Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

Director:

Philippe Mora

Writers:

Margaret Carnegie (story)
Philippe Mora (writer)

Release Date:

9 July 1976 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | History | Western

Tagline:

In the autumn of 1865 the unique and notorious desperado, bushranger Dan Morgan, crossed the Murray River from New South Wales into Victoria to do battle with the law for the last time. What happened has been a secret for over 100 years. And so it should have been, if only to save face for the corrupt and hated colonial establishment of the day. This then is the fascinating tale, told for the first time, of the romantic and extraordinary villain they called Mad Dog Morgan.

Plot:

The true story of Irish outlaw Daniel Morgan, who is wanted, dead or alive, in Australia during the 1850s.

Plot Keywords:

Australia | Outlaw | Prison | Australian Aboriginal | 1800s

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Dennis Hopper	...	Daniel Morgan
Jack Thompson	...	Detective Mainwaring
David Gulpilil	...	Billy
Frank Thring	...	Supt. Cobham
Michael Pate	...	Supt. Winch
Wallas Eaton	...	MacPherson (as Wallace Eaton)
Bill Hunter	...	Sgt. Smith
John Hargreaves	...	Baylis
Martin Harris	...	Wendlan
Robin Ramsay	...	Roget
Graeme Blundell	...	Italian Jack
Gregory Apps	...	Arthur
Liza Lee-Atkinson	...	Barmaid
Elaine Baillie	...	Farm Girl
Don Barkham	...	Morrow

Also Known As:

Mad Dog
Mad Dog Morgan (USA)

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | Australia:MA (Special Edition DVD) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Mad Dog

Trivia:

The purple flowers in the fields are not wildflowers, but an invasive or noxious weed known variously as "Paterson's Curse' or 'Salvation Jane'. It is a European plant (Echium plantagineum - Purple Viper's Bugloss), native to western and southern Europe. It is also called Blueweed, Lady Campbell Weed or Riverina Bluebell.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In a farmhouse, a picture of a Tasmanian tiger or Thylacine is pointed out as being that of an extinct animal. The Thylacine did not become extinct until the 1930s.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

The wild west of Australia

This movie is typical Australian because the landscape has its part of the scenes, it is a protagonist. It is similar to the American Midwest but at the same time it is so different because there is more variety. It is in the most hot parts of Australia that Daniel Morgan will be rescued by a bush-man. He became a horse-thief, element in the story which is not explained well because he already had left prison for three years. We only see the developing of his character at the end of the movie when he invites himself into the family Mcpherson. Why did he become a bandit? He does not lack courage but will he be caught alive? His life in the wilderness is only slightly developed with his bush-comrade who saved his life; the beginning of the story shows him confronted with Australian justice which had no equity at all. The prison system will almost kill him morally. In a scene in a tavern he confesses to a woman that he only knew one women in his life: his mother.