An Australian Film Reader

Overview of Australian filmmaking to 1985 in four parts: part one looks at early cinema, with articles from magazines at the time, some photographs form 'The Picture Show' magazine and essays on American influences on Australian cinema, Ken Hall and colonialism. Part two examines the documentary tradition, with an article on and by John Grierson, the Commonwealth film unit and controversial documentaries. Part three concentrates on the renaissance of the feature film, a discussion on why there is no Australian film industry, Peter Weir's films, Hollywood genres in Australian movies and the South Australian Film Corporation. Part four examines alternative cinema such as avant-garde, independent feminist film-making and Australian left film-making.