Knowledge

A Town Like Alice (film)

Source 📝

238: 294:
no trouble identifying the thief; the chickens are nowhere about, and Joe was the only one who left the depot. When the women are found eating chicken, Jean claims they bought the birds, but that is a transparent lie. When Joe sees Jean being relentlessly questioned, he confesses and attacks the interrogator. As punishment, Sugaya has him crucified, nailed to a large tree. The prisoners, both men and women, are forced to watch all day and night.
273:. When she stays to help the wife of her employer, Mr. Holland, with her three children, she is taken prisoner, along with other white men, women and children. The men are taken away to prison. The women and children, however, are made to walk from place to place, looking for a ship to transport them to Singapore, but at each place, there is no ship available, and the Japanese authorities have no wish to take responsibility for them. 49: 514:, who concentrated on the first half of the novel (the second half being set in Australia). Producer Joseph Janni sent a copy of the script to director Jack Lee, who later recalled, "the script made me cry and I knew it would make audiences cry too". Janni and Lee took the script to Rank, who agreed to finance it. Lee did further work on the script with Lipscombe and then with Richard Mason. 293:
They run into Joe twice more. The second time, he secretly drops them a package of food as he drives by in a truck. They stop at the same place that night, and Joe and Jean talk some more. She reveals she is not married. Joe steals chickens for them from the harsh Captain Sugaya. However, Sugaya has
521:
and Malaya, and "soon realised that if we cast the film in the UK, decided on their exact clothing and filmed their characteristic way of walking, we could find a second cast in Malaya, and, if we were careful, we could work very close to them on location". Lee shot some footage in Malaya then went
276:
On their trek, the group meet a young Australian soldier, Sergeant Joe Harman, also a prisoner, who drives a truck for the Japanese. He steals petrol and barters it for medicine for them. He and Jean strike up a friendship in the little time they have together, and he tells her about
622: 542:
because of fears it would offend the Japanese. "The festivals are just a joke – a film-selling 'racket' which offers the chance for vulgar display and reckless extravagance", said Peter Finch. "They serve no cultural purpose and the awards don't mean a thing".
284:
One day, the eldest Holland child, a young boy, wanders off into the jungle and is fatally bitten by a snake. At one stop, a Japanese officer likes Jean's looks and offers to let her and the baby remain, while the rest travel another 200 miles to
289:
on the east coast. Jean turns away but another young woman is not so choosy after four months of walking and the deaths of four women and the boy so gets into the officer's car. More die, including four-year-old Jane Holland.
305:, asking only for food and a place to sleep, telling them that over half of the marchers have died. The elders agree and they stay there until the war ends. Afterwards, Jean gives Mr. Holland back his only surviving child. 281:, the town where he grew up. Jean does not correct his impression that she is married (she is carrying the youngest of Mrs. Holland's children, the mother having succumbed to the endless walking). 553:
It was the third most popular film at the British box office in 1956. The film's success saw Rank put Jack Lee and Joseph Janni under contract for two years as a team. They went on to make
319:, where Joe has resumed his job as manager of a cattle station. Joe, however, has gone to London to find her. Finally re-united at Alice Springs Airport, they embrace. 234:. The film does not follow the whole novel, concluding at the end of part two and truncating or omitting much detail. It was partially filmed in Malaya and Australia. 250:
In post-Second World War London, a young woman, Jean Paget, is informed by solicitor Noel Strachan that she has a large inheritance. Jean uses part of it to build a
1213: 1193: 1173: 1168: 301:, so that he can bear his disgrace alone. When he dies of exhaustion, Jean asks the elders of a Malayan village if they may stay and work in the 77: 1208: 1198: 258:. The village women will no longer have to walk so far each day to collect water. She lived and worked there for three years during the war. 679: 1188: 1015: 501:
screen tested for a small role and was given it, but had to turn it down to do another film. Jack Lee had worked with Peter Finch on
869: 785: 757: 707: 1178: 1101: 577: 555: 31: 1203: 1183: 1158: 1125: 634: 1163: 1153: 924: 651: 597: 1025: 490: 59: 308:
The film returns to the present, and Jean is stunned to learn that Joe survived his ordeal. She travels to
1109: 1008: 984: 1053: 841: 813: 564: 262: 142: 1037: 1061: 1045: 539: 1148: 1117: 1085: 494: 929: 906: 48: 1001: 965: 585: 507:, and cast him as the male lead. "I don't think we ever considered anyone else for the part." 227: 112: 493:
expressed interest in making a film of the novel in 1952. At one stage it was announced that
17: 1077: 1069: 527: 503: 368: 329: 270: 219: 98: 426: 362: 237: 297:
Sugaya orders the women to continue marching; he leaves them only one guard, the kindly
593:
and ABC TV series based on the female prisoners of war in Singapore during World War II
523: 511: 374: 255: 73: 1142: 547: 417: 350: 309: 278: 132: 122: 988: 970: 389: 380: 341: 302: 266: 215: 88: 978: 942: 560: 498: 335: 231: 223: 102: 69: 567:
but was not successful and was pulled from release in other parts of the USA.
