Stone (1974 film)

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Stone

Directed by	Sandy Harbutt
Produced by	David Hannay
Written by	Sandy Harbutt Michael Robinson
Starring	Ken Shorter Sandy Harbutt
Music by	Billy Green
Cinematography	Graham Lind ASC
Editing by	Ian Barry
Studio	Hedon Productions
Distributed by	British Empire Films (Australia)
Release dates	28 June 1974
Running time	126 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	A$192,000 ^[1]
Box office	$1,572,000 (Australia)

A gun emplacement used in one of the scenes in the movie. In the scene an under cover police officer (Stone) was initiated into the bikie gang

Stone is a 1974 Australian film produced and directed by Sandy Harbutt. It was a low budget movie, written by Sandy Harbutt and Michael Robinson.

Police officer Stone goes undercover with the Gravediggers outlaw motorcycle gang, to find out who is murdering their members, one by one.

The film stars Ken Shorter and features Rebecca Gilling, Bill Hunter and Helen Morse. The film's soundtrack was composed by Billy Green and featured some members of his group Sanctuary. Motorcycles featured include the legendary Kawasaki Z1(900). Stone initially rides a Norton.

The promotional trailer clip on YouTube features narration by radio and media personality John Laws. The film was featured in the documentary, Not Quite Hollywood, in which Quentin Tarantino enthuses about his admiration for the film.

Plot

When several members of the GraveDiggers outlaw motorcycle club are murdered, Sydney detective Stone (Ken Shorter) is sent to investigate. Led by the Undertaker (Sandy Harbutt), a Vietnam war veteran, the GraveDiggers allow Stone to pose as a gang member. Leaving behind society girlfriend Amanda (Helen Morse), Stone begins to identify with the Undertaker and his comrades Hooks (Roger Ward), Toad (Hugh Keays-Byrne), Dr Death (Vincent Gil), Captain Midnight (Bindi Williams), Septic (Dewey Hungerford) and Vanessa (Rebecca Gilling), the Undertaker’s girlfriend. Amid violent confrontations with the Black Hawks, a rival gang the GraveDiggers hold responsible, Stone uncovers a political conspiracy behind the killings. When the truth is revealed, Stone must choose between his job and his loyalty to the GraveDiggers.

Cast

Ken Shorter as Stone
Sandy Harbutt as Undertaker
Deryck Barnes as Doctor Townes
Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toad
Roger Ward as Hooks
Vincent Gil as Dr Death
Dewey Hungerford as Septic
James H Bowles as Stinkfinger
Bindi Williams as Captain Midnight
John Ivkovitch as Zonk
Lex Mitchell as Ballini
Rhod Walker as Chairman
Slim de Grey as Inspector Hannigan
Owen Weingott as Alder
Ray Bennett as Sergeant Larson
Bill Hunter as barman
Helen Morse as Amanda
Rebecca Gilling as Vanessa
Sue Lloyd as Tart
Ros Talamini as Sunshine
Victoria Anoux as Flossie
Jane Gilling as Eurydice
Eva Ivkotich as Tiger
Billy Green as 69
Michael Robinson as Pinball
Gary McDonald as bike mechanic
Terry Bader as hamburger man
Lachlan Jamieson as disco proprietary
Drew Forsythe
Ros Spiers

Production

Sandy Harbutt got the idea in 1970 when he wrote a script for an episode of the TV series The Long Arm in which he was appearing.^[1]

The Australian Film Development Corporation invested $154,000 in the film. The remainder of the budget and most of the technical facilities were provided by Ross Wood Productions in Sydney. The movie was shot in late 1973.^[1]

Locations

All Sydney, Australia

Kurnell on Botany Bay for the opening scene at the first British landing site of Captain James Cook in 1770.Google Map link
The Domain across from the Art Gallery of NSW; public forum and the assassination.Google Map link
Lurline Bay for the stunt ride off the cliff into the ocean. Google Map link
Gore Hill Cemetery, near Royal North Shore Hospital. Google Map link
F3 Freeway, north of Sydney (including crossing the Hawkesbury River many times, including in the wrong direction) for the funeral procession.Google Map link
Balmain for the pub ("Forth & Clyde" -now closed) Forth & Clyde Hotel and street fight scenes. Google Map link
Northern Beaches,including Bilgola Beach and Avalon.Google Map link
Neutral Bay and Mosman streets for the "race" and crash scenes (the park has two ovals, an upper and lower, the race starts at the top of Montpelier St at Forsyth park and goes up through Premier St then across to Alfred St next to the fwy and down to Eaton St then back to the first part of Montpelier St at the bottom of Forsyth park then up to were Stone crashes at a s-bend turn in the middle of the park). Google Map link
Middle Head Fortifications on Sydney Harbour at the Gun emplacements. Google Map link
Beehive Casemate Interior scenes for the gangs hide out were shot inside the Beehive Casemate in Obelisk Bay and made to look as though it was part of the Middle Head Fortifications.
Washaway Beach for the dawn swim scene. Google Map link
Lane Cove (mostly Burns Bay Road and River Road) for various group riding scenes.Google Map link

Release

Although Stone was given an "R" rating it grossed $1,572,000 at the box office in Australia,^[2] which is equivalent to $10,611,000 in 2009 dollars. It made a profit to its investors within 18 months.^[1]

Influence

Several of the cast went on to appear in Mad Max (1979).^[3]

Stone Forever

Stone Forever
Directed by	Richard Kuipers
Starring	Ken Shorter Sandy Harbutt
Distributed by	SBS TV
Release dates	11 December 1999
Running time	63 mins
Country	Australia
Language	English

Stone Forever is a 1999 documentary about Stone. Richard Kuipers was contacted by David Hannay and Sandy Harbutt to film a bike ride commemorating the film's 25th anniversary, which led to a full documentary about the impact of the film and the fate of the people who made it.^[4]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998 p278
↑ Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
↑ David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p262
↑ Richard Kuipers, 'THE STONE TRIP - 25 YEARS IN THE MAKING', Urban Cinefile accessed 30 September 2012

External links

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