Ned Kelly (2003)

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers:

Robert Drewe (novel)
John Michael McDonagh (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Crime | History | Western

Tagline:

A film about the legendary outlaw whose story outgrew his life

Plot:

After getting threatened by Kelly's friends and family, Constable Fitzpatrick places the blame on Ned Kelly and exaggerates what happened...

Plot Keywords:

Ned Kelly | Poetic Justice | Target Practice | Blood Spatter | Bushranger

Awards:

3 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Ned Kelly
Orlando Bloom	...	Joseph Byrne
Geoffrey Rush	...	Superintendent Francis Hare
Naomi Watts	...	Julia Cook
Joel Edgerton	...	Aaron Sherritt
Laurence Kinlan	...	Dan Kelly
Philip Barantini	...	Steve Hart
Kerry Condon	...	Kate Kelly
Kris McQuade	...	Ellen Kelly
Emily Browning	...	Grace Kelly
Kiri Paramore	...	Constable Fitzpatrick
Rachel Griffiths	...	Susan Scott
Geoff Morrell	...	Robert Scott
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Premier Graham Berry
Saskia Burmeister	...	Jane Jones
Peter Phelps	...	Constable Lonigan
Russell Dykstra	...	Wild Wright
Nick Farnell	...	Tom Lloyd
Russell Gilbert	...	Constable Hall
Brooke Harmon	...	Maggie (as Brooke Harman)
Molly McCaffrey	...	Fanny Shaw
Tim Wright	...	Constable McIntyre
Nicholas Bell	...	Richard Cook
Anthony Hayes	...	Sergeant Kennedy
Jonathan Hardy	...	The Great Orlando
Karen Davitt	...	Anne Jones
Declan Simpson	...	Johnny Jones
Andrew S. Gilbert	...	Stanistreet
Jerome Ehlers	...	Sherrit Trooper
Robert Taylor	...	Sherrit Trooper
Warwick Sadler	...	Sherrit Trooper
Morgan Evans	...	Sherrit Trooper
Warwick Yuen	...	Chinese Miner
John Muirhead	...	Reverend Gribble
Bernard Fanning	...	Irish Singer
Ed McShortall	...	Constable Scanlon (as Eddy McShortall)
Sharlene Yeh	...	Laundry Girl
Damian Walshe-Howling	...	Glenrowan Policeman
John Davidson	...	Glenrowan Policeman
Chris Birt	...	Glenrowan Policeman
Peter Forster	...	Glenrowan Policeman
Peter O'Shea	...	Reardon
Nick Bourke	...	Martin Cherry
Christopher Baker	...	Curnow
Brian Wray	...	Bracken
Thea Gumbert	...	Mary Hegarty
Gregan O'Leary	...	Edward Rogers
Chris Wilson	...	O'Dea
Graham Jahne	...	Whelan
Clayton Jacobson	...	Sullivan
Cody O'Prey	...	Young Ned
Tasman Vaughan	...	Richard Shelton
Greg Saunders	...	Mr. Shelton
Victoria Eagger	...	Mrs. Shelton
Peter Young	...	Red Kelly
Jessica Hall	...	Girl on Aaron's Knee
Monty Maizels	...	Greta Old Man
Sarah Pass	...	Older Barmaid
Alexander Ramsey	...	James Cook
Samuel Shepherd	...	Matthew Cook
Dan Bourke	...	Imperial Hotel Musician
Anthony O'Neill	...	Imperial Hotel Musician
Paddy O'Neill	...	Imperial Hotel Musician
Steve Simmonds	...	Imperial Hotel Musician
Edward Carisbrooke	...	Young Cook Stablehand
Erika Felton	...	Toddler Ellen Kelly
Frank Magree	...	Greta Policeman (as Frank McGree)
Talia Zucker	...	Sarah Wicks
Laurie Jensen	...	Wicks
Jim Howes	...	Glenrowan Train Doctor
Michael Williams	...	Glenrowan Train Policeman
Geoff Wallis	...	Glenrowan Train Policeman
Lucy Christopher	...	Jerilderie Young Woman
Thomas Blackburne	...	Jerilderie Boy
Jim Russell	...	Jerilderie Man
Mandy McElhinney	...	Jerilderie Woman
David Ngoombujarra	...	Tribesman
Jack Mancor	...	Mandolin Player
John Bedggood	...	Fiddle Player
Peter Flood	...	Paying Farmer
Guy Charnock	...	Child #1
Madeleine Jay	...	Child #2
Matt Molony	...	Spitting Farmer
Ashley Gosam	...	Aboriginal Tracker
Jida Gulpilil	...	Aboriginal Tracker
Colin Aitken-Glass	...	Aboriginal Tracker
Harold Lawrence	...	Handcuffed Farmer
Mitchell Pickering	...	Handcuffed Son
John Bolger	...	Glenrowan Train Priest
Brendan O'Connor	...	Policeman
Jamesen Re	...	Policeman (as James Re)
Mark Blackmore	...	Newspaper Vendor
David Millar	...	Prison Warden
Neil Jenkin	...	Prison Warden
Eileen Dibbs	...	Jerilderie Hostage
Timothy Gingell	...	Jerilderie Townsperson
Judith Lee	...	Ransacked Family Member
Anthony Namor	...	Umbrella Glenrowan Policeman
Robert Sanders	...	Police Foot Trooper

