| Bush Christmas | |
|---|---|
(image from the original film) |
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| Directed by | Henri Safran |
| Written by | Ted Roberts |
| Starring | John Ewart John Howard Nicole Kidman Mark Spain James Wingrove |
| Music by | The Bushwackers |
| Distributed by | Barron Films |
| Release date(s) | 1983 |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Bush Christmas is an Australian drama film released in 1983.
It is a remake of a 1947 Australian film of the same name, which was based on a novel by Ralph Smart and Mary Cathcart Borer. Also known by the title Prince and the Great Race (which is the title under which the film has been released to video in some parts of the world), the Christmas-themed film is most notable for being one of the first theatrical releases to star Nicole Kidman. It was filmed on location on the Lamington Plateau, Queensland. It is also notable for music by The Bushwackers.
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In rural Australia the Thompson family struggle to keep their farm from foreclosure. The family is placing its hopes on their horse, Prince, winning the New Year's Cup and using the winnings to pay off the debt. Two struggling lowlifes Bill and Sly (John Ewart and John Howard) find out about the horse and steal it, escaping into the nearby mountain range.
With the father off droving cattle and all forms of transportation and communication made inoperable by Bill and Sly before their escape, the Thompson children Helen (Nicole Kidman) and John (Mark Spain), and their English cousin Michael (James Wingrove), saddle up their own horses and go after the crooks on their own. They are assisted by Manalpuy, a local Aboriginal who works on the farm.
Bush Christmas grossed $122,035 at the box office in Australia,[1] which is equivalent to $322,172 in 2009 dollars.