395: 356: 313: 993: 864: 836: 808: 780: 752: 702: 674: 646: 518: 411: 298: 959: 602: 316: 286: 907:"The popular cash and culture in the postwar British cinema industry" 30:
This article is about the 1956 film. For the 1981 TV miniseries, see
236: 251: 997: 590: 891:"BRITISH FILMS MADE MOST MONEY: BOX-OFFICE SURVEY" 559:which also starred Finch. The film was released in 312:, then to the (fictional) town of Willstown in the 199: 191: 181: 171: 148: 138: 128: 118: 108: 94: 84: 65: 55: 41: 781:"Australia's good showing at Cannes Film Festival" 601:– film based on the female prisoners of war in 1009: 526:, where the majority of the film was shot at 8: 546:The film's Australian premiere was held at 1016: 1002: 994: 881:– via National Library of Australia. 853:– via National Library of Australia. 825:– via National Library of Australia. 797:– via National Library of Australia. 769:– via National Library of Australia. 719:– via National Library of Australia. 691:– via National Library of Australia. 663:– via National Library of Australia. 47: 38: 265:to 1942. Jean is working in an office in 214:is a 1956 British drama film produced by 913:. Vol. 32, no. 3. p. 259. 734: 732: 730: 728: 726: 615: 581:– 1981 Australian television adaptation 925:"Too British For U.S. – Or Vice Versa" 655:. Adelaide. 31 October 1952. p. 2 845:. Melbourne. 28 July 1956. p. 13 538:The film was withdrawn from the 1956 7: 837:"Weekender 5 Glamor was left behind" 817:. Melbourne. 18 July 1956. p. 9 683:. Perth. 16 January 1955. p. 38 1194:Films based on works by Nevil Shute 1174:Films set in the Northern Territory 740:An Autobiography of British Cinema 25: 675:"FINCH'S BIG CHANCE IN U.K. FILM" 471:Domenic Lieven as Michael Rhodes 450:Josephine Miller as Daphne Adams 761:. 21 September 1955. p. 60 753:"BOOM IN FILMS ABOUT AUSTRALIA" 459:Charles Marshall as Well Digger 441:Philippa Morgan as Mrs. Lindsay 1169:Films shot at Pinewood Studios 578:A Town Like Alice (miniseries) 401:Vu Ngoc Tuan as Captain Yanata 347:Tran Van Khe as Captain Sugaya 32:A Town Like Alice (miniseries) 1: 1214:Films scored by Mátyás Seiber 1209:British black-and-white films 870:The Australian Women's Weekly 786:The Australian Women's Weekly 758:The Australian Women's Weekly 708:The Australian Women's Weekly 435:Virginia Clay as Mrs. Knowles 203:1,037,005 admissions (France) 27:1956 British film by Jack Lee 18:A Town Like Alice (1956 film) 1199:1950s English-language films 1126:From the Tropics to the Snow 933:. 22 January 1958. p. 1 711:. 6 November 1957. p. 3 703:"The mysterious Mrs. Brando" 477:Meg Buckenham as Mary Graham 456:Sanny Bin Hussan as Mat Amin 444:Dorothy Moss as Mrs. O'Brien 873:. 