THE LIGHTHORSEMEN

Australia, 1987, 131 minutes, Colour.
Tony Bonner, Peter Phelps, Shane Briant, Ralph Cotterill, Bill Kerr, Anthony Andrews, Serge Lazareff, Gary Sweet, Jon Blake, Tim Mc Kenzie, John Walton, Sigrid Thornton, Gerard Kennedy, Steve Bastoni.
Directed by Simon Wincer.

The 1980s in the Australian industry began with Gallipoli. It brought to mind the memories of World War One and the heroism even in defeat. In the later 1980s came The Lighthorsemen, the recreation of the charge, the last cavalry charge, in Beersheba in 1917. This film had been the subject of Charles Chauvel’s film in the early 1940s, Forty Thousand Horsemen, with Chips Rafferty.

This film was written by Ian Jones, a writer with a historical interest. It was directed by Simon Wincer who had shown his skill in filming horses in Phar Lap. He also won Emmys for his miniseries from Larry Mc Murtrie’s Lonesome Doves. He was to return to horse racing themes in The Cup in 2011.

The film was made in country Victoria and South Australia standing in for Palestine and Turkey (as it had in Gallipoli). The film draws on many of the Australian character actors working in the 1970s and 1980s, young ones like Peter Phelps, older actors like Bill Kerr. Some romance is brought into the film, during the hospital sequences by the sea, with Sigrid Thornton as a nurse (and the final information saying that these two characters married and lived in Australia for decades after the war).

The film was photographed by Dean Semmler, veteran photographer who was to win an Oscar two years later for his work on Dances With Wolves.

The film was not as immediately successful on first release as hoped – but it still stands as a rousing action adventure while being historical and recreating the famous charge and capturing its spirit.

There was a very sad postscript to The Lighthorsemen. Actor Jon Blake, who played Scotty very sympathetically, was injured in a car accident on the last day of filming in 1986. He was left with permanent brain damage. He did not die until May 2011, aged fifty-two.

1. The background of World War One, the war in Europe compared with the war in Asia, the Middle East? The alliance of the Turks and the Germans? The history of Gallipoli? The occupation of Palestine, the charge on Beersheba?

2. Australian awareness of this episode in military history? The recreation? Capturing the spirit of the times and the heritage?

3. The presentation of modes of warfare, the traditions from the 18th and 19th centuries, the role of the infantry, artillery, cavalry, infantry riding and descending from the horses, defence in the trenches? From a 21st century perspective on 20th century changes in warfare?

4. Country Victoria, the mountains and paddocks, the water? The contrast with Palestine, the desert, the mountains, Beersheba? Filming in South Australia?

5. The colour photography, action sequences, the focus on the horses, the galloping of the horses and the charge, the fight, the editing and pace? The musical score?

6. The title, the focus on the men? The focus on the horses?

7. The opening, the close-ups of the horses, at the water, the men for the roundup, the chase, corralling, in the train, going to war, the slogan about the horses doing their duty? Dave, the spirit of the war, the requirements explained to him? The skills in riding the horses? The horses in Palestine, the riders, their skills, the charge on Gaza? The charge on Beersheba, the thirsty horses, galloping, some of them killed? The film’s tribute to the horses?

8. The situation in Palestine, 1917? The Germans and control, their arrogance, colonial attitudes towards the Turks, not understanding the terrain, demanding orders? The comparison with the British, the officers, their decisions, their not understanding some of the situations, the critique by the Australians? The Turks looked down on, the Australians looked down on by the British? The hold on Gaza, the attacks on Gaza and the failures? The decision to take Beersheba? The importance of the wells, that they not be destroyed, the daring nature of the charge, the sunset, the strategies and tactics?

9. The importance of the British officer, going with Tas, seemingly effete and studying the birds, the sandwich, his bags – the blood on the bag, the letters, the Turks finding them, the Turkish commander not believing them, arguing against them, the German officer and his determination that they were correct?

10. The initial attack on Gaza, the infantry and dismounting from the horses, the failure to take the town?

11. The small group of Aussie riders, a microcosm of the troops? Tas, cynical, a good mate, very hard on Dave, humiliating him, admiring his success with the horse? Frank, genial, wounded in the scouting episode, going to hospital, the letter, his dying and the effect of this news on the men? Chiller, a good support, his being wounded and Dave’s falling on him to save him? Scotty, the Irish background, genial and sensible, the human face of the soldiers? Dave, his joining the group, his undergoing a kind of initiation to prove himself? His working with the medics? His being injured, going to the hospital, the encounter with Anne, walking along the beach, their friendship? Her searching for him at the end – and finding that he would live?

12. Chauvel, the Australian officers, their discussions, the tactic in taking Beersheba? The charge, the time limitations? The decision to go, the objections from other officers? Watching, getting the big picture, the achievement – seeing the flag rise in Beersheba?

13. The leader of the cavalry, his exercise of leadership, with the men, his advisers? The flag raised in Beersheba? The comment on the dead – few in number, but not so lucky because they had died?

14. The range of Australian soldiers represented, ordinary fighters, officers, advisers, medics? The estimation of them by the Turks?

15. Reichert, his arrival in Palestine, with the German commander, a yes-man following orders? With the Turkish commander in Beersheba, his discounting any charge? Following orders? The Turkish retreat? His blowing up the wells? Getting the man to repair the fuse? Scotty confronting him, stopping him – and the water flowing freely for the horses?

16. The charge itself, its power, the cameras tracking the horses? The Turks, the guns, the trenches, their being overwhelmed, taking the guns away, Scotty and the overturning of the cannon? The fight, hand-to-hand, the raising of the flag?

17. The information given about the subsequent careers of the central characters? Parliament, happy ending, raising sheep?

18. The film as an Australian achievement about an Australian achievement, keeping the memory and the spirit alive?