image of person or book cover 2869975972270835456.jpg
American poster
form y separately published work icon Sons of Matthew single work   film/TV  
Alternative title: The Rugged O'Riordans (US and UK title)
Issue Details: First known date: 1949... 1949 Sons of Matthew
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Filmed against the lush, tropical background of the Lamington Plateau it tells the story of an Australia many have never seen ... of Australians heard about but never met. This is the story of pioneers with adventure in their blood and their incessant battle against nature.

'Matthew O'Riordan had five sons–Shane, Barney, Luke, Terry and Mickey. The sons grew up. The farm in the valley is too small to hold them, so Matthew calls a conference and suggests that the boys take up land is Quensland, [sic] where there is unlimited opportunity and plenty of land.

'Matthew informs them of the hardships they will have to endure but fighting is a thing they understand, so they set off.

'After the decision is made the film goes on to describe their battle against what appears to be overwhelming odds. It depicts their passions, their dreams, their hopes and finally their victory.'

Source:

'Odeon', Goulburn Evening Post, 20 February 1950, p.3.

Notes

  • Inspired by the books Green Mountains (1940) and Cullenbenbong (1944) by Bernard O'Reilly.
  • A number of newspapers published what they called Sons of Matthew: A Pictorial Story, a summary of the novel's plot structured rather like a comic strip, and illustrated with stills from the film. See, for example, the Maryborough Chronicle, 18 January 1950, p.4.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • c
      United States of America (USA),
      c
      Americas,
      :
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Universal Pictures ,
      1950 .
      Alternative title: The Rugged O'Riordons
      Extent: c.77min.p.
      Note/s:
      • According to Screen Australia, Universal Pictures removed roughly thirty minutes of footage for the American and British release of the film, as well as adding American narration and re-naming the film The Rugged O'Riordans.

        Information on which material was removed is scanty, but Australian newspapers report that, for example, American censors insisted on the removal of a nude scene roughly 150 feet in length (out of the film's total length of 9450 feet): see 'Film Nudes: Australian Film Censored', Kalgoorlie Miner, 25 January 1950, p.2.

Works about this Work

Memories of a Movie Maverick Phil Brown , 2013 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 27-28 July 2013; (p. 10-11)
y separately published work icon How They Made Sons of Matthew Maxwell Dunn , Sydney : Angus and Robertson , 1949 Z1887986 1949 single work prose A book-lengh account of the genesis, development and filming of Chauvel's film.
y separately published work icon How They Made Sons of Matthew Maxwell Dunn , Sydney : Angus and Robertson , 1949 Z1887986 1949 single work prose A book-lengh account of the genesis, development and filming of Chauvel's film.
Memories of a Movie Maverick Phil Brown , 2013 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 27-28 July 2013; (p. 10-11)
Last amended 15 Oct 2014 14:31:40
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