M Dear Rocky - Man From Snowy River

Dear Rocky,

The Man from Snowy River was a childhood classic based on the Banjo Patterson poem of the same name.  In Year 9, our English teacher handed out a verse each that we were to recite in front of the class.  I was given the first verse.

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

It was funny re-watching the film now.  Growing up, people always compared my sister to Sigrid Thornton who played Jessica, the daughter of Kirk Douglas in the film.  It was sort of nice revisiting that comparison.  I couldn't believe how young Tom Burlinson looked as he is still on our television screens today, looking and sounding much different.  I also have to comment on Kirk Douglas playing brothers in the film - the costuming on the gold mining brother was funny!

I found the movie so full of overacting and I think it would be a cliché to comment on any of the stereotypical relationships in the film.  So, I am going to comment on the relationship Australians (well okay, I) have with the poem, the country, the Snowy River area, and the horses.

I have spent many Summers and Winters near the Snowy River and when I think of Australia, I think of the countryside there.  It is truly spectacular and representative of the harsh terrain we find all over our great country.

I would think it would be hard to find an Aussie who couldn't recite you at least the first verse of the great poem and it makes me feel proud and connected to my culture and country whenever I hear it.

I give the poem a 10/10 of course, but unfortunately the film only gets a 5/10 from me and those points are all for the horses!!!

What do you think?

Jodie

Read Rocky's review here.

This was a scary yet impressive scene in the movie.  I'm so glad the horse wasn't hurt!