Produced and directed by Tim Burstall;

This movie has been released as part of an 8-disk package of ?classic? Australian films of the 1970s known as the Hexagon Tribute Collection. Having seen the package, and the titles contained therein, the term ?classic? is possibly a trifle optimistic (as compared to the likes of Picnic at Hanging Rock, Walkabout, Wake in Fright, and others). And I certainly couldn?t list Eliza Fraser as a ?must see? movie.

As a film, Eliza Fraser is an enigma that I cannot reconcile ? is it meant to be an adventure movie, a bawdy romance/bedroom farce, or a comedy? ? unfortunately it fails quite dismally on every count! Firstly, it lacks a suitably adventurous edge despite the ?travels amongst the natives? saga; secondly; 27 seconds of Susannah York topless, and three nanoseconds of Abigail?s boobs hardly equates to bawdiness nor romance (and ?No?, I didn?t time the sequences - I guessed them!); and thirdly, apart from a soundtrack that tries its hardest to suggest comedy, I would consider that less than half of the story could be considered remotely comical ? then again, some people find a botched murder plot in which the wrong person dies very funny? And the ending defies description - I won?t even try to explain it (though if you view the Interviews segment of the special features first, it will make more sense)! For a screenplay from the pen of David Williamson (Don?s Party, The Club, Gallipoli, Travelling North and others) it is a major disappointment.

Very loosely based on an actual historical character, in simple terms Eliza Fraser revolves around the adventures of Eliza (Susannah York), wife of sea captain James Fraser (Noel Ferrier); and two other men (played by John Castle and a very young looking John Waters) who feature prominently (and romantically) in her escapades in Australia, particularly after most of the characters were shipwrecked in Northern Queensland and held for some time by a local tribe of Aborigines. It would seem that I am not the only one to have trouble writing a synopsis - read the ?blurb? on the back of the slick then watch the movie - I think you will agree with me that the writer has not seen the movie at all (rather that he or she has watched the special features that come with the feature)!

It?s not that the acting is particularly bad - it?s just that most of the cast give the impression that the script is being written as the scenes are being shot! No one stood out as either brilliant or dreadful - within the confines of the storyline all tried their best. I?ve got to say that I found the casting of the late Noel Ferrier in a major role interesting - he?s not a particularly great actor, but his presence managed to keep me amused much of the time. I normally like watching Trevor Howard but I can only presume that he (like Susannah York and John Castle) is only in the movie to add a big overseas ?name? to the cast - he doesn?t appear in this typically blustery role. And in another annoying habit of the period (an Australian culture of cringe?); anybody (and I mean anybody) with the remotest fame or exposure on the ?idiot box? at that time makes an appearance in the picture - Gus Mercurio, Gerard Kennedy, Bill Hunter, George Mallaby and Abigail immediately come to mind.

THE EXTRAS

Apart from scene selection and language menus, the following special features are available:

An interview featurette with David Williamson (screenwriter), John Williams and Bruce Spence (cast members), Tom Burstall (assistant director), and Robin Copping (cinematographer) of 16-odd minutes duration. This is quite an acceptable enjoyable featurette that is of some interest.

A close to 4-minute theatrical trailer that is also in widescreen format - a strong background hum in the audio is annoying.

A quite impressive filmography menu for David Williamson and six of the cast members; and a relatively long biography of Tim Burstall. One impressive feature is that the information is quite recent - the biography notes Tim?s death in April of this year.

A self-propelling picture gallery of around 2 minutes duration presented in 4:3 full frame format.

An Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) short film The Drip made in 1996 of 7 ? minutes duration - a nice, entertaining touch though the story is a little silly.

CONCLUSION

Eliza Fraser is a very strange mix of genres - is it meant to be a comedy, adventure or romantic comedy? Similarly, there seems to be great uncertainty as to the intended market for the film - the casting of a number of well-known television personalities of the time including the likes of Gerard Kennedy, Noel Ferrier and Abigail would possibly draw the Oz viewers; while the unnecessary inclusion of Susannah York, John Castle and Trevor Howard suggests deferral to an overseas market.

I found the storyline equally confusing, and the ending beyond belief (or description!). However, I should strongly point out that viewers will get a much greater appreciation of the whole concept if they view the special features ?interview? segment before taking on the film.

Because of the above factors, I cannot say that Eliza Fraser (as a separate feature) impressed me. But in a twist as strange as anything that this film produces, I will almost certainly be buying the 7-disk Hexagon Tribute Collection which contains this movie when I can, because of the array of titles included - there are no real ?classics? in the package but some of the films have tremendous ?cringe? value for the serious Australian movie buff!

However, I must rate this movie as a stand-alone feature?