Gallipoli

[Capmaster]

I had seen this movie when it first came out. Mel Gibson was about 20 when it was made I watched it again yesterday and it got me really thinking.

I had heard about how there used to be bad blood between Australians and English, and there still is in some quarters, but I never understood. This movie answered some of my questions about that, if the movie is accurate, that is. It's based on a real battle, but not all actual events survive the translation to film with the facts intact. But assuming that some of it is true, I understand now.

I immediately saw similarities between it and the movie Glory (Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick), but replace the American Civil War black Union soldiers with World War 1 Australian infantry soldiers fighting in Turkey against the Turkish who were allies with the Germans.

The movie follows the lives of two runners who end up enlisted in the army. It covers their lives briefly before signing up, their training in Egypt, and their being shipped to Turkey where the remainder of the story takes place.

It seems that Australian soldiers were being used to attack an insurmountable target at Gallipoli and act as a diversion, and as machine gun fodder, so the British soldiers could launch an offensive from another front. The Aussies were considered expendable, and of a lesser value. I won't spoil it, but the movie has an unhappy ending.

This is my take on the story. I've never studied the real story and can't comment. But this is how the story was presented.

I'd like to get some Australian and English takes on what really happened, if anyone here is familiar with it, and just how accurately the film reflects the real story. God knows filmmakers take liberties at times, yet other times they can be very honest and forthright.

Comments from any poms or boomer-boffers?

[jimmalenko]

It seems that Australian soldiers were being used to attack an insurmountable target at Gallipoli and act as a diversion, and as machine gun fodder, so the British soldiers could launch an offensive from another front. The Aussies were considered expendable, and of a lesser value.

As I understand it, that's spot on. The Aussies were intended to be merely a diversion, and it was never expected that any of them would actually survive long enough to be able to make it up the beach.

It is testament to this that there is a national holiday for ANZAC day ( Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) to honour those soldiers that perished, and to celebrate the triumph for those who returned.


... and as a constant reminder to the British that they fucked us up the ass WITHOUT a condom ...

[BJ_M]

this is getting kinda political -- though much the same happened to CND's in WWII and WWI also

[pacmania_2001]

Spot on with the events about Gallipoli.

The real message of the film is about mateship and the digger spirit, not the war itself though.

[wulf109]

The British will fight to the last American.

[offline]

Having seen both films (Glory & Gallipoli) I have
to say both serve a powerful message. Never trust
those that claim mastership over you.

In the 30's & 40's the British had a class distinct
society which led to alot of twats being born into
leadership. They used their fellow man (ANZAC, Amercian, even British) like they were lower class
citizens. The Germans with their old Whermact staff
origins did much the same.

[Capmaster]

Thanks guys. I didn't mean to stir up any resentment or political discussion.

It's just that it was such a powerful film, and the similarities with Glory were notable. Both were well-acted and both spent a goodly portion of the movie focusing on the cameraderie as opposed to the war itself. It was also interesting to see Mel speaking with his natural aussie English instead of later when he worked so hard to drop the accent.

Both have a valued spot in my permanent and frequently-viewed collection

[zzyzzx]

I'll have top check out this one again, by my favorite Mel Gibson while he was young film is Mutiny on the Bounty.

[Capmaster]

I'll have top check out this one again, by my favorite Mel Gibson while he was young film is Mutiny on the Bounty.

Another excellent movie. I'd guess Mel was about the same age or thereabouts in Gallipoli.

[Rookie64]

I'll have top check out this one again, by my favorite Mel Gibson while he was young film is Mutiny on the Bounty.

Another excellent movie. I'd guess Mel was about the same age or thereabouts in Gallipoli.

2 years apart


If Mel was speaking with his natural English, it would be a New York accent - he's not a native Aussie.

Mel and his family are American - his family moved to Australia during the Vietnam War to dodge the draft...Mel's older brother was draft age.


Another early film Mel made you might like is, Attack Force Z

But you might want to avoid one of his earliest roles in Summer City - that's a movie I'm sure Mel would like to forget

[BJ_M]

His voice in Mad Max (1979) was dubbed for the film's US release.

[Capmaster]

If Mel was speaking with his natural English, it would be a New York accent - he's not a native Aussie.

Yes I know that. But Mel's natural speech is Aussie since that's where he grew up and learned how to speak. He never had a New York accent naturally ...unless he was playing a role that called for it

[Rookie64]

If Mel was speaking with his natural English, it would be a New York accent - he's not a native Aussie.

Yes I know that. But Mel's natural speech is Aussie since that's where he grew up and learned how to speak. He never had a New York accent naturally ...unless he was playing a role that called for it

Cap, I'm not sayin' Mel didn't pick up an accent while living in Australia a number of years...just sayin' he lived in New York quite a few years before moving to Australia.
He didn't learn how to talk there - he's like less than 2 years younger than you, so he was far from being an infant
He picked up the accent along the way is what I meant.

He had gotten a bit part in an American-made movie in '77...so I would guess he was back and fourth between here and there in some of those years as well.
I don't really consider Mel an Aussie - he moved back the the States once his career picked up.

I did happen to get a job working in one of his films made in the U.S.
We had a few Aussies in the crew, including the Director...which was kinda interesting...and I'd say they have a much heavier accent than he does

[Capmaster]

Cap, I'm not sayin' Mel didn't pick up an accent while living in Australia a number of years...just sayin' he lived in New York quite a few years before moving to Australia.
He didn't learn how to talk there - he's like less than 2 years younger than you, so he was far from being an infant
He picked up the accent along the way is what I meant.

Sorry about the misfire there. My memory must have played tricks on me again. I thought he had moved to Australia at a very young age.

My mistake

[Rookie64]

Sorry about the misfire there. My memory must have played tricks on me again. I thought he had moved to Australia at a very young age.

My mistake

He moved there with his family at age 12


No problem...just some triva that I thought you might like to know 8)


He now owns his own island for a getaway for his family and friends...yeesh.

[Capmaster]

Sorry about the misfire there. My memory must have played tricks on me again. I thought he had moved to Australia at a very young age.

My mistake

He moved there with his family at age 12


No problem...just some triva that I thought you might like to know 8)


He now owns his own island for a getaway for his family and friends...yeesh.

He also has a house here in Albuquerque

My friend Charles' wife is friends with the real estate agent who sold it to him. Big place in the mountains.

[Doramius]

Mel Gibson has an older brother that used to be the Branch Manager for a Chase Manhattan Bank in Pittsford, NY. I think he's retired from it now though. Saw him once and he looks very similar to Mel. Little larger in the phisique though. He spoke with a light accent most people mistake as Canadian if you weren't from upstate NY. Come to think of it, I've had several people think I was from Canada by my accent. But they weren't sure because I didn't add "eh" to the end of every statement or use the long U sount when saying 'out & about'. If you've seen 'Fargo', that's reminds me more of the people in Canada than people in upstate NY. :P

Not that this has much to do with this topic, but interesting tidbits. By the way, good movie 'Gallipoli'.

[pacmania_2001]

My friend Charles' wife is friends with the real estate agent who sold it to him

Wow! You're practically related to him :P

My best friend's uncle's barber's dog vet once treated the cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. No bull.

[Doramius]

If I trace back Far enough, I'm related to YOU!