The Slim Dusty Movie

The Film

The film dramatises the early life and career of Australian country music singer/songwriter Slim Dusty, interspersed with footage of a 1980s round Australia tour by the Slim Dusty family and featuring several songs from Dusty's long career, including Pub With No Beer, When the Rain Tumbles Down in July, Lights on the Hill and Indian Pacific. Slim Dusty was Australia's most prolific musical artist, who died in 2003 while working on his 106th album for EMI Records. His wife Joy McKean and children Anne Kirkpatrick and David Kirpatrick are all accomplished country music singers who perform in the film on stage with Dusty. A number of Dusty's song writers and old friends appear in the film, including Stan Coster and Gordon Parsons.

Directed by Rob Stewart (whose credits include 1983's For the Term of His Natural Life) and with cinematography by David Eggby (Mad Max, 1979), the film features Australian landscapes prominently and is essentially a biographical documentary. Shot in diverse locations, it includes live performances at the Sydney Opera House, Bowen, Charters Towers, Mount Isa, the Peppimenarti, Northern Territory aboriginal settlement and elsewhere.

Cast & crew

Director: Rob StewartProducer: Kent ChadwickCinematography: David EggbyMusic Producer: Rod CoeAudio Post: Roger SavageSound Recordist: Paul ClarkeSound Assistant: Chris PiperConcert Sound Mixer: Clive JonesSlim Dusty as himselfJoy McKean as herselfAnne Kirkpatrick as herselfDavid Kirkpatrick as himselfJon Blake as Young Slim DustyMary Charlston as Young Heather McKeanEarl Francis as the Country Radio announcerJeanette Leigh as Milkbar waitressSandy Paul as Young Joy McKeanBeverley Phillips as Slim's motherJimmy Sharman as himselfTom Travers as Slim's fatherJames Wright as City Radio announcer

Box office

The Slim Dusty Movie grossed $225,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $571,500 in 2009 dollars.