8 August 1956. p. 33 432:Mary Allen as Mrs. Anderson 228:1950 novel of the same name 1230: 1189:Films directed by Jack Lee 809:"Cannes a joke says Finch" 623:French box office for 1957 510:The script was written by 447:Gwenda Ewen as Mrs. Rhodes 407:Nakanishi as Captain Nishi 386:John Fabian as Mr. Holland 29: 1032: 789:. 23 May 1956. p. 23 480:Geoffrey Hawkins as Robin 46: 465:Cameron Moore as Freddie 453:Edwina Carroll as Fatima 438:Bay White as Mrs. Davies 423:June Shaw as Mrs. Graham 404:Yamada as Captain Takata 893:The Manchester Guardian 742:, Methueun 1997 p. 357 468:Margaret Eaden as Jane 261:The film then goes in 254:in a small village in 242: 157:1 March 1956 1179:Films set in Malaysia 1054:The Woman in the Hall 565:Hartford, Connecticut 497:would play the lead. 474:Peter John as Timothy 240: 226:that is based on the 143:The Rank Organisation 1062:Once a Jolly Swagman 540:Cannes Film Festival 462:Jane White as Brenda 359:as Mrs. Dudley Frost 344:as Japanese Sergeant 1204:1950s British films 1184:Films set in London 1159:British drama films 1118:Circle of Deception 1110:The Captain's Table 1086:Turn the Key Softly 895:28 December 1956: 3 625:at Box Office Story 495:Olivia de Havilland 398:as British Sergeant 269:in Malaya when the 1102:Robbery Under Arms 1024:Films directed by 738:Brian MacFarlane, 556:Robbery Under Arms 243: 1164:Pacific War films 1136: 1135: 1094:A Town Like Alice 1038:The Pilot is Safe 980:A Town Like Alice 972:A Town Like Alice 961:A Town Like Alice 586:Tenko (TV series) 429:as Mrs. Carstairs 353:as Miss Horsefall 211:A Town Like Alice 207: 206: 113:Geoffrey Unsworth 42:A Town Like Alice 16:(Redirected from 1221: 1154:1956 drama films 1078:South of Algiers 1070:The Wooden Horse 1018: 1011: 1004: 995: 947: 946: 940: 938: 921: 915: 914: 902: 896: 889: 883: 882: 880: 878: 861: 855: 854: 852: 850: 833: 827: 826: 824: 822: 805: 799: 798: 796: 794: 777: 771: 770: 768: 766: 749: 743: 736: 721: 720: 718: 716: 699: 693: 692: 690: 688: 671: 665: 664: 662: 660: 643: 637: 632: 626: 620: 528:Pinewood Studios 504:The Wooden Horse 330:Virginia McKenna 220:Virginia McKenna 164: 162: 99:Virginia McKenna 51: 39: 21: 1229: 1228: 1224: 1223: 1222: 1220: 1219: 1218: 1139: 1138: 1137: 1132: 1046:By Sea and Land 1028: 1022: 956: 951: 950: 936: 934: 923: 922: 918: 905:Thumim, Janet. 904: 903: 899: 890: 886: 876: 874: 865:"BUSH PREMIERE" 863: 862: 858: 848: 846: 835: 834: 830: 820: 818: 807: 806: 802: 792: 790: 779: 778: 774: 764: 762: 751: 750: 746: 737: 724: 714: 712: 701: 700: 696: 686: 684: 673: 672: 668: 658: 656: 645: 644: 640: 633: 629: 621: 617: 612: 605:in World War II 573: 536: 488: 483: 427:Armine Sandford 383:as Mrs. Holland 363:Maureen Swanson 325: 271:Japanese invade 248: 186: 174: 167: 160: 158: 151: 101: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1227: 1225: 