THE GREAT MacARTHY

Australia, 1975, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Jarratt, Judy Morris, Kate Fitzpatrick, Sandra Mc Gregor, Barry Humphries.
Directed by David Baker.

The Great Mac Arthy: What will non-Victorians make of this football-worship comedy? In fact, what will Victorians make of it? It begins like an Aussie Monty Python sketch, veers into the lavatory and corny overacting, shows us the humorous and ugly side of the Victorian Football League, its patrons, its TV commentators and TV commercials and, by the end, somehow or other is in a local version of Fellini psychological liberation combined with the enigmatic ending of 'Blow Up'. It is a bit hard to sit through with such mixture of styles and acting. Judy Morris and Barry Humphries are excellent and John Jarratt, is a kind of innocent abroad in a rather unlikeable Melbourne.

1. How enjoyable and interesting a film? How successful? The film was not a critical or box-office success. Why? Themes? Too local? Styles? The focus on the title on Macarthy himself and his greatness? The original novel was A Salute to the Great Macarthy. What kind of salute was this? The film looked conscious of its style; comment on the use of colour, musical themes, atmosphere of realism, Australianism, documentary styles, especially for the football sequences, the transition to fantasy? The editing to blend the various styles?

2. The impact on Victorians? Humorous, reflection of the way of life, critique? The film for non-Victorians and their understanding? Was the film too localised? Or did it transcend its local limitations?

3. The focus on the themes of Australian Rules; as a sport, as a business, the men involved, sportsmen, businessmen? The long tradition of Australian Rules in Victoria? Could the audience universalise these sports and business themes for all sports or countries?

4. How important were the themes of society, greed? The aims of the film presenting a story, character, critique? Macarthy as a symbol of this kind of world? The tone of the pre-credit sequence with its liveliness, style, humour? The establishing of Kyneton and the bush? The importance of football and football playing? The types who play it? Status? The suddenness of the kidnap? The balloon as an apparition? The celestial overtones with the flashing lights? The personalities of the kidnappers and their style? The promise in this pre-credits sequence and its fulfilment?

5. How attractive a young man was Macarthy himself? His strengths of character, weaknesses? As a young man from the country being introduced to the city? Being kidnapped? His attitude to the VFL? His involvement in football, love of the game, training? Teamwork? His interaction with the other members in the team? His study? The personalities of the coaches, the business men and the contrast with him? How did he stand out as the innocent in the city?

6. How did Macarthy change during his stay in the city? What were the main factors in the change? City life and sophistication, complications? Football? His being manipulated? Study and the involvement with Miss Russell? What type of woman was she? Study, sexuality? The humour and satire in the sex scenes?

7. The contrast with Vera as a type, her response to Macarthy, eg. the drive-in sequence? The contrast with Andrea and her society background? Attitudes to sexuality?

8. Comment on the film's portrayal of business men and types? Colonel Boyle-Miller? and his home, attitudes, position and status? Attitude towards Macarthy? Comment on the 'sex-romp' sequences and their appropriateness to the film? Comic aspects?

9. The presentation of sport, goals of sport, mystique, participation, audience hysteria? The competitiveness of sport, the skill? The uglier side of sport? How well did the film portray the matches, the cinematic technique used to communicate the game? Television influence? How comprehensible were the matches for the audience?
10. The build-up to the ending? Macarthy in a fantasy world? Withdrawing from reality? The comic-book overtones, the existential parable of overtones? Macarthy alienated and wandering? An appropriate ending for this salute to him? His decline and disillusionment? The corruption of innocence?

11. The quality of the Australian jokes, the butt of Australian jokes, the attacks? How much valuable Australian self-understanding through comic modes?