Directed by
Gregor Jordan

Writing credits
Robert Drewe		(novel "Our Sunshine")
John Michael McDonagh		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
Catherine Bishop	....	line producer
Liza Chasin	....	co-producer
Robert Drewe	....	associate producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Debra Hayward	....	co-producer
Lynda House	....	producer
Timothy White	....	executive producer
Nelson Woss	....	producer

Original Music by
Klaus Badelt
Bernard Fanning

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Jon Gregory

Casting by
Jina Jay
Christine King

Production Design by
Steven Jones-Evans

Art Direction by
Ian Gracie

Set Decoration by
Jill Eden

Costume Design by
Anna Borghesi

Makeup Department
Angela Conte	....	makeup artist
Blanka Dudas	....	makeup artist
Deborah Lester	....	hair stylist
Helen Magelaki	....	hair stylist
Jenny Shircore	....	hair designer
Jenny Shircore	....	hair stylist
Jenny Shircore	....	makeup artist
Jenny Shircore	....	makeup designer
Margaret Stevenson	....	key makeup artist
Deb Watson	....	key hair stylist
Helen Magelaki	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tania Blunden	....	post-production supervisor (as Tania Windsor)
Andy Pappas	....	unit production manager
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Margie Beattie	....	second second assistant director
Brendan Campbell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Ben Cox	....	fourth assistant director
Todd Embling	....	second assistant director: second unit
Emma Jamvold	....	third assistant director
Toni Raynes	....	second assistant director
Brad Shield	....	second unit director
Liz Tan	....	first assistant director
Johnny Pacialeo	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Michael Bell	....	set designer
Ben Corless	....	construction lead hand
Richie Dehne	....	property master
Roger Gillespie	....	head plasterer
Greg Hajdu	....	construction coordinator
Nell Hanson	....	assistant designer
Tam Morris	....	storyboard artist
Jane Murphy	....	set dresser
Shanthi Nadaraja	....	construction coordinator
Andy Robinson	....	set finisher
Timothy Shanahan	....	art finisher

Sound Department
Chris Burdon	....	sound re-recording mixer
Craig Carter	....	additional sound effects editor
Matthew Gough	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (as Matt Gough)
Antony Gray	....	additional sound effects editor
Howard Halsall	....	dialogue editor
Steve Hancock	....	sound studio technician
Peter Holt	....	foley editor
Jacques Leroide	....	foley editor
Gerard Loret	....	sound editor
Colin Miller	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Schloemer	....	adr recordist
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Gary Wilkins	....	production sound mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sam Abbott	....	special effects assistant
Gordon Barber	....	special effects assistant
Rob Collin	....	special effects assistant
Eucla Davis	....	special effects assistant
Gillian Farrow	....	special effects assistant
Jeff Little	....	special effects coordinator
Costas Maniatis	....	special effects assistant
Andrew McAllister	....	special effects assistant
Tim O'Brien	....	special effects coordinator
Dave Seaborn	....	special effects technician
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Ben Baker	....	visual effects coordinator
Roger Bolton	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Mark Curtis	....	lead compositor: MPC
Murray Curtis	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Murray Curtis	....	visual effects technical supervisor: Complete Post
Stefan Drury	....	visual effects producer: MPC
Michael Gracey	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Michael Gracey	....	visual effects supervisor: Complete Post
Andrea Parkes	....	visual effects producer: Complete Post
Colin Rhodes	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Noel Richards	....	3D animator: Complete Post
Patrick Roussett	....	3D animator: Complete Post
Asmina Samolis	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Chris Schwarze	....	visual effects executive producer: Complete Post
Kerri Schwarze	....	visual effects executive producer: Complete Post
Jamie Scott	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Christina Simons	....	digital compositor: Complete Post
Sally Spencer	....	visual effects coordinator: MPC
Ferry Taswin	....	3D animator: Complete Post
Ben Walsh	....	digital matte painter: Complete Post
Daniel Walton	....	digital artist

