The Man from Down Under (1943)

Wissenswertes

The Man from Down Under is an American 1943 drama film starring Charles Laughton as an Australian man who raises two war orphans.

Production

The film was based on a story by Mark Kelly and Bogart Rogers which was originally bought by MGM in May 1942 as a vehicle for Wallace Beery.

Eventually the movie was assigned to Charles Laughton. A young director had been meant to direct but Laughton had just worked with Robert Leonard on Stand By for Action and insisted he direct. Binnie Barnes and Gracie Fields were discussed for the female lead – eventually the filmmakers went with Barnes. MGM contractee Donna Reed was given the female lead.

The cast featured an Australian actor, Clyde Cook. The cast included three brothers in the roles of children: Christopher, Raymond and Ernest Severn.

Lon Jones, an Australian journalist doing a lecture tour of the US, acted as technical adviser for life in Australia. Jones wrote an article on the making of the film where he quoted Laughton:

This role scares me. I know how Australians regard their Anzacs, and I also know that the rest of the world looks upon them as the greatest fighting force of modern times. Frankly, I have never worried so much about a film role in all my career.... I am just a fat, ugly pig in real life, and nothing can change that rather deplorable fact.

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