THE FIRST KANGAROOS
Australia, UK, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Waterman, Chris Haywood, Dominic Sweeney, Philip Quast, Tony Martin, Jim Carter, John Bird, Clarissa Kaye- Mason.
Directed by Frank Cvitanocich.
The First Kangaroos are not the primordial animals on the continent of Australia. Rather, it is the title given to the first team that toured England in 1908-1909 for the establishment of Rugby League.
The film is entertaining in its way, though not all the performances are persuasive and some of the direction looks rather stilted, or designed for a television film. However, it has some verve and belief in Rugby League.
The film takes a poke at Rugby Union, with its somewhat elitist attitude towards the virtue of amateurism and looking down on the mercenary aspects of sports professionals. Entrepreneur, Jim Litigan, decides that the players should be paid, reinforced by the plea of an injured player to the union for some kind of insurance and recompense. For the board, it is below consideration.
Chris Haywood is as vigorous as Jim Litigan. Some of the Australian players are portrayed by young Dominic Sweeney, Philip Quast, Tony Martin. The British are represented by a senior Rugby player, played by Denis Waterman, who laments when people compare his performance to his heyday, a word that he detests. Other character actors, when they were young, include Jim Carter and John Bird.
The writer-director is Canadian but obviously has a passion for Rugby League. The budget seems to be small becaurse the screenplay leaps at times without any sequences showing the development on screen. This is also true of the football matches, rather limited on screen.
However, the film will please fans of Rugby League, heightening the contrast between League and Union, presenting the rough and tumble of the game, glorifying the champion of the beginning of the 20th century, Dally Messenger, played by Dominic Sweeney.
1. The impact of the film, a touch of history, sport, Rugby League, the light approach to the drama and comedy?
2. A film of the 1980s, small-budget, limited screenplay, events happening off screen, some mundane dialogue, some corny touches? Yet entertaining?
3. The title, the Rugby League tour, the British and their attitude towards Australians? The symbol of the kangaroo? Abducting the kangaroo from the zoo as a mascot? Caged?
4. The separation of the League from the Union? Issue of Rugby union for amateurs only? Disdain for money and professionalism? The needs of the players? The injured player at the beginning, his pleading to the board, their refusing to pay a penny? Jim Litigan, his approach, an entrepreneur, money for the players? The decision to separate, to set up the league?
5. The players, Jim’s approach? The issue of Dally Messenger? His reputation? a pleasant character? Young and naïve? Just loving the sport? Running, swimming? At home with his mother? Her stern approach, her supporting him, Jim and the discussion with Dally, his mother’s permission, her interrogating Jim, giving her consent? At the wharf and her concern?
6. The issue of sponsorship, Jim and his meetings, trying to persuade the ale-maker? The boat, the discussion with the agent, the lowering of the price for the tickets, agreeing that the men should work in the boiler room?
7. On board, Jim and his big-noting himself, the tour of the boat, the furnaces, manipulating Dally to ask to work there to keep in form? The reaction of the others, Danny and his cynicism? Always wanting to catch Jim out?
8. The letter to England, his seeing Albert as the significant player in England, Albert and the pub, the letter, his reaction? Going to his board, the hesitation, his challenging them? Going to the wharf, making a mistake about the boat, finding the group, Jim and his build-up, the band and welcoming committee? At the pub, the meetings?
9. The tour itself, the initial game, few people turning up, the background of strikes in England? Jim and his taunts? Albert and his reaction? The games, winning and losing? Train travel? The Grand Hotel and eight in a room? Going north, the final game and the build-up? Jim and his interviews with the press, promoting Dally, challenge to Albert?
10. Albert, his age, upset about people referring to his heyday, the interview with the journalist and his text? Going down to the pub, Arthur and his plot and, getting the group to the hotel, persuading Dally to drink, getting him drunk?
11. The final match, Dally and his continually being injured, getting up and playing again, Albert and his tactics, the victory and his congratulating Dally?
12. Jim, keeping the accounts, bankrupt, the cheque to Dally, his tearing it up? Going off to the party, eternal optimism? And the establishment of Rugby League?
