Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

Joan Lindsay (novel)
Cliff Green (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Australia's First International Hit! [Video Australia]

Plot:

A story about the disappearance of several Appleyard College students, and a teacher, from Hanging Rock.

Plot Keywords:

Hanging | Hanging Rock | Student | Teacher | Disappearance

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Rachel Roberts	...	Mrs. Appleyard
Vivean Gray	...	Miss McCraw
Helen Morse	...	Mlle. de Poitiers
Kirsty Child	...	Miss Lumley
Tony Llewellyn-Jones	...	Tom (as Anthony Llewellyn-Jones)
Jacki Weaver	...	Minnie
Frank Gunnell	...	Mr. Whitehead
Anne-Louise Lambert	...	Miranda (as Anne Lambert)
Karen Robson	...	Irma
Jane Vallis	...	Marion
Christine Schuler	...	Edith
Margaret Nelson	...	Sara
Ingrid Mason	...	Rosamund
Jenny Lovell	...	Blanche
Janet Murray	...	Juliana
Vivienne Graves	...	Pupil
Angela Bencini	...	Pupil
Melinda Cardwell	...	Pupil
Annabel Powrie	...	Pupil
Amanda White	...	Pupil
Lindy O'Connell	...	Pupil
Verity Smith	...	Pupil
Deborah Mullins	...	Pupil
Sue Jamieson	...	Pupil
Bernadette Bencini	...	Pupil
Barbara Lloyd	...	Pupil
Wyn Roberts	...	Sgt. Bumpher
Kay Taylor	...	Mrs. Bumpher
Garry McDonald	...	Const. Jones
Martin Vaughan	...	Ben Hussey
John Fegan	...	Doc. McKenzie (as Jack Fegan)
Peter Collingwood	...	Col. Fitzhubert
Olga Dickie	...	Mrs. Fitzhubert
Dominic Guard	...	Michael Fitzhubert
John Jarratt	...	Albert Crundall (as John Jarrett)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Faith Kleinig	...	Cook (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Weir

Writing credits
Joan Lindsay		(novel)
Cliff Green		(screenplay)

Produced by
A. John Graves	....	executive producer: South Australian Film Corporation (as John Graves)
Patricia Lovell	....	executive producer
Hal McElroy	....	producer
Jim McElroy	....	producer

Cinematography by
Russell Boyd		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Max Lemon

Art Direction by
David Copping

Costume Design by
Judith Dorsman		(as Judy Dorsman)

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Mitchie	....	makeup artist
José Luis Pérez	....	makeup supervisor (as Jose Perez)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kim Dalton	....	second assistant director
Mark Egerton	....	first assistant director
Ian Jamieson	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Neil Angwin	....	assistant to art department
Mont Fieguth	....	property master (as Monte Fieguth)
Mont Fieguth	....	stand-by property (as Monte Fieguth)
Bill Howe	....	construction manager
Martin Sharp	....	artistic advisor to director
Graham 'Grace' Walker	....	property buyer (as Graham Walker)
Graham 'Grace' Walker	....	set dresser (as Graham Walker)
Christopher Webster	....	assistant to art director

Sound Department
Sherry Bell	....	assistant dubbing editor
Greg Bell	....	dubbing editor (uncredited)
Don Connolly	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Joe Spinelli	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Kynoch	....	still photographer
Geoffrey Simpson	....	electrician
Tony Tegg	....	gaffer
Trevor Toune	....	best boy
Geordie Dryden	....	key grip (uncredited)
David Foreman	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
David Sanderson	....	photographer: nature (uncredited)
John Seale	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Phil Warner	....	assistant grip (uncredited)
David Williamson	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mandy Smith	....	wardrobe assistant
Wendy Stites	....	associate costume designer

Editorial Department
Margaret Cardin	....	negative matcher
Andre Fleuren	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Bruce Smeaton	....	composer: additional original music
Gheorghe Zamfir	....	musician: pan flute

Other crew
Gilda Baracchi	....	continuity
Tom Downer	....	wrangler
Steve Knapman	....	production assistant
Joan McIntosh	....	accountant
Pom Oliver	....	production secretary
Gordon Rayner	....	assistant wrangler
Phil Smythe	....	accountant: SAFC
Sidney L. Stebel	....	script consultant (as Sidney Stebel)
Jill Wishart	....	production secretary: SAFC

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The
• McElroy & McElroy
• Picnic Productions Pty. Ltd.
• Z

Distributors

• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1975) (Australia) (theatrical)
• G.T.O. Films Ltd. (1976) (UK) (theatrical)
• V.O. Films S.A. (1977) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Releasing Corporation (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Dianafilmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Rosebud (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (TV)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Electric Pictures Ltd. (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• LW Editora (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Look Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Pathé Distribution (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (1995) (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video (1985) (Australia) (video)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vestron Video (video)
• Z

Other Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The  funding
• M & L Casting Consultants  casting
• Optical & Graphics  titles and opticals
• Tony Tegg Lighting  lighting equipment
• United Sound  sound post-production

Runtime:

115 min | Australia:107 min (1998 director's cut)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:11 | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | UK:A | Australia:G | Spain:T | Spain:X | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

Jenny Lovell took on the role of Blanche with some objections from her mother, producer Patricia Lovell, who worried that it would appear as if Jenny had gotten the part in the film because of her mother's connections.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: 14 February 1900 was a Wednesday, not a Saturday. While this seems to be a factual error, it is one of the subtle hints that this is a fictional story.

Quotes:

Miranda: You must learn to love someone else, apart from me, Sara. I won't be here much longer.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (#10.19)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

5th piano concerto

I Recommend For Those Who Love Subtle, Beautiful Movies

The plot is simple on one level: A group of girls at a private school, growing up and experiencing the throes of adolescence angst. On a much more subtle level, there is an indefinable presence.... Is it a spectre? Or are the girls' over-active imaginations causing them to believe that sinister things are happening around them, especially at Hanging Rock? (a nearby scenic landmark with a possible secret).

The beauty of the film is its softness, and how effectively it is used to convey horror by its SILENCE...The costumes of the period and the music are lulling, as is the beautiful sometimes soft-focus cinematography.One is unprepared for the lingering chill in the room as the movie ends. There are also the lingering doubts: What really happened at Hanging Rock? Each viewer is left to decide... **NOTE: This is not an action adventure, not a typical horror or mystery. I cannot fit it into any one category, ART is the most likely, although it is certainly dramatic. I doubt very much that many men I know would want to watch this, so forewarned..it is not for the action-adventure crowd.