Mad Dog Morgan
Short description
Mad Dog Morgan is an Australian crime drama set during the gold rush of the 1850s and 1860s. It follows Daniel Morgan, an Irishman who arrives in Australia hoping to make his fortune. Instead, a brush with the law over a petty robbery lands him a long sentence of hard labour, where he endures brutal treatment. Released early and marked as a convict, he finds no way back into ordinary society. He turns to bushranging, robbing and killing across the colony of New South Wales until he becomes a wanted outlaw, hunted by police who want him brought in dead or alive. The film is based on the true story of the bushranger Dan Morgan, a figure remembered in Australian folklore as "Mad Dog" Morgan.
The film was directed by Philippe Mora, who also wrote the screenplay, and it was his second feature after Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? He went on to direct Howling II, The Marsupials: The Howling III and Communion. Dennis Hopper plays Morgan, with Jack Thompson as Detective Manwaring, David Gulpilil as Billy, Bill Hunter as Sergeant Smith, Frank Thring as Superintendent Cobham and Michael Pate as Superintendent Winch. Jeremy Thomas produced, and thirty actors are credited.
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 6.1 from around 2,100 votes, while on TMDB it has a rating of 5.9 from roughly 50 votes. Both point to a modest, middling reception rather than a widely celebrated one. Running 102 minutes, it remains a product of the mid-1970s Australian film revival and of its director's early career.
What's left behind the scenes
- Philippe Mora wrote the screenplay in 1974 during a sea voyage from London to Melbourne. The screenplay was submitted for consideration to the Australian Film Development Corporation, which in early 1975 agreed to support the project.
- To find a candidate for the lead role, Mora and producer Jeremy Thomas went to Los Angeles. The first candidate, Stacey Keach, turned down the role; Martin Sheen and Jason Miller expressed interest, but ultimately, Dennis Hopper was chosen for the role of Morgan by Mora. His fee for the film was $50,000.
- The film was shot at various locations where Daniel Morgan operated in eastern Riverina, including Billabong Creek, Culcairn, and Jindera. A cave used in the film was actually where Morgan had hidden.
- Filming began on October 27, 1975, and lasted six weeks until December 6, for a total of 36 shooting days. Due to rain starting and continuing throughout the first week, filming had to be postponed, but it was then decided to continue in order to stay on schedule.
- Morahan filmed a scene of young Ned Kelly looking at a wax figure of Morgan, but decided not to include it in the film.
- The plot was based on Margaret Carnegie's book "Morgan," which was the result of twelve years of research.
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