MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, THE

(director: George Miller; screenwriters: John Dixon, Cul Cullen, poem ‘Banjo’ Paterson; cinematographer: Keith Wagstaff; editor: Adrian Carr; music: Bruce Rowland; cast: Kirk Douglas (Harrison/Spur), Tom Burlinson (Jim Craig), Terence Donovan (Henry Craig), Tommy Dysart (Mountain Man), Sigrid Thornton (Jessica), June Jago (Mrs. Bailey), Tony Bonner (Kane), Kristopher Steele (Moss), Chris Hayward (Curly); Runtime: 102; MPAA Rating: PG; producers: Geoff Burrowes; Cambridge Productions; 1982-Australia)

“The schmaltzy Kirk Douglas in a dual role makes it twice as bad.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Scottish filmmaker George Miller (“Matlock Police”/”Andre”) directs an old-fashioned Australian Western that’s based on the poem by Banjo Paterson. It’s well-crafted, has some great aerial photography of the untamed ranch horses known a “brumbies,” and is finely written by John Dixon and Cul Cullen. But it’s too predictable, and the schmaltzy Kirk Douglas in a dual role makes it twice as bad.

Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) is a headstrong unskilled mountain boy who will inherit his father’s ranch in the rugged Snowy River country if he can prove to be a good cowboy. This comes about after his dad dies in a horse stampede.

Jim gets a cowboy job at the richest rancher’s place, Harrison (Kirk Douglas), and to the owner’s dismay he falls in love with his feisty daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). The embittered Harrison objects to their marriage and vows to stop it. For help, the kid turns to Harrison’s grizzled, one-legged, miner brother, Spur (also played by Douglas), who opposes his brother and sides with the kid.

The routine Western has little violence. It asks the following questions–Will the callow youth tame the wild stallion who caused the deadly stampede? Will he marry the girl he loves?

There are no surprises. This film is as corny as shouting yippee if you strike gold.

REVIEWED ON 3/11/2025  GRADE: C+
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