Main Cast: Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil, Frank Thring, Michael Pate
Release Year: 1976
Country: AU
Run Time: 102 minutes
Plot
Dennis Hopper plays the title character in this true story of a 19th-century Australian gold-digger who is pressed into a life of crime. A six-year stint in jail doesn't provide reform, but does introduce him to an Aboriginal partner-in-crime (David Gulpilil). The duo then proceed to terrorize the province of New South Wales with no lack of violence. The TV version was retitled Mad Dog. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
Review
This intense variation on the historical biopic offers more grit and offbeat flourishes than one might expect from this kind of film. The story it tells works both as an outlaw-as-antihero story and also as an indictment of Australian colonialism (fittingly, the hero's partner in crime is the most dispossessed of Australians, an Aborigine). The narrative is told in a punchy style, with lots of events rolling out in machine gun style, as Morgan goes from iconoclast to wanted man. Director Philippe Mora gives the often violent storyline a tremendous sense of stylistic drive, piling on swooping camerawork by cinematographer Mike Molloy and a haunting musical score by Patrick Flynn that mixes choral and Aboriginal motifs to otherworldly effect. That said, the beating heart of Mad Dog Morgan is the all-stops-out lead performance from Dennis Hopper as the title character: he sustains a burning intensity from start to finish and his willingness to go out on a limb and drain every last drop of emotion from the role is the engine that drives the film. Also worthy of note are David Gulpilil, whose quietly charismatic turn as Morgan's partner acts as a counterbalance to Hopper's furious theatrics, and an ominous, darkly witty turn by Frank Thring as the government man determined to take Morgan down. In closing, Mad Dog Morgan is an intense, sometimes brutal experience but it also offers plenty of food for thought and a stunning example of cinematic craft. As such, it is well worth a look for the adventurous cult-film fan. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Bill Hunter - Sgt. Smith; John Hargreaves - Baylis; Martin Harris - Wendlan; Robin Ramsay - Roget; Harold Baigent; Natalie Bate; Graeme Blundell - Italian Jack; David Bracks - McLean; Liddy Clark - Alice; Peter Collingwood - Judge Barry; Peter Cummins - Gibson; Gerry Duggan - Martin; Cliff Ellen; Reg Evans; Max Fairchild - Prisoner; Tom Farley; Jon Finlayson; Judith Fisher - Mrs. Warby; Hugh Keays-Byrne - Simon; Gerard Maguire; Christopher Pate - Roget's Assistant; Bruce Spence - Heriot; Roger Ward - Trooper; Tom Broadbridge; Norman Kaye - Swagman; Grant Page - Maginnity; Peter Thompson - Mayor; David John - John Evans; John Cousins; John Derum - Evans; Kevin Leslie - Maples; Ken Grant; Jeremy Kewley; John Smythe; Dennis Miller; Philip Ross - Watson; Wallace Eaton - Macpherson; Don Kerr; David Mitchell - Haley; John Bowman
Credit
Bob Hilditch - Art Director, Michael Lake - First Assistant Director, Philippe Mora - Director, John Scott - Editor, Patrick Flynn - Composer (Music Score), Bob Hilditch - Production Designer, Michael Molloy - Cinematographer, Jeremy Thomas - Producer, Ken Hammond - Sound/Sound Designer, Philippe Mora - Screenwriter, Margaret Carnegie - Book Author
Troma Entertainment's original VHS and DVD release was a heavily edited version of the film, seeing that the unrated or uncut versions were very hard to come by outside of Australia.
The Tromasterpiece Collection, with that in mind to re-release the best films in the Troma library, released a 2-disc unrated version of the film in the USA in November 2009.
Special features include Interviews with director Philippe Mora, Cinematographer Mike Molloy amd Associate Producer Richard Brennan, along with a Radio Interview, Deleted Scenes, Locations featurette, Stills Gallery and the original Theatrical Program.
Two graphic trailers have been released for this DVD release.
Director's Cut
Umbrella Entrertainment (Australia) released a Director's Cut of the film on DVD in early 2009.
The DVD featured a fully restored print of the film presented in an aspect ratio of 2:35:1.
The single disc includes:
- "The Shoot A Mad Dog: The Making of Mad Dog Morgan", a 23 minute dodcumentary
- "That's Our Mad Dog: Dennis Hopper interviewed by Phillipe Mora" - a new 30 minute documentary
as well as an Audio Commentary by (Director) Phillipe Mora; film excerpts; a radio interview; a Stills Gallery, a reprint of the film's original release theatre programme; and a .pdf file of the film's original Shooting Script.
