Jedda

File:Robert Tudawali at Darwin's Bagot Reserve 1960.jpg Jedda is an Aboriginal girl born on a cattle station in the Northern Territory of Australia. After her mother dies giving birth to her, the child is brought to Sarah McMann, the wife of the station boss. Sarah has recently lost her own newborn to illness. She at first intends to give the baby to one of the Aboriginal women who work on the station, but then raises Jedda as her own, teaching her European ways and separating her from other Aboriginal people.

Jedda wants to learn about her own culture, but is forbidden by Sarah. When Jedda grows into a young woman, she becomes curious about an Aboriginal man from the bush named Marbuck. This tall stranger arouses strong feelings in her. She is lured to his camp one night by a song. Marbuck abducts her and sets off back to his tribal land, through crocodile-infested swamps.

Joe, a half-caste stockman in love with Jedda, tracks the two for several days. They travel across high, rocky country, and down a river until Marbuck reaches his tribe. The tribal council declares that Marbuck has committed a serious crime by bringing Jedda to them, because she is not of the right skin group. They sing his death song as punishment. Marbuck defies the elders and takes Jedda into an area of steep cliffs and canyons, taboo lands.

Driven insane by the death song, he pulls Jedda with him over a tall cliff, and both perish. Joe, the narrator, says her spirit has joined "the great mother of the world, in the dreaming time of tomorrow".

• Ngarla Kunoth as Jedda
• Robert Tudawali as Marbuck
• Betty Suttor as Sarah McMann{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18386170 |title=A Little Black Girl Who Would Not Cry. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 July 1953 |page=5 Section: Women's Section |via=National Library of Australia}}
• Paul Reynall as Joe
• George Simpson-Lyttle as Douglas McMann
• Tas Fitzer as Peter Wallis
• Hugh Wason Byers as Felix Romeo (credited as Wason Byers)
• Willie Farrar as Little Joe
• Margaret Dingle as Little Jedda

Charles Chauvel said the original inspiration for the film came from a meeting he had in Hollywood in early 1950 with Merian C. Cooper. Cooper encouraged the director to make a film exploiting Australian locations. Chauvel was further encouraged along these lines by Bess Meredyth, who had made a number of films in Australia in the 1920s.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18181721 |title=Our Outback Is A Rich Field fur Film Makerss. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 August 1950 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Chauvel decided to make the project in the Northern Territory. With his wife Elsa he made an extensive survey of the Territory later that year with the assistance of the Commonwealth government. He undertook colour tests, intending to make Australia's first colour movie.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18176127 |title="Herald" Saturday Magazine |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 September 1950 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23070297 |title=Stark color film to be 'shot' in N.T. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=19 June 1951 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} The Chauvels then wrote a screenplay, originally entitled The Northern Territory Story.

The lead Aboriginal character was reportedly inspired by the warrior Nemarluk, who killed three Japanese pearlers in the 1930s and died in prison.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49220497 |title=N.T. Natives Appear in Colour Film |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=69 |issue=20,899 |location=Western Australia |date=15 July 1953 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134203413 |title=Black stars in a big Chauvel film |newspaper=The News |volume=61 |issue=9,338 |location=Adelaide |date=15 July 1953 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1951 Chauvel formed Chauvel Productions Ltd to make the film, with a notional capital of £500,000.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2825759 |title=MOTION PICTURE FIRM IN SYDNEY. |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=31 March 1951 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18222953 |title=Chauvel To Make Film in N.T. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 June 1951 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} It went public in August 1951, offering 240,000 shares.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18216554 |title=CAPITAL FOR FILMS. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 August 1951 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Chauvel later stated that he turned down an American offer of $100,000 (£44,000) to finance the film because it was conditional upon Linda Darnell being cast in the lead.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50537899 |title=Forever Amber—but never Jedda role. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=13 September 1952 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} Chauvel's regular backers Universal Pictures did not want to invest in the movie but Chauvel managed to secure finance from various businessmen, including Mainguard Australia Ltd.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71700702 |title=MAINGUARD'S INTERESTS. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=11 October 1955 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}} It took the Chauvels 18 months to find a suitable filming location.

File:Filming of Australian film Jedda.jpg and Charles Chauvel prior to the filming of Jedda.]]

Filming started in May 1952, when the unit left Sydney for Darwin. By this stage the lead role of Jedda had still yet to be cast, but filming acting sequences did not begin until July.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2855452 |title=N. Territory as scene of first colour film. |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=19 May 1952 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} Robert Tudawali was an Aboriginal man from Melville Island,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18420227 |title=MALE LEAD GOES HOME. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 April 1954 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}} the largest island in the Tiwi Islands group. Ngarla Kunoth (Rosalie Kunoth-Monks) was an Arrernte and Anmatyerre woman, born at Utopia cattle station, north east of Alice Springs;{{Cite web |last=Amelia |first=Kunoth-Monks |date=10 July 1995 |title=Australian Biography: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/australian-biography-rosalie-kunoth-monks-1 |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=National Film and Sound Archive}} she was selected over seven other actors screen tested, and was cast by July.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44799783 |title="Jedda" and her foster family. |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly | date=9 June 1971 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18382912 |title=Arunta Tribe Girl Star. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 July 1953 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The shoot took five months to complete, plus post-production work done in Sydney. Most of the scenes were shot on the Coolibah Station in the Northern Territory, as well as at Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge and Mary River in the north.

