Bullet Points: Gallipoli
Of all the different types of war movies I have seen, the number of World War I movies would be at the bottom of the list. That is not because I don’t like or prefer them, I just don’t come across as many of them. It is also why when I see a World War I movie it sticks with me. That is one reason why a World War I movie, a movie about the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps for those in the know) no less, that was shown to me and my classmates in grade school still sticks with me to this day. I don’t remember why we watched or even the teacher, but I remembered lots of the film and thoroughly enjoyed it. Gallipoli is a 1981 Australian Peter Weir film that I recently rewatched and still had a profound impact on me and can understand why Australians and New Zealanders are proud of their soldiers. I happen to have some Bullet Points if you are interested in learning more about a fictionalized account of the Gallipoli Campaign.
- Steel Springs – Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) is a young sprinter in Western Australia who trains with his Uncle Jack. Archy has a promising future as a sprinter, but he longs to join the Great War, even though he is only 18 and working on his parent’s ranch. Archy doesn’t get a lot of respect from the other hands, even though he is a better rider and of course faster. Archy is able to prove his speed by racing one of the hands, Archy on foot with his competitor on horse who must take the long way around and stay on the trail. Let’s make this interesting, Archy barefoot and his competitor bareback. Archy manages to win, but tears up his feet with only a couple of days until a big race.
- Dunne and Dusted – Meanwhile, Frank Dunne (Mel Gibson) is working on the railroads with his buddies, Billy, Barney and Snowy. Frank’s three friends want to join the war and fight for their country, while Frank just wants to not be working in the laborious job. The four make a run for it and Frank ends up at a local race, the same race that Archy is going to run. Frank puts a bet down on himself, because he is also a gifted sprinter, but Archy, battered feet and all still comes out on dop. In one of the most Australian moves possible, Archy immediately chugs a beer upon winning. Frank is initially perturbed on losing his money due to Archy, but the pair soon become fast friends.
- Dark Horse – The Light Horse is recruiting at the race and Archy attempts to join, but is denied due to his age. Frank suggests they head to Perth because they don’t know Archy’s age over there. The pair hop on a freight train, but the train car ends up in the middle of the nowhere desert Australia with the next train not arriving for two weeks. Archy decides to walk, once again showing his dogged determination and positive attitude, something that Frank admires even though he fears the pair may die out in the desert. The pair miraculously survive and Frank is convinced to try out for the Light Horse, except there is one problem, he doesn’t know how to ride a horse. Frank ends up in the infantry and is reunited with Billy, Barny and Snowy, but after running into Archy in Egypt while training, Frank is able to join his friend in the Light Horse.
- Turkey Shoot – Archy and Frank make their way to the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey and they get their first taste of how nasty trench warfare can be. There are two sides lined up and hunkered down in trenches with a no man’s land between. There is a constant air of boredom and fear with not much going on but certain death just across the way. The ANZACs get tasked with creating a diversion so the British will have no trouble with their landing. Archy’s commanding officer recognizes him as a talented sprinter and assigns him to be his runner for when communications go down and avoiding the high chance of death in the attack. Archy wants to fight for his country, and recommends Frank for the position because he knows Frank never really wanted to enlist and is extremely afraid. The first two waves are a slaughter and Frank is tasked with running to the general to call off the attack. Will Frank make it back in time? Will Archy be successful in his attack?
Gallipoli is a movie that has stuck with me for so long in part because of the ending. Is it because of the reuniting of two friends that have become brothers in their service for their country or is because of the heartbreaking separation of the two brothers in a foreign land thousands of miles fighting for a country that is not theirs? I will leave that for you to find out, but I can’t recommend Gallipoli enough. It is not the most action packed war movie, but the portrayal of Australia and Australians at a pivotal point in their growth is very powerful. What more powerful ending to the Gallipoli Bullet Points is there than with some Gallipoli Bonus Bullet Points.
- True Action – The Gallipoli campaign was a real life battle of World War I and while the Archy and Frank story is fictional, the hardships and losses suffered by the soldiers were real. If you would like more, I can also recommend the 2015 seven part miniseries also titled Gallipoli.
- Soundtrack – Gallipoli is filled with a combination of classical music and selections from electronica maven Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygène. I can’t explain why 1981 movies that feature running (Chariots of Fire is the only other one I know) used some much early electronic music, but I can’t get enough of it.
- Best Footy Backdrop – While training in Cairo, the infantry plays a game of Australian rules football in the shadow of the pyramids and Sphinx. Bonus points for spotting screenwriter David Williamson getting tackled very hard.
- Best Euphemism – Horizontal refreshment.
- Down Under – In his bid to out do Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gallipoli was the first of many Mel Gibson films where he shows his rear. A perfect scene to get some titters from a grade school glass.
