Namatjira the Painter
| Namatjira the Painter | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lee Robinson |
| Produced by | Ralph Foster |
| Cinematography | Axel Poignant |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 22 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £3,000[1] |
Namatjira the Painter is a 1947 documentary about the artist, Albert Namatjira. It deals with his background, his relationship with Rex Battarbee and how he learned to paint.[2]
Production
[edit]The film was one of the first productions of the Australian National Film Board (later known as Film Australia). Ralph Foster was the first Film Commissioner appointed to the Board.[3]
Lee Robinson had joined the Board out of the army and wrote a treatment for the documentary in January 1946. Because no one else was experienced as a director, he was given the job.[4] Robinson received basic advice on directing from Harry Watt, then in Australia shooting The Overlanders.[5]
Filming took around five months in mid 1946 in the Northern Territory, finishing in August, and was edited in Ralph Foster's flat.[6] The movie was completed after Stanley Hawes became head of the film board.
Reception
[edit]The film was widely screened in cinemas as a support feature.[7] It was re-released in 1974 with new narration.
References
[edit]- ^ 'Occasional Paper No. 49 TENTH ERIC JOHNSTON LECTURE 1995: Lost Conversations, Recovered Archives' By Roslyn Poignant
- ^ ""HERALD" WEEK-END MAGAZINE Filming the life of Australia's famous aboriginal artist — Suggestion for approaching Mr. Chifley with a low bow — The wreek of the malabar, Easter 1931". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 29 March 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
- ^ Namatjira the Painter (1947) at Moving History: 60 Years of Film Australia. Retrieved 16 December 2011
- ^ Robinson, Lee (15 August 1976). "Lee Robinson" (Oral history). Interviewed by Graham Shirley. National Film and Sound Archive.
- ^ Geoff Mayer, 'Lee Robinson (1923 – 2003)', Screening the Past 30 April 2004
- ^ 'Film Australia's Outback DVD: Interview with Lee Robinson' Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lee Robinson interview with Albert Moran, Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture vol. 1 no 1 (1987)
External links
[edit]- Namatjira the Painter at IMDb
- Namatjira the Painter at National Film and Sound Archive
- Complete copy of 1974 edition of film at ABC website
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