In 1956, a town like alice was released as a movie a uk. A town like alice 1956 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A town like alice had its world premiere in the uk on 1 march 1956 and was screened in ireland and west germany retitled march through hell before premiering in australia. Produced by the seven network, and directed by david stevens, it was the second major adaptation of the book in the united states it was shown on pbs under the masterpiece theatre banner, a rare nonbritish production to be so aired. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. When i saw the bryan brown version of this film, maybe 20 years ago or more, i never considered the possibility that it was a remake of the original. According to a december 28, 1956 article in the manchester uk guardian, this was the third most popular film in the uk in 1956 after reach for.
A town like alice, a 1956 film, also known as rape of malaya in u. A town like alice 1956 movies, tv, celebs, and more. Produced by the rank organisation uk, it became the third most popular film at the british box office that year. A town like alice is a 1950 novel by british author nevil shute.
Although made in 1956, a town like alice has remained enduringly effective and affecting. Rape of malaya directed by jack lee written by nevil shute novel, w. Produced by the seven network, and directed by david stevens, it was the second major adaptation of the book. In singapore, they took their film cameras and doubles to jurong road, tanjong kling the kampong and police station, tampines road and an. In the united states it was shown on pbs under the masterpiece theatre banner, a rare nonbritish production to be so aired. However it has a certain directness and freshness which makes it quite watchable. The alice of the film s title a town like alice 1956 refers to the town of alice springs in. A town like alice tells of a young woman who miraculously survived a japanese death march in world war ii, and of an australian soldier, also a prisoner of war, who offered to help her. Told through the eyes of jean paget, a young englishwoman, the film focuses on the early part of shutes book, which describes expatriate women and children being forced to march across malaya by the japanese army. It is also a far more australiancentred interpretation than the 1956 feature film version of the. Many of us may be more familiar with the fivepart miniseries that was shown on public televisions masterpiece theatre in 1981. Network distributing 6th march, 2017 region 2 dvd parental guidance 1 disc 1h 52m a town like alice 1956 a town like alice dvd from network and the british film. The film is based on the 1950 novel by nevil shute. Some of shutes most popular stories like a town like alice 1950 are set in.
The film makers attitude toward the japanese appears to go like this. Unfollow town like alice dvd to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. If we throw in one good jap to appease the bad day at black rock. In 1941, the advancing japanese army captures a lot of british territory very quickly. The siamburma railway was completed under his command, and he was. Aussie pows in japaneseoccupied wwii malaysia ben vincent ball and joe peter finch in their first scene, meet refugees from the british embassy, led by jean virginia mckenna, in her flashback, in a town like alice, 1958. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. A town like alice 1956 this drama, based on the book by nevil shute, focuses on jean paget virginia mckenna, a british office worker captured by the japanese in malaysia during world war ii. But i had never seen the 1956 feature film with virginia. Virginia mckenna, peter finch produced by vic film production year of release. A town like alice could easily have been written, shot, and acted like a.
With virginia mckenna, peter finch, kenji takaki, tran van khe. A town like alice official trailer a dark story based on nevil shutes novel that tells the story of a group of women and children forced to march through malaya by the japanese in ww ii. A town like alice 1956 a town like alice 1956 user. Slarek is gripped and moved by the film, and enjoys networks new bluray. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
The film is featured here in a brandnew transfer from original film elements in its asexhibited theatrical aspect ratio. It opened in the us in 1958 under the title the rape of malaya the australian gala premiere, or bush premiere as reported by the australian womens weekly 8 august 1956, was held in alice springs at the pioneer. Virginia mckenna jean paget, peter finch joe harman, kenji takaki japanese sergeant, tran van khe captain sugaya, jean anderson miss horsefall, marie lohr mrs. A town like alice nfsa national film and sound archive. The film ends at part two of the novel, and there were later complaints that the film. A newly wealthy english woman returns to malaya to build a well for the villagers who helped her during war. A tale of survival in 1941, the advancing japanese army captures a lot of british territory very quickly. A town like alice is a 1956 british drama film produced by joseph janni and starring virginia mckenna and peter finch that is based on the 1950 novel by. Thinking back, she recalls the australian man who made a great sacrifice to aid her and her fellow prisoners of war. Low this article has been rated as lowimportance on the projects importance scale. It is the story of how lives can be changed by the intriguing combination of loveand economics. A town like alice 1956 is a fine, if incomplete, version of the novel by nevil shute.
Having learned that joe survived the war and returned to australia, she travels to alice springs to find him. A town like alice is a historic romance in which the romantic relationship is the least successful thing about the movie. Oct 11, 2008 from the excellent 1981 australian miniseries, based on the neville shute novel. Jean paget, a young englishwoman, becomes romantically interested in a fellow prisoner of world war ii in malaya, and after liberation emigrates to australia to be with him, where she attempts, by investing her substantial financial inheritance, to. Told through the eyes of jean paget, a young englishwoman, the film focuses on the early part of shutes book, which describes expatriate women and children. A town like alice dvd 1956 network distributing 2017.
