Additional information for Wake in Fright, which has a domestic theatrical release set for October 10, 1971. The film is being distributed by United Artists and has not yet been rated. Wake in Fright has a total running time of 114 minutes.
R
USA
18
Norway
R16
New Zealand
M
Australia
-12
France
M18
Singapore
114min
Outback
UK
Outback
USA
Wake in Fright
UK
Wake in Fright
USA
Buđenje u užasu
Serbia
Despertar en el infierno
Spain
Kova loma
Finland
Outback - Le réveil dans la terreur
France
Pelos Caminhos do Inferno
Brazil
Réveil dans la terreur
France
Vaarallinen loma
Finland
Xypnima ston tromo
Greece
May , 1971
France
July 21, 1971
France
October 13, 1971
USA
February 20, 1972
USA
October 31, 2004
USA
May 15, 2009
France
June 25, 2009
Australia
September , 2009
Canada
October 31, 2009
USA
January , 2010
USA
February 23, 2010
UK
June 18, 2010
USA
October 05, 2012
USA
No taglines exist for this title.
Wake in Fright is the story of John Grant, a bonded teacher who arrives in the rough outback mining town of Bundanyabba planning to stay overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But ... See full summary
This film, an Australian masterpiece and my favourite was lost for 30 years, but has recently been remastered and released to the public. A more nihilistic view of Australia has never been filmed.
John Grant is bonded by the New South Wales Education Department to teach at the lonely outback trainstop of Tiboonda. Desolate and isolated as Australia can be, on holiday after a beer with publican "Charlie", he must overnight in "The Yabba" (a thinly disguised Broken Hill) before travelling onto his girlfriend and the beaches of Sydney. However the local policeman, Jock Crawford introduces John to the hellish nature of outback pubs, gambling at two-up and the unrelenting heat. Jock explains to John that one of his few duties is to sort out the suicides. Losing all his money and stranded in town, every one he meets has the same paralysing greeting - "New to the Yabba?".
The unedifying, ugly, alcoholic, racist and misogynist nature of 70's outback life is soon apparent to John. His brief meeting with "Doc" during a drunken two-up game presages further developments.
When broke he meets Tim who continues to encourage John to drink incessantly. A boozy evening results in a furtive sexual liaison with Tim's daughter Jeanette, completed when John vomits midway through the act. Jack Thompson's character Dick asks "Whats wrong with him - rather talk to a sheila than drink?" Doc turns up at Tim's house, and the alcohol-fuelled debauchery continues. Dick, Doc and half the Yabba have had their way with Jeanette.
Drunk to unconsciousness, John awakes the next day in Doc's donga (outback shack without amenities) to be fed beer and fried kangaroo. Doc admits to being an alcoholic doctor of medicine - couldn't survive in Sydney, but "out here no-one cares". Doc reveals his sexual appetite is met only by Jeanette - if she was a bloke, she wouldn't be known as a "slut".
Then "the boys" from Tim's party the night before arrive to take John on a kangaroo hunting/shooting trip. Australia does not get more ugly than this. Doc cuts off the roo's testicles, and they adjourn to a local (outback) pub for more grog before setting out to spotlight the roos after dark. The hunting scenes are real, many kangaroos are killed, one having his throat slit on camera by the boys, then John also gets his chance; in these politically correct times such scenes would never be released.Near dawn, they return to the pub, and in a drunken rampage destroy the joint. John ends up back at Doc's donga, and a homosexual encounter is implied. John, full of self-loathing, in the heat whilst hungover wanders into the Yabba with a loaded gun. He runs into Jock, who encourages him to have yet another beer! John attempts to hitch out of town, but after giving away has last dollar, returns again to his personal hell in the Yabba. John ends up back in the donga, pointing his rifle at his temple - and subsequently awakes in hospital.Jock presents John with a statement for him to sign about his "accidental" shooting, Doc takes him from hospital to station, and John returns to teaching at the desolate Tiboonda. On the train, he gratefully accepts a beer..... At Tiboonda, Charlie welcomes John home with "Djava good holiday"?......
Ted Kotcheff
Director(s)
Kenneth Cook
Evan Jones
Writer(s)
Howard G. Barnes
executive producer
Bill Harmon
executive producer
Maurice Singer
associate producer
George Willoughby
producer
Producer(s)
John Scott
Composer(s)
'Doc' Tydon
Donald Pleasence
John Grant
Gary Bond
Jock Crawford
Chips Rafferty
Janette Hynes
Sylvia Kay
Dick
Jack Thompson
Joe
Peter Whittle
Tim Hynes
Al Thomas
Charlie
John Meillon
Atkins
John Armstrong
Jarvis
Slim DeGrey
Receptionist
Maggie Dence
Joe the cook
Norm Erskine
First controller
Owen Moase
Second controller
John Dalleen
Charlie Jones
Buster Fiddess
Stubbs
Tex Foote
Stockman
Colin Hughes
Van Driver
Jacko Jackson
Robyn
Nancy Knudsen
Joyce
Dawn Lake
Higgins
Harry Lawrence
Pig Eyes (as Bob McDarra)
Robert McDarra
Poker player
Carlo Manchini
Miner
Liam Reynolds
Two up player
Gordon Piper
Director(s)
Evan Jones
Writer(s)
executive producer
Bill Harmon
executive producer
Maurice Singer
associate producer
George Willoughby
producer
Producer(s)
Composer(s)
Other Films from United Artists
Alice's Restaurant, Annie Hall, Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Billion Dollar Brain, Diamonds Are Forever, Fiddler on the Roof, In the Heat of the Night, Midnight Cowboy, Personal Velocity: Three Portraits, The Great Escape, The House on Sorority Row, The Man With the Golden Gun, The Miracle Worker, The Spy Who Loved Me, Tomorrow Never Dies, Valkyrie, West Side Story, Yellow Submarine, You Only Live Once, You Only Live Twice
Worth Watching
Sponsors Like Trailers!
Trending Now
Are You a Trailer Addict?
Trailer Addict has setup TA, Trailers Anoymous. Feel free to contact us at with your scoops, comments or advertising inquiries at the following email address.
