LES DARCY

Australia, 1988, 50 minutes, Colour.
Peter Phelps.

Les Darcy was one of Mike Willesee's Australians for his Bicentenary series. Darcy was a young and famous boxer during World War One. Billy Hughes, smarting under the defeat of his referendums for conscription, wanted Darcy in the armed forces. Darcy went to America to fight but was banned in many states. He had an infected tooth and died at a young age in the United States. It was said that 100,000 people attended his funeral in Australia.

Les Darcy was a fine-living young man, jokingly said to be a wowser in the screenplay of this film. He was a devout Catholic - something which also appears in the film.

Peter Phelps is very good as Darcy and there is a very strong supporting cast. A full-length film about Darcy was in preparation during the '80s but was never made.

1. The impact of Darcy as one of Willesee's Australians? For the Bicentenary celebrations? His significance?

2. Audiences' knowledge about Les Darcy, his reputation, memory?

3. Re-creation of the period, World War One, the boxing world, Maitland, Sydney, the United States? Costumes and decor?

4. The portrait of Les Darcy: age, background, skill in fighting, his friend and the bonds between them, his devotion to his mother, giving her the money, asking her advice, his relationship with his father? Going to Sydney, training, wanting to join up, the effect of the deaths of his friends at war? His Catholic background? Accusations of being a wowser? Friendship with Winnie, going out with her? His success? The effect of Billy Hughes' campaign against him? American managers, going to the United States, his hopes, training, pressures, the bands? His infected tooth, collapse, Winnie's arrival, his death? His funeral and Billy Hughes' support of him?

5. The sketch of his parents, ordinary people, their support of him? The question of joining up and the war? The advice of the Irish parish priest - that it was an overseas war?

6. Winnie and her mother, Darcy's friendship with them, Winnie's love for him, her going to America, at his death? Lily and her friendship?

7. His friends, his best friend and their work together, his managers, American opponents?

8. Billy Hughes, his place in Australian politics, his attitude towards the war, towards the British, his reliance on Claridge? His wanting Darcy to join up? His being thwarted? His manoeuvrings?. The bans in America? His press conference at Darcy's death - and hypocrisy?

9. Les Darcy's achievement as an Australian?