From the malaysian embassy in canberra i got all the forms that needed to be completed and sent them all. Reproduced here by kind permission of scott mcconnell. Jean paget, an english woman taken prisoner by the japanese, is among a group of women and children forced to trek through malaya during the occupation. I used a feature film crew to make it, because i really didnt want to do soaps. British film unit for some five days in july 1955, with location filming finishing in. Aug 27, 2014 9 videos play all a town like alice 1956 full movie hamza ahmad is the coronavirus in bible prophecy facing uncertain times with david jeremiah duration. Virginia mckenna and peter finch are excellent in a town like alice, jack lees compelling 1956 adaptation of nevil shutes tale of a group of british women forced to walk across malaya by the invading japanese. This version stared peter finch as joe harmon as an australian pow and virginia mckenn as jean paget, an english woman being marched around the coutnry side of the malay penninsula by her japanese captors. The first half deals with the history of jean paget, in which we follow her to malaya under the japanese occupation. A town like alice, a 1981 australian miniseries, produced by the seven network. The legacy is a romance novel by nevil shute, published in 1950 when shute had newly settled in australia.
Henry talked with scott mcconnell about his career and a town like alice. Further to these problems, a town like alice is really just a boringass film seemingly churned out in an attempt to capitalise on the success of the novel. A town like alice rape of malaya 1956 rotten tomatoes. Dudley frost, maureen swanson ellen, renee houston ebbey, nora nicholson mrs.
The film does not follow the whole novel, concluding at the end of part two and truncating or omitting much detail. A town like alice has been such an intriguing read. Never have i seen a film which removes so much from then source. The alice of the film s title a town like alice 1956 refers to the town of alice springs in the northern territory of australia. A shame really because i was foolishly, in hindsight expecting good things. It is her characters tremendous struggle to survive as a japanese prisoner of war that drives the narrative. Click to read more about a town like alice 1956 film by jack lee. At the conclusion of world war ii jean paget decides to return to malaya and build a well for the. Soon after the end of real hostilities in 1945, hollywood produced the first of many subsequent films from the perspective of prisoners of war held by the japanese. Aussie pows in japaneseoccupied wwii malaysia ben vincent ball and joe peter finch in their first scene, meet refugees from the british embassy, led by jean virginia mckenna, in her flashback, in a town like alice, 1958 view the tcmdb entry for a town like alice 1958.
A town like alice, dvd, warworld war ii, 089859865527. Virginia mckenna and peter finch in fact spend less than 15 minutes of screen time together. The film adaptation of nevil shutes hugely popular 1950 novel a town like alice premiered in australia on 24 july 1956. A town like alice the 1956 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. A town like alice is a 1956 british drama film produced by joseph janni and starring virginia mckenna and peter finch that is based on the 1950 novel by nevil shute. Stub this article has been rated as stubclass on the projects quality scale. Directed by crown film unit veteran jack lee, a town like alice works as both a touching love story and a gritty, tense war drama, notable for its strong ensemble of. A town like alice dvd from network and the british film. A town like alice miniseries is within the scope of wikiproject australia, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of australia and australiarelated topics. The writing had an easy flow to it and the story was certainly gripping, even though this decidedly is a book of two halves.
A town like alice is the story of an english nurse, who is trapped in malaya with a group of englihs women during the japanese invasion. A town like alice is a 1950 novel by british author nevil shute other works based on the novel. A town like alice 1956 dvd, special edition, peter finch new, factory sealed. Jean paget, a prisoner in a japanese pow camp, is forced to trek through malaya at bayonet point during the occupation. This original 1956 adaptation of the nevil shute book, a town like alice, is a great teaser. A town like alice 1956 film by jack lee librarything. A town like alice is a fivehour 1981 australian television adaptation of nevil shutes novel of the same name. Directed by crown film unit veteran jack lee, a town like alice works as both a touching love story and a gritty, tense war drama, notable for its strong ensemble of female actors marie lohr, renee houston, jean anderson. Based on nevil shutes bestselling novel, a town like alice gave audiences a world war ii story with a different british perspective, concentrating on the conflict in asia. From the excellent 1981 australian miniseries, based on the neville shute novel. Jurong road 11th milestone tanjong kling police station.
1306 780 1119 651 932 752 1500 171 1436 913 316 56 1372 58 1308 643 279 1393 1267 1157 1377 120 310 25 1399 159 1058 311 418 1125 1083 775 1413 698 1435 1191 624 1577 1109 1389 1277 812 887 477 473 1117 688 452 842 495