Stone

2-Disc Special Edition

1974, Special Edition rerelease April 2009

Produced and Directed by Sandy Harbutt

Distributed by Severin Films

R2 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

Stone was one of the films that marked the return of Australia’s film industry after World War 2. Produced on a miniscule budget, it nevertheless became a cult Australian classic because of its realistic action and rather sympathetic portrayal of bikers. With the recent revival in interest in Australian films thanks to Not Quite Hollywood Severin’s rerelease of Stone is quite timely. They have also included a lot of historical material that helps explain why the film has achieved its cult status.

The story is fairly straightforward. Members of the Grave Diggers motorbike gang are being killed one by one. The club would like to know who is responsible. So would the police. Stone (Played by Ken Shorter) manages to join the club, although barely tolerated. He gradually forms a grudging respect for the bikers and their ideals. In a post-Vietnam War society there is little room for rebels, yet the bikers’ lifestyle makes them one of the few truly free groups left. University-educated Stone is rather out of place, but he gradually earns the respect of the bikers as they move towards finding out who the killer is.

The film is notable for its action scenes. It is hard to fake high speed riding on a bike, so the riding and accidents are spectacular and spontaneous-looking. Members of the Sydney Hells Angels chapter made up the numbers of the gang, and their easy style on a bike gives the film an authentic look. Unfortunately it also raised the ire of a number of local citizens who felt that bikers were evil and not a suitable subject for a film. The full-frontal nudity and brutal fight scenes did nothing to help, either.

Many of the actors already had film or TV experience, so Sandy Harbutt was able to craft a surprisingly good film considering his small budget. Some of the characters are unforgettable, including Harbutt himself as the head of the gang. Many of the actors got back on their bikes and appeared later in Mad Max. Hugh Keays-Byrne turns in a good performance in Stone, and it is not surprising that he was picked for the role of the menacing leader of the bikie gang in Mad Max.

One who did not return to films was Sandy Harbutt. At this time the Australian Film Development Board, who had supported the film, was replaced by the Australian Film Commission. This body felt that bikie movies did nothing for Australia’s image and they did their best not to promote it at overseas film festivals. They preferred instead beautiful, artistic, incredibly boring films like Picnic At Hanging Rock or great sweeping historical dramas. Finally Harbutt took matters into his own hands and arranged his own promotions and achieved some international sales. Although the AFC got their money back with interest, they appear to have blacklisted Harbutt. He never made another film.

The extras DVD included in this set has an excellent documentary on the Stone phenomenon and its history, and much commentary by Harbutt on the problems of making the film. It also includes interviews, a Director’s slideshow, the documentary The Making of Stone, and others. The Extras disk is almost as good as the film itself.

In 1998 a twenty fifth Stone anniversary celebration was attended by 35,000 bikers, showing just how much status this film has achieved. If you are Australian, the film is important because of its place in the country’s cinema history. If you are not, it is a worthwhile alternative to the traditional bikie movie style. In either case it is a really good watch and will impress you with its quality. For a film made 35 years ago it has aged well. .

This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

If you came to this page directly (and missed our menu), click here to go to the Synergy Magazine front page. (http://www.synergy-magazine.com)