Cirrus@Austlit

One of only four films directed by Arch Nicholson before his early death from motor neurone disease, Dark Age follows the attempts by wildlife ranger Steve Harris, his girlfriend Cathy Pope, and trackers Oonadabund and Adjaral to capture a seven-metre salt-water crocodile (already responsible for two deaths) and relocate it to a breeding sanctuary. Their attempts are thwarted by hunter John Besser, determined on revenge after surviving an attack by the crocodile. In the course of the hunt, one of the trackers realises that he has a psychic connection to the crocodile.

According to Gary Couzens's online review for The Digital Fix,

'Dark Age is not a kill-the-monster story but a save-the-monster one. In fact, the real monster is a human - as played by Max Phipps, scary enough and just the right side of overplaying the part. The seven-metre croc may kill people (including a young child in a scene many will find upsetting) but it at least is obeying its nature. We do get moderately gory attack scenes (adroitly directed by Nicholson), a not always convincing but well disguised mechanical giant crocodile and a sex scene, but it's as if Nicholson and Borg are "smugglers" (in the Scorsese filmmaking sense), slipping in eco themes into what could have been a more straightforward exploitation horror movie. In addition, the two principal Aboriginals [sic] in the cast are treated with considerable dignity and sensitivity and, thanks to David Gulpilil's input, the Aboriginal rituals seen here are accurate. Also, the female lead has more to do than be decorative and to help demonstrate the hero's heterosexuality - maybe due to a female scriptwriter? - and the relationship between Steve and Cathy does ring true.'

Made as part of a two-picture deal with RKO Pictures (the other half of which was The Lighthorsemen), Dark Age was never released in Australia, thanks to negotiations with an Australian distributor falling through shortly after completion.

Source: The Digital Fix (http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/75041/dark-age.html). (Sighted: 7/6/2012)

'It is a big musical of Australlan early days. Australia is terrorlsed by a debonair, engaging outlaw, "Stingaree" (Richard Dix), who makes raids singlehanded upon the wealthy. Even with the police on his trail, his daring knows no bounds. The drama opens with his capture of Sir Jullan Kent (Conway Tearle) a noted impressario who is on his way to the home of Mr. Clarkson (Henry Stephenson) to listen to the voice of Mrs. Clarkson (Mary Boland) who has grand opera aspirations. "Stingaree" enters the Clarkson home with Kent's credentials and poses as the impressario while prospecting the household for something of value to steal. Himself an amateur musician of much talent, he is impressed by the demure beauty of Hilda Bouverie (Irene Dunne) a dependent in the household. His sympathy goes out to her when he sees her hectored by the flamboyant Mrs. Clarkson, and he is moved to high admiration when he hears her sing, her voice being much superior to that of her aristocratic foster parent. "Stingaree" decides that he will help her to a career, but at this moment the police arrive on his trail and he has to flee. But not alone. He snatches up Hilda and rides away with her on his fine white horse to his lair. At first a resentful victim, Hilda soon becomes reconciled to the bandit, who is all tenderness. In fact, the two fall genuinely In love. As a mark of his devotion "Stingaree" takes Hilda back to the Clarkson home and there at the point of his revolver makes the real Sir Julian Kent and a hundred or so house guests hear her sing and acknowledge her great vocal gifts. This time, as he attempts to escape, he is captured. While he is taken to gaol Hllda is taken to Europe by Kent, who has confirmed "Stingaree's" estimate of her talent. She becomes a great singer, but memories of "Stingaree" lead to dramatic developments.'

Source:

'Entertainments', Queensland Times, 20 October 1934, p.7.