Stunts
Marky Lee Campbell	....	stunt double
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator
John Fairhead	....	stunt double
Tiny Good	....	stunt rigger
Amanda Graver	....	stunts
Nathan James	....	stunt performer
Tony Lynch	....	stunt performer
Warwick Sadler	....	lead stunt double: Heath Ledger

Camera and Electrical Department
Tov Belling	....	first assistant camera
Gregg Dunthorne	....	additional grip
Robyn Good	....	rigger
Tiny Good	....	head rigger
Paul Heidke	....	grip
Andrew Jerram	....	camera operator: underwater scenes
Carolyn Johns	....	still photographer
Lee Mariano	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Katie Milwright	....	assistant camera
Luke Nixon	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Troy Paschini	....	grip
Brad Shield	....	director of photography: second unit
Oliver Stapleton	....	camera operator
Peter Stott	....	assistant camera
Peter Stott	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Thompson	....	key grip
John Tsiavis	....	still photographer
Anthony Tulloch	....	rigging gaffer
Ben King	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Gabrielle Healy	....	extras casting
Kate Leonard	....	extras casting attachment
Trish McAskill	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Samantha Edwards van Gyen	....	assistant set costumer
Peter Paul	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Mark Ellis	....	assistant editor
Tamsin Jeffrey	....	assistant editor
Ian Letcher	....	color grader
Ian Seymour	....	associate editor
Rob Woiwod	....	editor trainee

Music Department
Nick Angel	....	music supervisor
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Ramin Djawadi	....	composer: additional music
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Henning Lohner	....	orchestrator: synthesizer
Gerard McCann	....	music editor
Blake Neely	....	orchestrator
Rick Wentworth	....	conductor
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader
Geoff Zanelli	....	composer: additional music
Alexandra Hill	....	music assistant (uncredited)
Katy Stephan	....	featured vocalist (uncredited)

Other crew
Martin Addy	....	animal wrangler
Joanne Agius	....	animal wrangler
Ian Anderson	....	laboratory liaison
Jeremy Atcliffe	....	payroll accountant
Neil Bell	....	assistant: Mr. Ledger
Linda Benson	....	assistant: Ms. House
Russell Boyd	....	location manager
Evanne Chesson	....	animal supervisor
Emma Cooper	....	unit publicist
Sara Curran	....	head of legal/business affairs
Alan Fitzsimmons	....	assistant animal handler (as Alan Fitzsimmonds)
Mel Flanagan	....	development executive
Jane Forbes	....	script supervisor: second unit
John Fox	....	armorer
Victor Fukushima	....	assistant unit manager
Bruce Gleeson	....	assistant animal handler
Gerry Grennell	....	dialogue coach
Melissa Hasluck	....	assistant: Mr. Woss
Katherine Heads	....	assistant: Mr. Jordan
Aliza James	....	assistant: Mr. Fellner
Ben Lowe	....	location assistant
Callum Metcalfe	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan
Greg Meyer	....	animal wrangler
Victoria Mielewska	....	dialect coach
John Mullinger	....	animal wrangler
Roger Phillips	....	end titles
Claire Pollock	....	animal wrangler
Jacinta Stone	....	assistant production coordinator
Adam Sutton	....	animal wrangler
Dex Tallo	....	extras on-set supervisor
Jo Weeks	....	script supervisor
Sen Weir	....	animal wrangler
Robert Milo Williams	....	synthesizer programmer
Allon Furstenberg	....	assistant armorer (uncredited)

