The Great War" when they are sent to fight.  When it came out forty-five years ago, this film was not only a seminal event in Australian cinema for war movies overall.  It also co-stars Bill Kerr, John Murphy, and Bill Hunter. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

GALLIPOLI   1981

Directed by Peter Weir

Starring Mel Gibson, Mark Lee, Bill Kerr, Harold Hopkins, Charles Lathalu Yunipingu, Heath Harris, Ron Graham, Bill Hunter, Gerda Nicholson, Robert Grubb, Tim McKenzie, David Argue, Steve Dodd, and Bill Hunter

Genre: Coming-Of-Age War Epic (Audio clip)

Rewatching this for the first time in several years, it's hard to not be reminded a bit of Sam Mendes' 1917 – previous episode - which also centers around World War I....and THAT film (also based on true events) plays like an extended feature version of this film's final climax. And it's pretty clear that this film’s most lasting legacy is ALL about the iconic ending...though that last gut-punch minute ONLY works because of the beautifully acted and gorgeously shot 105 minutes which proceed it.

This was one of director Peter Weir's earlier breakout films and it certainly has that unique stamp of his which has characterized films as varied as Witness, Master & Commander, or Fearless...his stories always sneak up on you a bit. The pacing is often deliberate but never to the point where it feels like the story just stops dead to stare at a vista...he's not Terrance Malick for better or worse, allowing the scenery to take over.

No matter the film still looks amazing thanks to Oscar-winning DP Russell Boyd (Master & Commander) who has been a regular collaborator of Weir's going back decades. Gorgeous location work shot all around Australia, Egypt, and Turkey INCLUDING the titular Gallipoli Peninsula which is where the actual offensive that this film's climax actually occurred. 

Needless to say, this IS an anti-war film and it's not very subtle about that. Most of its runtime is spent on a budding friendship between two likeable relatable young men just starting to see the world, making it all the more effective as a genuinely moving tale of lost innocence and of course, the futility of war.

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film):

Now….my biggest issue with the film MIGHT be several portions of its score by Brian May (the first two Mad Max films) which drifts between effectively melancholic orchestra and distractingly modern synthesizer (!) music which CAN take you out of the movie. 🙄 Gratefully that modern sound only pops up at a few select moments. (Audio clip) 

That said, there IS one classic piece which is heard over both the opening and closing credits AND those heartbreaking final minutes of the film….and it comes to us from an Italian composer from the Baroque Era, born in Venice…..Tomaso Albinoni.  Albinoni was a peer of several other great composers from this era including Handel and Bach but UNLIKE them, sadly most of his music was never actually officially published and was therefore lost.  Now what we hear in the film is not only his most famous piece but THIS version was actually reconfigured in 1958 by Remo Giazotto…..and has been heard in countless movies going back decades going back to one of Orson Welle’s final films The Trail to Flashdance in ’83 ALL the way to 2016’s Manchester By the Sea.  Yup we hear it over THAT scene – if you’ve seen the movie, you know exactly what scene I’m referring to….ugh, rough stuff.  Well it’s clearly a very haunting track designed to highlight tragedy – I’m referring to the gorgeous “Adiago in G Minor.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

I just want to give a special shout-out to the late, great Bill Hunter who was a true staple of Australian cinema, including several notable Australian film exports during the ‘90’s including Strictly Ballroom, Muriel’s Wedding, and previous episode The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.  This guy was SUCH an stalwart of Australian film that I had mistakenly thought for years that he was also in Crocodile Dundee, Walkabout, and The Cars That Ate Paris which was actually Weir’s directorial debut….no sorry that was actually the late, great John Meillon who looked a BIT like Hunter with facial hair, he was an Aussie legend in his own right.  But when folks look back upon this film, the two players which are often cited are Mark Lee who IS the heart of the film and of course Mel Gibson as this was very early in his career……but DON’T sleep on Hunter here who plays Major Barton, possibly the smartest and most compassionate character whom we meet.  (Audio clip) 

This film doesn’t work nearly as well without three KEY moments throughout for this character which Hunter delivers with an astounding performance.  Barton KNOWS what’s coming for these boys and you can not only see the heartbreak on his face but the grace he uses to try to ease those around him into impossible situation…..FIRST his wife when he says goodbye to her taking off early on for their journey up north towards Egypt, THEN at that ballroom where he sees Archy and Frank sneak in JUST after he has received paper orders that they are headed towards action the following day….he just encourages to have a few more drinks.  And then FINALLY at the very end, when he has received these ridiculous orders…..he’s also insistent that he join them, even into certain death.  Beautiful grace notes from a true legend. (Audio clip)  

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Whatever spectacle we see, It's all character-based - there are some genuinely awe-inspiring shots of our two main protagonists (Mark Lee and a baby-faced young Mel Gibson - both fantastic!) sneaking off from military training in Cairo to wonder up one of the Pyramids.  This occurs around 80 minutes into the movie.  And as the sun sets on them, of course the scenery looks spectacular. But it's also pretty bittersweet when you realize that moments like THIS are why they wanted to enlist and it was sold that way to them as Australians fighting for the British in World War I. This scene culminates as our two main protagonists Archy played by Mark Lee and Frank played by a baby-faced Mel Gibson (he was twenty-four during filming) race up the base of one of the pyramids.  And the sad reality is that it's all part of a process which leaves them even more ill-prepared for what follows, for what the British generals actually have in store for them. 😟

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

This is just a VERY unique version of a war film in that most of the story occurs in the lead-up towards seeing our main characters finally see action…..which infact is the VERY last scene.  That’s not to say that most wars films are REQUIRED to show our characters in the thick of it…..but most others of this genre tend to focus more on the AFTERMATH of said war, what our main characters are dealing with when they return like The Deer Hunter, Born on the Fourth of July, or In Country.  The only real comparisons I can think of it along these lines are possibly Full Metal Jacket and previous episode Glory…and even those films feature extended sequences of characters in combat.  And that’s kind of what I love about this film: Weir (with co-writer David Williamson) was telling a somewhat archetypal story of innocence LOST but really dwelling on the “innocence” of these two young men for 95% of the screentime – joining the war effort has been sold to them as “high adventure” and that seems to be what they’re onboard for….until they’re not.  And over the past forty-five years, it has lost none of its power – for spinning his own uniquely structured tale of an important historic event and SUCCEEDING in telling it the only way he could fathom, Peter Weir is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 5 stars out of 5

As we are approaching Memorial Day 2026, I can think of few BETTER films paying tribute to those who serve in the military and the sacrifices they have often made….even though it’s from the perspective of a different country.  Happy Memorial Day and Happy 45th Anniversary to one of THE best war films of the 1980’s! 

Streaming on kanopy, hoopla, & YouTube 

And that ends another SPRINGS, STEEL SPRINGS review!