Almanac Cinema: Music: Hear My Eyes – ‘Wake in Fright’
Hamer Hall 16th August 2024
The classic Australian film Wake in Fright needs little introduction.
Made in 1970 and directed by Ted Kotcheff, it is a masterpiece of Australian cinema and began what was in my humble opinion, a renaissance for authentic Australian movie making in the ’70s.
The plot is simple. A teacher from Sydney has been working in a remote and tiny community. It’s end of term so he’s relieved to be heading home for six weeks but must get a train to a town known as ‘The Yabba’ in order to catch a plane to Sydney.
After getting caught up with some locals he inevitably loses all his money on two up games. From that point his world disintegrates to an incredible week of alcoholic haze assisted by plenty of dust, sweat, violence and flies.
This 4K restoration on a giant screen genuinely pops and leaves you dry in the mouth. Wake in Fright is perfect if you have a drinking problem and is the first to highlight the very worst of Australian male behaviour. You’ll never want a beer again after seeing this I promise.
Two of my all-time favourite films came not long after Wake in Fright. Both Don’s Party and Sunday Too Far Away are magnificent films that again focussed on misogyny and our nation’s collective love of alcohol.
The acting and extras in Wake in Fright are superb as is the cinematography. The most interesting performance comes from British actor Donald Pleasance playing an alcoholic Australian doctor.
He lives in absolute squalor and has no income. Anyone he attends to in town pays him in alcohol and some food. He’s an appalling individual who is utterly captivating as he descends into complete madness.
So who are Hear My Eyes? They are a company that play classic films in huge venues and strip out the soundtracks completely. They then hire superb musicians to interpret their own soundtracks and play it live, concurrent to the movie.
This is our third experience with Hear My Eyes and each one has been equally compelling.
The first was The Coen Brother’s No Country For Old Men, with Tropical F..k Storm playing the soundtrack. The second was Chopper, with the legendary Mick Harvey and band playing live.
The films are so good that you barely notice the music, until perhaps when there’s sections of no dialogue and the music gets louder and more powerful. It must be a great challenge for the musicians but all three shows have been seamless.
So why pay extra for the live band? Well it’s hard to describe the experience but I can honestly say it massively enhances the film. The musicians play for ten minutes or so prior to the film then suddenly you’re staring at a giant screen and the music fuses gently into your sub-conscious.
The Wake in Fright soundtrack was provided by millennial darlings, Surprise Chef. It was very soulful with some jazz influences which worked paradoxically with the abrasive nature of the film.
It was a full house of 2,500 people which is incredible given that, sadly, no-one seems to attend the cinemas these days. I think we are still in mourning that our local Regent Theatre has closed but maybe a new owner could stage a Hear My Eyes in Ballarat.
Hear My Eyes have staged this event as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival but occasionally they will do a random one. We highly recommend experiencing what is a truly unique experience.
More from Ian Wilson can be read Here.
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About Ian Wilson
Former army aircraft mechanic, sales manager, VFA footballer and coach. Now mental health worker and blogger. Lifelong St Kilda FC tragic and father to 2 x girls.
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Great movie, frightening in fact – it makes you want to jump out of your seat and yell ‘don’t’! You know want what is to happen and there is nothing you can do about it. Must watch it again.
Thanks Ian. Hear My Eyes is an interesting concept and obviously an enjoyable experience.
Wake In Fright was a very scary movie. So too the book by Kenneth Cook.
Early on, before the horror begins, there is a wonderful description of the pub owner at Bundanyabba.
False good fellowship struggled with satisfied avarice to make up the expression on his hot, wet, mobile face; and it was even money which was the more successful.
Brilliant
Yes it’s a cracker Col. I suggest having a glass of water nearby!
I believe the book was a year 12 read in the 60’s Peter. A great description you’ve highlighted in the book. The very first scene in the pub is wonderful. A bunch of heads only a mother could love! Cheers
Great review of an amazing concept Ian. From memory Cook was an intriguing character who died relatively young. His wife ( second I think) wrote a book about him a few years back.
Thanks heaps Barry. I’ll definitely follow up on Cook’s story. Much appreciated
Thanks Ian.
The release of Wake in Fright coincided with a growth of a new found confidence in Australian culture as our films, books, songs set to break out of the cultural cringe that had suffocated us for a long time. Singing songs about Pasadena, Arkansas, actors talking with British accents, were only too common around this time.
Wake in Fright is an iconic film, challenging, unpleasant, reflective of some aspects of Australian culture then. 50 years later Australia has changed immensely for better, or worse, can be debated but not here. We certainly regained a film industry something that had faded away after the early decades of the 20th century. Wake in Fright was quickly followed by the Barry McKenzie films, Alvin Purple films, all of which showed a changing Australia.
Good stuff Ian, enjoy your films.
Glen!
The Yabba was based on Broken Hill. I had a similarly disorienting weekend there in the 70’s for the big Guinness Gold Harp race meeting that coincided with the Golden Slipper in Sydney.
I both read the book and saw the movie in the 70’s. I think the book was more disturbing because you lived inside the protagonist’s torment more than viewing it from the outside.
Chips Rafferty played the laconic town copper in the movie. It put me off gambling and heavy drinking – eventually – after 30 years of trial and error.
Yes Glen Gough opened up the purse strings for the arts and we saw an explosion of authenticity in film making versus the cringe you mentioned. For better or for worse it needed to happen.
Chips was brilliant as the local cop Pete and I’m glad it helped to chuck in the gambling and booze. How could it not!
Thanks gents
Sounds like a great concept, Ian (no pun intended)
I largely agree with your contention that Wake In Fright was at the forefront of a renewal.
Great to see you mention Sunday Too Far Away – what a great film !!
Much appreciated Smokie cheers
Hi Ian-great review. I flew down from Sydney to experience the event. Wake In Fright was rediscovered about 20 years ago after the master copy was found in the Film and Television archives in Canberra. It was restored and released on DVD many years ago.
The 4k restoration on the big screen with the re-imagined live soundtrack performed by wonderful musicians was spellbinding.
Wake In Fright stands up as perhaps the greatest Australian cinematic pieces of all time and I have no doubt it will remain so for decades to come – a masterpiece to treasure..