This Bobby Dazzler of a film is a thing of beauty and a joy forever! A vintage Pan AM 16mm reel about the mysterious land Down Under - Swingin' 'Stralia! This go-go dancing, miniskirt sporting, roo-hopping romp has lots of groovy music, almost all of which had to be removed due to no less than a record 15 individual copyright slams! Crikey! But even so, this film remains a document of a by-gone time. By the film's claim, in 1970 the entire continent of Australia had just 12 million people - the population of just one large American city. And all Caucasian. Is that possible? I would think a lot of non-white people were already living there when the British showed up. Well, the look of this film is all over the place too - combining dozens of different film stocks, the color and exposure is all around the dial. I transferred this reel with my Eiki Telecine, so enjoy the trip!
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- Intro Music by Fran Blanche -
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By Fran

16 thoughts on “Down under 1970”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars SeanBZA says:

    With the skiing, I was almost expecting to have the Rothmans music playing, then the advert finishing with advertising Rothmans, so satisfying. Saw that a lot when in cinemas growing up.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Videos Simon says:

    We are so much more than stupid sport

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! Matthew Suffidy says:

    Wake in Fright is the best.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Eric Fielding says:

    So much whiteness.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matthew Lyons aka Death To Dogs says:

    29 secs in and… thanks YouTube. 🤷‍♂️

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars William Clark says:

    Thanks for taking your duty as a preservationist so seriously and doing it so well

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Wynne says:

    Great film Fran. If the film was made now it would be called “In search of AN Australian.” Awesome place to have spent my entire life, wouldn’t change for quids!

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Eric Fielding says:

    Interesting film. Not too surprising that a film from 1970 would concentrate on the European colonial culture and history not much about the Aboriginal people .

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard The Lion Hearted says:

    I always look at films and wonder who is dead yet. Every time

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chris Mason says:

    Ozzie’s need to convert at least partially to some 4 down football 🏈 instead of 🏉 all the time, and prepare a team to go to the XFL this coming February

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Decard Cain says:

    whats the song on 23 min

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars joedatuknow says:

    thanks fran gtsy making videos

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jason Wooler says:

    To be fair i don't think we have changed that much from those times. Perhaps a little more enlightened in the ways of treating each other with respect. We did suffer from a terrible case of cultural cringe but those days are far behind us. Also when asked they said they wouldn't swap Australia for anything this comes from actually getting out and seeing the world to inform their opinion. International travel is something that is common so when we come home, we can affirm this is very much the lucky country. Still a bit racist but we are getting better.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars View from afar says:

    Thanks Fran. You rightly have a lot of fans down here. Point taken about the audio copyrights. Even the traditional national heritage song “Waltzing Matilda” has copyright limiting its use. Weird world … but the best one have.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mark Creighton says:

    Thanks Fran for uploading this. It's fascinating to see how the accents have changed since that time.
    The Swan Hill folk museum is still around but is now called Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Little Star says:

    Hallo from Australia Fran, thanks so much for this! Can you boost the cyan please! (that's a joke BTW).

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