Thanks
Ian Honeyman	....	thanks
Steve Jablonsky	....	thanks
Blake Neely	....	thanks
Geoff Zanelli	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The
• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
• Endymion Films Inc.
• Studio Canal
• The Woss Group
• WTA
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2003) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Italy) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Complete Post (visual effects) (as Complete Post)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at (as Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall)
• Cinevex  laboratory
• De Lane Lea  sound post-production
• Decca Records  soundtrack published by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Avid AudioVision systems supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Global Music Service  music preparation (as Global Music Services)
• Illusions Studios  studios
• Media Ventures  thanks
• Melbourne Film Studios  studios
• Panavision Australia  additional equipment and support
• Real People Victoria  extras casting
• Sarah Winterburn & Company  beards & moustaches
• Showtech Australia  rigging crew and equipment
• Showtech Australia  studio rigging
• Showtech Australia  stunt equipment
• Sony Music Studios  score mixed at (as Sony Music Recording Studios)
• Sound Design Company, The  post-production sound services
• Sound Design Company, The  sound editing equipment
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack published by
• VisionsMCP  extras casting

Also Known As:

Ned Kelly: Public Enemy No. 1 (Philippines: English title) (poster title)
Our Sunshine (Australia) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and brief nudity.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Australia | UK | USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinevex)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #39555)

Filming Locations:

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

The world premier of the film, which was in Australia, took place only 2 blocks away from where Ned Kelly was hanged.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Glenrowan Railway Station looks 100 years old with worn timber, faded paint etc. The railway line was built in 1873, so the station would be at most 7 years old.

Quotes:

Ned Kelly: [narrating] They say the trouble with the Irish is that they rely too much on dreams and not enough on gunpowder. Whereas the English were shy on dreams, as usual, but had plenty of the other. Now we had both.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Australia Unites: The Victorian Bushfire Appeal (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Moreton Bay

A Legend Becomes A Straight-Forward Narrative

"Ned Kelly" is a straight-forward re-telling of the legendary Australian who has a powerful symbolism as both an outlaw and a revolutionary.

It is not based on the award-winning novel by Peter Carey, "True History of the Ned Kelly Gang," because the rights to that were taken by the Irish Neil Jordan to the consternation of nationalists who rallied around this adaptation of Robert Drewe's "Our Sunshine." But, oddly, though Drewe is listed as a co-producer, this chronological narrative by first-timer John M. McDonagh flattens out the power of the novella's focus on the final three-days' battle that's as important to Australia as "Remember the Alamo!" is to Texans.

Director Gregor Jordan particularly undercuts the core of Kelly's transformation in the public imagination from petty criminal to charismatic Robin Hood to uprising leader against injustice by barely letting Heath Ledger dictate a few lines of the so-called 'Jerilderie Letter' perhaps because it is the powerful centerpiece of the voice of the Carey book. Ledger's basso voice-over connectors do resonate.

Jordan opts for portends of the key confrontation that will only be caught by those familiar with the legend -- Kelly idly looking through an illustrated book about body armor, the loading up of the infamous train that will carry the police to the attack, and Geoffrey Rush replaying his Inspector Javert, but with only implications of a "Les Miserables" back story.

Jordan presides over an excellent recreation of the milieu of the time. There's a strong visual evocation in the art and set direction of time, place, and geography, especially with Oliver Stapleton's beautiful cinematography. The social class differences between descendants of POMmies (Prisoners of his Majesty) and their British overlords, are documented starkly, particularly in carrying over the Irish vs. British conflict to another continent (though the bland music score misses a real opportunity to illustrate that, with only a couple of traditional Celtic songs literally stuck in).

Non-Aussie Orlando Bloom makes quite a dashing Joe Byrne, Kelly's best friend, attracting Rachel Griffiths in a somewhat silly cameo, and many other recognizable Australian actors pass through.

Unfortunately, Naomi Watts and Ledger can be added to the lengthy list of real-life lovers who evince little reel chemistry -- did that only work to our benefit for Bogart/Bacall and Tracy/Hepburn?