1217: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1151: 1141: 1140: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1130: 1122: 1114: 1106: 1098: 1090: 1082: 1074: 1066: 1058: 1050: 1042: 1033: 1030: 1029: 1023: 1021: 1020: 1013: 1006: 998: 992: 991: 976: 968: 955: 954:External links 952: 949: 948: 916: 897: 884: 856: 828: 800: 772: 744: 722: 694: 666: 652:The Advertiser 638: 627: 614: 613: 611: 608: 607: 606: 594: 582: 572: 569: 535: 532: 512:W. P. Lipscomb 487: 484: 482: 481: 478: 475: 472: 469: 466: 463: 460: 457: 454: 451: 448: 445: 442: 439: 436: 433: 430: 424: 421: 415: 408: 405: 402: 399: 393: 387: 384: 378: 375:Nora Nicholson 372: 366: 360: 354: 348: 345: 339: 333: 326: 324: 321: 247: 244: 205: 204: 201: 197: 196: 193: 189: 188: 185:United Kingdom 183: 179: 178: 175: 172: 169: 168: 166: 165: 154: 152: 149: 146: 145: 140: 139:Distributed by 136: 135: 130: 126: 125: 120: 116: 115: 110: 109:Cinematography 106: 105: 96: 92: 91: 86: 82: 81: 74:W. P. Lipscomb 67: 63: 62: 57: 53: 52: 44: 43: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1226: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1160: 1157: 1155: 1152: 1150: 1147: 1146: 1144: 1128: 1127: 1123: 1120: 1119: 1115: 1112: 1111: 1107: 1104: 1103: 1099: 1096: 1095: 1091: 1088: 1087: 1083: 1080: 1079: 1075: 1072: 1071: 1067: 1064: 1063: 1059: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1048: 1047: 1043: 1040: 1039: 1035: 1034: 1031: 1027: 1019: 1014: 1012: 1007: 1005: 1000: 999: 996: 990: 986: 982: 981: 977: 974: 973: 969: 967: 963: 962: 958: 957: 953: 944: 932: 931: 926: 920: 917: 912: 908: 901: 898: 894: 888: 885: 872: 871: 866: 860: 857: 844: 843: 838: 832: 829: 816: 815: 810: 804: 801: 788: 787: 782: 776: 773: 760: 759: 754: 748: 745: 741: 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 723: 710: 709: 704: 698: 695: 682: 681: 676: 670: 667: 654: 653: 648: 642: 639: 636: 631: 628: 624: 619: 616: 609: 604: 600: 599: 598:Paradise Road 595: 592: 588: 587: 583: 580: 579: 575: 574: 570: 568: 566: 562: 558: 557: 551: 549: 548:Alice Springs 544: 541: 533: 531: 529: 525: 520: 515: 513: 508: 506: 505: 500: 496: 492: 491:Leslie Norman 485: 479: 476: 473: 470: 467: 464: 461: 458: 455: 452: 449: 446: 443: 440: 437: 434: 431: 428: 425: 422: 419: 418:Geoffrey Keen 416: 413: 409: 406: 403: 400: 397: 394: 391: 388: 385: 382: 379: 377:as Mrs. Frith 376: 373: 370: 369:Renée Houston 367: 364: 361: 358: 355: 352: 351:Jean Anderson 349: 346: 343: 340: 338:as Joe Harman 337: 334: 332:as Jean Paget 331: 328: 327: 322: 320: 318: 315: 311: 310:Alice Springs 306: 304: 300: 295: 291: 288: 282: 280: 279:Alice Springs 274: 272: 268: 264: 259: 257: 253: 245: 241:Alice Springs 239: 235: 233: 229: 225: 221: 218:and starring 217: 213: 212: 202: 198: 194: 190: 184: 180: 176: 