Back in 1906, Australia made arguably the first ever feature film with The Story of the Kelly Gang, inspiring a slew of imitators. But in 1911, the government stepped in and banned the bushranger film for fear of inspiring imitators, and all but killing the burgeoning local film industry.
Pundits have often wondered if this is the genre that we could make our own, and Victorian based first time feature writer/director Matthew Holmes must have been listening. The Legend of Ben Hall stars Jack Martin as the real-life bushranger who along with his gang conducted numerous raids in NSW in the early to mid 1860s.
The film mainly features newcomers, with Callan McAuliffe and Andy McPhee in supporting roles.
The Legend of Ben Hall is in cinemas December 1.
This looks like an awesome production. The quality of the movie is so grand with so much of our rich history incorporated in it. And the fact that it adheres to the historical reports of the time only makes it more intriguing.
Looking forward to seeing this movie.
As historical bushrangers have a untold mystery about them.