Distributor:
Umbrella Entertainment Certificate: M15+ | 90 minutes
Director:
David Baker
Extras: Yes
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
John
Jarratt, Kate Fitzpatrick, Judy Morris, Sandra MacGregor, Barry
Humphries
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
Small
country town boy and brilliant
footballer Macarthy (Jarratt) is
snapped by a topflight club and
finds himself living the high
life but eventually finds that
Aussie Rules Football is not the
most important thing in life.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Very
much trying to be an Aussie Rules Alvin Purple, The Great MacCarthy is
not quite in that league but it is funny especially every time the
superb Barry Humphries as Colonel Ball-Miller makes an appearance, there
are cameo roles from pretty much everybody including the likes of Max
Gillies, Bruce Spence, Chris Haywood and even real life footy players
Lou Richards and Jack Dyer. Jarratt has the necessary air of innocence
the role requires and is pretty good in his big screen debut.
Whilst
it does have it longeurs The Great MacCarthy is a worthwhile release, so
little vintage Aussie material sees the light of day that it is great to
see a company like Umbrella bringing out material like this and the
legendary Barry Mackenzie (a trailer for Barry Mackenzie Holds His Own
is included in the extras). A reasonable “madcap Auusie romp” that
is enlivened by the playing of the brilliant Barry Humphries.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
The
extras package is great including as it does an interview with star
Jarratt (called On The Bench With The Great Macarthy) an audio
commentary by executive producer Richard Brennan and composer Bruce
Smeaton, the original theatrical trailer and trailers for other Umbrella
product (including Barry Mackenzie Holds His Own and The Club) and best
of all a fantastic 35 minute short film made by eccentric director David
Baker, set in the 1880’s Squeaker’s Mate follows the misfortunes of
a lazy woodcutter and his wife, low budget but visually stunning
Squeaker’s Mate makes the Great Macarthy an essential purchase.
