THREE IN ONE
Australia, 1957, 89 minutes, Black and white.
John Mc Callum.
Joe Wilson’s Mate: Edmond Allison, Alexander Archdale, Reg Lye, Kenneth J. Warren.
Load of Wood: Leonard Thiele, Jock Levy.
City: Joan Lander, Brian Vicary, Betty Lucas, Gordon Glenwright.
Directed by Cecil Holmes.
Three in One is a trio of stories about the Australian spirit. Produced and directed by Cecil Holmes in the mid-'50s, it was hoped that the film would move towards a development of local production. The British Monthly Film Bulletin of 1957 (p.57) ended its review 'An honest and determined attempt to create a national style, it may well be a landmark in the development of the Australian cinema'. This was not to be. The film received little release except for the second story, The Load of Wood, which went out as a supporting short.
Cecil Holmes had a long career in the Australian file industry, a career marked by disappointments. His strength was in documentaries, especially concerning aboriginal issues including I, the Aboriginal.
The three stories range over a period of time. The first is Joe Wilson's Mates from Henry Lawson's story The Union Buries its Dead. The second story is of the Depression, Frank Hardy's The Load of Wood. The third story, the slightest and one which has dated considerably, is The City.
A number of actors, later known as character actors in films, appear in the various stories including in the first, Alexander Archdale and Ben Gabriel, in the second Leonard Teale (under the name Leonard Thiele), and in the third Gordon Glenwright and Betty Lucas. John Mc Callum introduces each of the stories and provides a link, focusing especially on mateship.
The first two stories have not dated and are enjoyable examples of Australian storytelling. The third story is a reminder of the '50s.
1. The impact of the file? The quality of the stories? Entertainment value?
2. The hopes for the Australian industry in the 1950s? Cecil Holmes' contribution, his disappointments? The quality of his direction in these three stories? His artistic style? Social concern?
3. The introduction by John Mc Callum, the homely talk by Mc Callum, his Australian experience and background, talking to the audience, giving the settings, the theme of mateship? Situating the stories in their time?
4. Joe Wilson's Mates: the Henry Lawson story, the quality of Lawson's writing, his delineation of characters, his irony? The importance of the 19th century unions? Mateship? A man's world? The story about the stranger found drowned in the creek, his means of identification his trade union card? The men at the pub? The style of the pub, the tall stories being told The local shearers deciding to give him a burial? The preparations, the coach driver ( and his drinking)? Getting the horses, the heat; the mishaps with the carriage? The procession out to the hillside? The priest, his words and prayers, the hot day? The moving tribute to the unknown man? !he example of mateship? The echoes of the 19th century, the sale bonding in the Outback? The origins of mateship?
5. The Load of Wood: The atmosphere of the Depression, the early 1930s and the people without jobs, the hardships in the country town, the severity of the winter? Darkie and his unpopularity? His relationship with his mates? The shortage of fuel? Paddy Shea and his greed? The decision to join in stealing the logs? The dark night? The men going, Ernie helping? The character of Ernie? The truck, the danger in going onto the property, the cutting down of the tall tree? The escape? Difficulties with the the truck? Darkie distributing the wood? His insisting that he had plenty for himself? The dramatic impact of his going into his own house and his woodshed being empty? Ihe understatement about mateship? The generosity of the Australian Tale - but not wanting it to appear?
6. The City: Sydney in the mid-'50s? Suburban life? The attention to domestic detail? Going to work, transport, the pace of life? Work with the cars? The detailed look at the workplace? The girl and her working in the dress shop, her attention to customers, her friend? Their talk? Their going out, life in Sydney, enjoying themselves? The problems about accommodation? Living with family? The quarrel? The reconciliation? The fellow workers and their decision to raise the money to build the home? A modern variation on the mateship theme? The mid-1950s and the mateship between men? The bonds between women? The transition to a world in which men and women begin to have equal status?
7. The overall impact of the film? Entertainment value? Insight into the Australian spirit?