The production process was laborious, as the colour technique used, Gevacolor, could only be processed in England. The film stock was fragile and heat-sensitive, which was a problem in the tropical climate of the Northern Territory. During production, the film was stored in cool caves to protect it from deteriorating. By mid 1952 the film had incurred expenses of £24,673.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18294355 |title=Progress cost of film|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=10 December 1952 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The last roll of negative was destroyed in a plane crash on its way for developing in England. Chauvel re-shot these lost scenes at Kanangra Walls in the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves west of Sydney. Cave scenes were filmed in the River Cave, Diamond Cave, Imperial Cave, and Mud Tunnels at Jenolan.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51078321 |title=He's Out to Prove the Dead Heart Beats|newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=25 July 1953 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} Editing and sound recording were completed in London.

The music was written by Isador Goodman. Elsa Chauvel, the director's wife, replaced large parts of Goodman's score with old-fashioned commercial "mood" music.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The Chauvels celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary during filming.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18267649 |title=Had Silver Wedding in Outback. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 June 1952 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} Wason Byers, who had a small role, was arrested for stealing over £1,000 worth of cattle.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18388184 |title=N.T. Cattleman To Stand Trial. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 August 1953 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}

File:Rosalie Kunoth-Monks.jpg

The film had its world premiere on 3 January 1955 at the Star Theatre in Darwin.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49485186 |title=N. T. World Premiere Of 'Jedda' Delights Critics |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=10 |issue=1 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=6 January 1955 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49486197 |title=Territorians Await "Jedda" Premiere |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=9 |issue=[?] |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=23 December 1954 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} The theatre's manager Tom Harris arranged for a member of the Warhiti tribe "to sing songs and burn sticks to prevent any unwanted rainfalls during the screening. He decorated the theatre for the opening with pandanus, grass mats and Aboriginal artefacts. Large crowds gathered along Smith Street to catch a glimpse of the film's stars Ngarla Kunoth and Robert Tudawali were permitted to sit in the balcony with the Northern Territory Administrator Frank Wise and his wife.{{cite journal|last1=Brister|first1=Charles|title=A history of the Star Theatre of Darwin|journal=Journal of Northern Territory History|date=1995|volume=6|pages=35–43|url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=951110232;res=IELAPA|issn=1034-7488}}

The film then opened in Sydney in May. Its commercial reception was solid rather than sensational: Charles Chauvel Productions Ltd received £17,915 from the film in May and June 1955. The company's name was changed to Jedda Ltd to help exploit the film.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71781846 |title=Jedda a big success. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=23 November 1955 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}} In December 1956 Jedda Ltd reported a profit of £50,454 for the year to 30 June, reducing the debit balance in the production account to £69,697. The film had been successful in Australia but performed disappointingly overseas.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71770367 |title=Jedda's £50,454. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=8 December 1956 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The film was released in the UK as Jedda the Uncivilised.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59701496 |title=JEDDA will get new title for U.K. |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=Perth |date=13 February 1955 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Some time after the film was completed and released in locations around the world, the film in Gevacolor was found to have faded from ageing. In 1972 the film was reproduced from original tri-separations found in London.

This was Charles Chauvel's last feature film. He had intended to adapt Kay Glasson Taylor's novel The Wars of the Outer March,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18144464 |title=Mrs. Chauvel in Hollywood. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 December 1949 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} but was hired by the BBC to make the TV series Walkabout. Before he could resume work on his feature projects he died on 11 November 1959.Philip Taylor, "Ken G. Hall", Cinema Papers January 1974, p. 86

The making of the film inspired the 1959 play and later TV play Burst of Summer.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-flawed-landmark-burst-of-summer/|title=The Flawed Landmark: Burst of Summer|date=15 November 2020}}

The groundbreaking film was played for audiences at the Cannes Film Festival 60 years later in 2015 with a restored version.{{cite news |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/05/17/jedda-returns-cannes-film-festival-60-years |title=Jedda returns to the Cannes Film Festival. |newspaper=SBS News |date=2015}}

• Cinema of Australia

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0048227|title=Jedda}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070714114804/http://www.nfsa.afc.gov.au/Screensound/Screenso.nsf National Film and Sound Archive]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060521212922/http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/film/dbase/2003/Jedda/Home.htm Jedda], Murdoch University Media Communication and Culture
• [http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A1270;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Jedda] at National Film and Sound Archive
• [http://www.nla.gov.au/openpublish/index.php/jasal/article/view/320/465 Ben Miller 'The Mirror of Whiteness: Blackface in Charles Chauvel's Jedda ' JASAL Special Issue 2007]
• [http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/jedda/ Jedda] at Australian Screen Online
• [http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/jedda Jedda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217104851/http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/jedda |date=17 February 2015 }} at Oz Movies
• [https://archive.org/details/variety198-1955-06/page/n133 Review of film] at Variety

{{Charles Chauvel}}

{{Films and television series about Indigenous Australia}}

Category:1950s Australian films

Category:1955 films

Category:Australian drama films

Category:Films directed by Charles Chauvel

Category:Films shot in Australia

Category:Films set in the Northern Territory

Category:Films about Aboriginal Australians

Category:1955 drama films

Category:1950s English-language films