Jedda (1955)

Director:

Charles Chauvel

Writers:

Charles Chauvel (writer)
Elsa Chauvel (writer)

Release Date:

27 February 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It was DEATH for him to look on this Girl !

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ngarla Kunoth	...	Jedda
Robert Tudawali	...	Marbuck
Betty Suttor	...	Sarah McMann
Paul Reynall	...	Joe
George Simpson-Lyttle	...	Douglas McMann
Tas Fitzer	...	Peter Wallis
Wason Byers	...	Felix Romeo
Willie Farrar	...	Little Joe
Margaret Dingle	...	Little Jedda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nosepeg

Also Known As:

Jedda the Uncivilized (USA)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Gevacolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Charles Chauvel Productions

Trivia:

Doug McCann refers to Jedda as a 'Jezebel', a reference to the Biblical queen of the same name. The term is used to denote a wicked woman who tries, through various means, to control men.

Goofs:

Continuity: The rips in Jedda's shirt vary in the scenes after she and Marbuk are discovered near the waterhole.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Australia (2008)

Strong 1956 Colour epic from Australia

JEDDA was a major cinema release in 1956 in Australia and has long been regarded as a cinema classic in this country. For international audiences now that RABBIT PROOF FENCE has found success in most countries, it is well worth seeing JEDDA as a 1956 counterpart. Filmed in Gevacolour (not Technicolor) it was the first film made in any color here. Heralded at the time for its daring depiction of the real and confronting tribal practices of ancient aboriginal Australia JEDDA still is able today to enthrall a (slightly forgiving) audience and still make you appalled at the very racist White Australia policy in force from the Government of the day. Sadly some of the acting is dated, especially in the beginning, but once Jedda is a woman and the tribal lure starts, it really becomes fascinating. The use of color in the outback expanses and the extraordinary presence of the two genuine black Aboriginal main actors allows JEDDA to become a major statement about the well-meant but misguided practices of Government policies and how they are (still) totally unsuited to such a spiritual people. The sequence where Marbuck 'sings' to Jedda, seducing her in a hypnotic sexual trap is quite startling and un nerving. The climax of the film rivals NORTH BY NORTHWEST for spectacular mountaintop drama. JEDDA would be available from SCREENSOUND Australia the Canberra Archive and interested persons could buy it on-line. It is exceptionally interesting. A near counterpart from the USA is the 1947 Indian/Chinese drama BLACK GOLD, made by Allied Artists and Directed by noir expert Phil Karlson.