170: 156: 155: 153: 147: 144: 141: 137: 134: 133:Matyas Seiber 131: 127: 124: 123:Sidney Hayers 121: 117: 114: 111: 107: 104: 100: 97: 93: 90: 87: 83: 79: 78:Richard Mason 75: 71: 68: 64: 61: 58: 54: 50: 45: 40: 37: 33: 19: 1124: 1116: 1108: 1100: 1093: 1092: 1084: 1076: 1068: 1060: 1052: 1044: 1036: 989:Screenonline 979: 975:at Oz Movies 971: 960: 941:– via 935:. Retrieved 928: 919: 910: 900: 892: 887: 875:. Retrieved 868: 859: 847:. Retrieved 840: 831: 819:. Retrieved 812: 803: 791:. Retrieved 784: 775: 763:. Retrieved 756: 747: 739: 713:. Retrieved 706: 697: 685:. Retrieved 680:Sunday Times 678: 669: 657:. Retrieved 650: 641: 630: 618: 596: 584: 576: 554: 552: 545: 537: 517:Lee flew to 516: 509: 502: 489: 420:as Solicitor 390:Vincent Ball 381:Eileen Moore 342:Kenji Takaki 307: 303:paddy fields 296: 292: 283: 275: 267:Kuala Lumpur 260: 249: 216:Joseph Janni 210: 209: 208: 173:Running time 150:Release date 89:Joseph Janni 80:(screenplay) 36: 943:Archive.org 561:Los Angeles 530:in London. 499:Anna Kashfi 336:Peter Finch 232:Nevil Shute 224:Peter Finch 103:Peter Finch 85:Produced by 70:Nevil Shute 56:Directed by 1149:1956 films 1143:Categories 937:20 October 659:11 January 610:References 589:– 1981–84 486:Production 396:Tim Turner 357:Marie Lohr 314:Queensland 200:Box office 161:1956-03-01 66:Written by 842:The Argus 814:The Argus 519:Singapore 410:Ikeda as 263:flashback 187:Australia 182:Countries 119:Edited by 72:(novel); 1026:Jack Lee 647:"LONDON" 571:See also 522:back to 414:Sergeant 412:Kempetei 371:as Ebbey 365:as Ellen 299:sergeant 192:Language 129:Music by 95:Starring 60:Jack Lee 983:at the 930:Variety 635:BFI.org 603:Sumatra 534:Release 524:Britain 317:outback 287:Kuantan 195:English 177:117 min 159: ( 1129:(1964) 1121:(1960) 1113:(1959) 1105:(1957) 1097:(1956) 1089:(1953) 1081:(1953) 1073:(1950) 1065:(1948) 1057:(1947) 1049:(1944) 1041:(1941) 911:Screen 877:17 May 849:17 May 821:17 May 793:17 May 765:17 May 715:17 May 687:7 July 392:as Ben 256:Malaya 966:IMDb 939:2021 879:2012 851:2012 823:2012 795:2012 767:2012 717:2012 689:2012 661:2016 563:and 323:Cast 252:well 246:Plot 222:and 76:and 987:'s 985:BFI 964:at 591:BBC 230:by 1145:: 927:. 909:. 867:. 839:. 811:. 783:. 755:. 725:^ 705:. 677:. 649:. 550:. 1017:e 1010:t 1003:v 945:. 163:) 34:. 20:)

Index

A Town Like Alice (1956 film)
A Town Like Alice (miniseries)

Jack Lee
Nevil Shute
W. P. Lipscomb
Richard Mason
Joseph Janni
Virginia McKenna
Peter Finch
Geoffrey Unsworth
Sidney Hayers
Matyas Seiber
The Rank Organisation
Joseph Janni
Virginia McKenna
Peter Finch
1950 novel of the same name
Nevil Shute

well
Malaya
flashback
Kuala Lumpur
Japanese invade
Alice Springs
Kuantan
sergeant
paddy fields
Alice Springs

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.