From prestige heritage dramas through to bawdy drive-in flicks, the story of Australian cinema of the early '70s through to the early '90s is particularly varied and fertile. Selected here are twelve of the most outstanding films from this era.

 

Included in this boxset are not only acclaimed and award-winning titles such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Devil's Playground and The Getting of Wisdom, but also such disreputable delights such as The Adventures of Barry McKenzie and FJ Holden. Many of Australia's most admired directors are represented on this set, including Peter Weir, Fred Schepisi, Bruce Beresford and Nadia Tass. Icons of the Australian film industry such as screenwriter David Williamson and actors Colin Friels  and Jack Thompson feature in this collection as well as many others who have contributed to one of the world's most vital screen cultures.

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK - 104 MINS.On St. Valentine's day, 1900, a party of schoolgirls set out to picnic at Hanging Rock. Some were never to return. Based on the classic novel by Joan Lindsay, boasting visually hypnotic cinematography, a haunting score and the timeless ethereal beauty of Anne Louise Lambert as Miranda, Picnic at Hanging Rock established director Peter Weir as a major international talent.

THE GETTING OF WISDOM - 97 MINS.

The Getting of Wisdom delivers a rich and amusing portrait of an imaginative country girl, Laura Tweedle Rambothan (Susannah Fowle), who refuses to be broken to fit the mould of a Victorian-era young lady. Based on the immortal best seller by Henry Handel Richardson, it is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bruce Beresford and boasts top-class performances from Barry Humphries, John Waters and future stars Sigrid Thornton and Kerry Armstrong.

THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND - 95 MINS.A semi-autobiographical retelling of director Fred Schepisi's own training for the priesthood, the story follows 13-year-old Tom Allen (Simon Burke), a serious, likable boy whose calling for the church is complicated by guilt associated with his sinful thoughts. This Australian film classic won six AFI awards including Best Film and Best Director, and made a breakthrough screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976.

TRAVELLING NORTH - 93 MINS.

A crotchety old man (Leo McKern) and his much younger companion (Julia Blake) travel to Queensland to enjoy their retirement but paradise fails to hide some dark secrets. Winner: Best Screenplay, AFI Awards, 1987.

MALCOLM - 85 MINS.

This charming comedy is the story of Malcolm (Colin Friels), a young man with a genius for mechanical devices. When he loses his job as a tram conductor he meets Frank (John Hargreaves), a man with a shady past who moves in to help Malcolm pay the bills and hopes Malcolm will help him pull off the heist of the century! Winner of 8 AFI Awards, including Best Film, in 1986.

PUBERTY BLUES - 87 MINS.

When best friends Debbie (Nell Schofield) and Sue (Jad Capelja) are trying to break into Greenhill beach's in-group they discover that the group's laid-back, ultra-cool facade is just a glossy cover-up for the group's vices, including drug use and casual sex.

THE BIG STEAL - 96 MINS.

When Danny Clark (Ben Mendelsohn) promises the beautiful Joanna (Claudia Karvan) a date in a Jaguar, his deal with a dodgy used car salesman (Steve Bisley) leads him to more trouble than he could have imagined.

MONKEY GRIP - 101 MINS.

Noni Hazelhurst stars as Nora - recently divorced and caring for her thirteen year-old daughter - a woman trying to live free of men, who, in spite of this, is drawn into a dangerously obsessive relationship with an attractive actor addicted to heroin. The adaptation of Helen Garner's classic novel is set in the vibrant sub-culture of inner city Melbourne in the early '80s.

DON'S PARTY - 90 MINS.

On the night of the 1969 Australian election, Don holds a party in his suburban Sydney house, where his rude, larrikin mates discuss sex, politics and seduce each others wives. Adapted by David Williamson from his own hit play, Don's Party features an all star cast including Graham Kennedy, John Hargreaves and Ray Barrett and won five AFI awards.

THE ADVENTURES OF BARRY MCKENZIE - 101 MINS.

Reviled by critics! Adored by fair-dinkum Aussies! Australia's favourite wild colonial boy, Barry McKenzie (Barry Crocker), journeys to the old country accompanied by his Aunt Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) to take a Captain Cook and further his cultural and intellectual education.

THE FJ HOLDEN - 100 MINS.

Bankstown, suburban Sydney in the late '70s. The era of the drive-in movie, drag racing the Chico Roll girl. Kevin and Bob are teenage rev-heads who by day work in a wrecking yard and by night cruise around in the ultimate chick-magnet: a yellow FJ Holden!

MAD DOG MORGAN - 98 MINS.

A violent, rollicking portrayal of the infamous Irish outlaw Dan Morgan, portrayed in an intense performance from Dennis Hopper. Dan Morgan spends six years in prison before terrorising country Victoria with a young Aboriginal, David Gulpilil. With a great supporting Australian cast, including Jack Thompson, Bill Hunter and John Hargreaves, director Philippe Mora creates one of the great period action dramas.