Movie review - "The Sundowners" (1960) ****

There was a time at the beginning of his writing career when Jon Cleary was known as a really top rank writer, before he stuck to commercial thrillers. It was on the basis of You Can't See 'Round Corners and this, which was a beautiful book - well evoked, a rich character study about a man who can't change despite the wishes of his wife and son. He loves them, and they love him - which is the strength of this because they can't leave, and don't want to, but he can't change, so it's sad and happy and human.

The Australian accents of Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum have been much mocked, and the truth is they aren't very good, but that aside both of them give excellent performances. Mitchum is very good as the eternal drifter, keen to keep moving on, not wanting to be tied down, fond of fighting and drinking - this was so much like Mitchum himself. I think it's one of the best Hollywood star performances that capture the essence of the Russell Ward Australian (no matter how he sounds). Deborah Kerr is good too as the tired, weary woman. These two have a very strong bond - they clearly have a great sex like - which makes their conflict strong and real. Michael Anderson is engaging as their son.

They are backed with some other imports who are at least English - Glynis Johns, Peter Ustinov and Ronald Fraser (who has a mashed in face of an Aussie shearer) - plus several locals: Chips Rafferty, Leonard Teale, John Meillion.

There's an overall plot of Kerr wanting Mitchum to buy a farm but really it's a series of episodes: a bushfire while droving sheep, a two-up game, a shearer's wife giving birth, a sing-a-long around the piano, meeting colourful Peter Ustinov who romances barmaid Glynis Johns, Anderson being flirted with by a young girl, a fight, a booze up, a shearing competition, Kerr cooking for shearers, the shearers having a union meeting, Mitchum singing 'Wild Colonial Boy', not one but two horse races. There's also lots of shots of Australian wildlife - koalas, sheep, etc - and slang which is a bit distracting at times to be honest. But it's made with honesty and love and is further evidence of Fred Zinnemann's brilliance. Probably the best Hollywood movie about Australia.