HOGES

Australia, 2017, 160 minutes, Colour.
Josh Lawson, Ryan Corr, Justine Clark, Carolyn Kennison, Laura Gordon, Nikki Osborne, Flynn Richardson, Grant Piro.
Directed by Kevin Carlin.

Paul Hogan was one of Australia’s most successful entertainers. He made his mark on television and with advertising campaigns for Winfield cigarettes as well as American tourism to Australia. And, of course, he is best known as Crocodile Dundee.

This film was screened as a miniseries for Australia’s Channel 7.

The film is both portrait and outline biography. Which is made of the city of the 1940s and 50s when Paul Hogan was growing up in Sydney’s western suburbs, especially a stunt at a swimming pool which indicates his larrikin style. Young, he marries Noelene and they have five children. He has regular work but ultimately, spends 10 years as a rigger on Sydney Harbour Bridge (in the film includes a sequence where he tries to talk down a suicide on the bridge, something which does have a deep effect on him).

As a dare, he goes on television to criticise panel judges on a talent show, appearing in shorts and singlet, the knife thrower from Lightning Bridge, entertaining the audience as well is the judges who inviting back, which leads to his own show, develop his talent for comedy and satire, winning many Gold Logies. He is also introduced to John Cornell who becomes his friend, partner and business manager and whom Hogan dares to go on TV and create his own eccentric character, caps drop.

On the domestic side, the film shows Hogan moving away from his wife because of his involvement at his work, and his being driven in his hopes and ambitions. Ultimately, this will lead to a divorce as well as to a second marriage ceremony.

The film shows the background to the making of Crocodile Dundee, an interesting site like being Dustin Hoffman persuading Linda Kozlowski to take the role. There are recreations of some of the famous scenes, showing the reaction to the film in Australia and, especially, in the United States, leading to the sequel.

The film also shows the Australian public’s poor reaction to Paul Hogan’s relationship with Linda Kozlowski. He does not make successful film choices – although this film might have included his success with Lightning Jack – and he settles in the United States, marries, has a child, but has a yearning to return to Australia.

The film ends with it a television show tribute to Paul Hogan. Despite the aspects of his personal life, with memories of his television show, his cheeky personality with the touch of the larrikin and, of course, Crocodile Dundee, he still has a huge place in Australian entertainment and in Australian culture.

1. The title, the tone? Audiences familiar with Paul Hogan? Australian icon? The international popularity of Crocodile Dundee?

2. Australian audiences appreciating, overseas audiences? His appeal to older audiences, to the young?

3. The film as a portrait, and as biography? Audience empathy? Admiration – yet Paul Hogan driven, hurting people? Australian disappointment in him?

4. The credits, the scenes, the reminders of his career, the knife thrower from Lightning Ridge!, Strop, Winfield cigarettes, Australia is a tourist destination, the character of Crocodile Dundee?

5. The Sydney story, the 1940s and 50s, the pool, John Devitt as Olympic champion, Paul Hogan diving in, the splash, his parents and their reaction, the larrikin? His admiration for his father, talking, the boxing training, his father’s death and funeral, hard hit?

6. Noeline, the nickname, Ed? Meeting young, at the pool, marrying, having the children, their life in the suburbs, the rowdy family, Paul Hogan his jobs, on the move, on the Harbour Bridge, his mates, there for 10 years?

7. The influence of his father, his mother and her approval, disapproval?

8. Work, the impact of his trying to talk down the man bent on killing himself on the bridge, the mates, his comic style, the sceptical mate? The TV program, the judges, the humiliation of contestants? The death him to go on television, his character, the knives, the costume, addressing the audience, criticising the judges? Audience response, his success? The family enjoying this? The judges wanting him back? His style, addressing the viewers, the shorts, the singlet? The comic tone? Australian larrikin, G.?

9. John Cornell, his background, marriages, meeting Delphine Delaney, the marriage, long-lasting? The discussions with Paul Hogan, the business side, contracts? Paul Hogan getting him to perform, on camera, decision about/, his character and performances? The success of all the programs, the load the awards?

10. Paul Hogan is driven, work, the meetings, his success, the advertising agencies, the cigarettes and his later giving them up because of health reasons? Promoting tourism, the shrimp on the barbie? Shrewd business decisions, the years? The social events, and had her being sidelined, the presence of the children?

11. John Cornell wanting to make a film, Crocodile Dundee, the episode with the confrontation with the crocodile and Paul Hogan scared? Yet in the film? The writing, self-funding? The difficulties, the decision not to get government support?

12. Linda Koslowski, her career, her friendship with Dustin Hoffman, is helping her, going to the filming? Her success in the film?

13. The premiere, nerves, the discussions with Paramount, the traffic on Broadway? The reactions to the film, reviews, the range of interviews, Paul Hogan collapsing, yet driven? The presence of the into Koslowski? The golden glow, his speech at the Oscars, taking it and her happiness?

14. The decision to make a sequel, realistic expectations in comparison with the original, the preparation, financing, John Cornell to direct?

15. Linda Koslowski, the attachment to Paul Hogan, his relationship with Ed, the ups and downs, the decision to divorce? The decision to remarry in the ceremony?

16. Linda Koslowski in herself, the press, edge reaction, the meetings with Paul Hogan, London, the affair, the media, the decision that they should live in the US, having a child? Paul Hogan as a father? Hogan’s career, not taking the parting Ghost, the impact of Almost Angel?

17. The year is passing, the family at home, the visits, his mother, his decision to come to Australia?

18. The final tribute to him, everybody present – his reminiscences, his career, the Australian public? (And, in 2017 receiving the Life Award from the AFI?)