Little Boy Lost (1978 film)

Little Boy Lost is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Nathan Dawes as Stephen Walls, John Hargreaves as Jacko Walls, Lorna Lesley as Dorrie Walls, Tony Barry as Constable O'Dea and Steve Dodd as William Stanley, the Aboriginal tracker.

This article is about the 1978 film. For other articles using the name, see Little Boy Lost (disambiguation).

Little Boy Lost
Directed byTerry Bourke
Produced byPhillip Avalon
Alan Spires
Written byTerry Bourke
George Seaton
StarringBrian Anderson
Tony Barry
Don Crosby
Nathan Dawes
Music byBob Young
Distributed byFilmways Australian
Release date
16 November 1978 (1978-11-16)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$395,000[1]

Johnny Ashcroft and Gay Kayler performed the vocals on the movie sound track, also a specially recorded version of the Little Boy Lost hit song, which is played at the end of the film.

Scenes were shot on location in Guyra, Tubbumurra and Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia. The World Premiere was held in Armidale, New South Wales. Johnny Ashcroft and Gay Kayler sang the Little Boy Lost song from the movie live on stage to Nathan Dawes and his stand-in, Toshi Bourke.

Synopsis

The film is based on the true story of a missing Australian child, Stephen Walls (played by Dawes). After his disappearance, a massive search is organized across the Guyra area as its citizens spring into action.

The problem in finding Stephen is that he was taught to not speak to strangers, and is afraid of those who attempt to speak to him. He does not know that the crowds of people attempting to make contact are not enemies, but have volunteered to find him.

Four days elapse and hope of his rescue diminishes. A group of searchers finally spot the boy and are able to convince him that they are there to help him get back home to his family.

Production

The original director was John Powell and the budget was $150,000. Two weeks into the film in April 1978 the film was running into difficulties; $75,000 had been spent already and cheques to the crew were bouncing. Producer Allan Spiers called in Phil Avalon, who had just made a successful low budget film with Summer City. Avalon looked at the budget, felt that $200,000 was required to finish the film, and succeeded in raising the additional funds from the investors, who he says were state government senators from Brisbane. Avalon negotiated with the actors to reduce their fees, which he felt were too excessive for a low budget film. Avalon says ninety percent of the cast agreed to do this. He then tried to do this with the crew, and several of them left, including the cinematographer. Unions threatened to shut down the film but Avalon managed to keep it afloat.[2]

Avalon hired Terry Bourke, who had directed him on Inn of the Damned, to rewrite the script and direct the rest of the movie with Powell. The rest of the film was completed in nine days.[3]

Stephen Walls, who inspired the story, plays a small role.[4]

Release

The film premiered in Armidale, NSW.[5][6]

Avalon says he and Bourke fell out over the editing of the film and that Bourke "refused to listen. I could have fired him but rather than go through the process I walked and took my name off the film." Avalon quit the film industry for the next five years.[7]

Terry Bourke later sued producer Alan Spires, production company John Powell Productions and distributors Filmways for $6,130 in unpaid wages.[8]

Avalon says the film "was a very unhappy experience. The film didn't do any real business. The day-to-day pressure of dealing with finance, unions, crew and talent who had not forgiven me for the reduction in their salaries, saw me lose weight and keep to myself. When it finished I decided to break from the film industry. Under pressure I also sought help from a crew member, which was a mistake. After the movie, Karmen [his wife] and I decided to separate. It was one of the worst years of my life."[9]

References
  1. Suzanne Brown, "Little Boy Lost", Australian Film 1978-92, Oxford Uni Press 1993 p18
  2. Avalon, Phil (2015). From Steel City to Hollywood. New Holland. p. 159-161.
  3. David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p264
  4. "Stars simply want to go back home". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 12 July 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. "Little Boy Lost may shy off the first-night glitter". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 8 November 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  6. "PEOPLE". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 13 December 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  7. Avalon, Phil (2015). From Steel City to Hollywood. New Holland. p. 124.
  8. "Little Boy Litigation", Cinema Papers, Dec-Jan 1979-80 p597
  9. Avalon p 163
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