Last Wave, The

Date: 1977
Director: Peter Weir
Production Company: Australian Film Commission, Ayer Productions, Derek Power

Stars: Richard Chamberlain, Olivia Hamnett, David Gulpilil
Location(s): South Australia, New South Wales

Region(s):

Storyline:

A Sydney lawyer defends five Aborigines in a ritualized taboo murder case and in the process learns disturbing things about himself.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

 

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Establishing shot of the Australian outback where thunder is heard but no clouds are seen. IMDb gives the location as the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Australia.

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Children run when the lightning strikes. Hammond, South Australia.

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The wind rises and blows up dust. Hammond, South Australia, Australia,

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The population look to the sky. Hammond, South Australia about 350km north of Adelaide.

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Children play at school before a freak hailstorm. Hammond.

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Blue skies before the hail storm. Hammond once again with Hammond Hotel in the background.

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The view from lawyer David Burton's window. The unimaginatively titled State Office Block, demolished in 1997 advises David Huggan. (RL)

David Burton (Richard Chamberlain) leaves work in the rain.

This is exit of the Wynyard Underground car park that comes out at Cumberland Street, in the Rocks. Although buildings have changed in the area, David believes this to be the location and has included the car park doorway in his shot as well as the old sliding door which is still in action.

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One of David's daughters waits for him to arrive home. Unknown location.

David's father's church.

Ray Glenister has found the location for us. St Peters Anglican Church, Old South Head Road, Sydney, NSW He provides this image, albeit a different aspect shot, from Wikipedia with permission under GNU Free Documentation from Sardaka (talk) (RL)

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David plays with his daughter whilst visiting his father, Reverend Burton.

During a freak rainstorm in Sydney, an Aborigini dies under mysterious circumstances.

The Glenmore Hotel on Gloucester Street in the Rocks with thanks to David Huggan. (RL)

The police arrive at the bar outside which the death occurred.

David Huggan replaces his previous shot with the correct title of the Glenmore Hotel.

Chris Lee and his friends are taken to a Legal Assistance office to meet David. Driving down Essex Street towards Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Sydney.

Spot on location says David Huggan. (RL)

Further along the journey. Turing from Essex Street into Gloucester Street.

And another from David Huggan showing as it is now. (RL)

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The Aborigines arrive at the office. Gloucester Street again. The building has been replaced.

Entering the office to meet David Burton. The corner of Essex Street and Gloucester Street. All of the buildings have disappeared except the one to the extreme left.

David reveals the current "state of play". (RL)

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David Burton's house. 6 Church Road, Mitcham to the south of Adelaide in South Australia located by GWWD.

Chris Lee (David Gulpilil) visits a Shaman. Gloucester Street, Sydney, New South Wales.

David Huggan moves on to "filling the gaps" for us and sends this shot of now a much smarter house. (RL)

Panning from image laswa019 shows the house next door. Gloucester Street in The Rocks, Sydney.

David similarly pans. (RL)

Panning further shows children in the street. Gloucester Street, Sydney. The houses still exist and the steps to the right lead down onto Cambridge Street and Harrington Street.

David Huggan sends this shot of the same corner. The house is in fact now a museum, Susannah Place Museum, so don't expect any changes. (RL)

Establishing shot of redevelopement taking place south of Sydney Cove.

David sends this comparative shot remarking that Australia Square (the round office and retail complex building) that can now just been seen was one of the tallest buildings in Sydney in 1977. (RL)

Tilting from image laswa021 shows Harrington Street, Sydney looking south. The bridge carries the Cahill Expressway.

David's NOW shot certainly reveals changes, even closer than those background cranes. (RL)

Tilting further sees David driving along Harrington Street.

Tilting further "our" David captures the shot for Reelstreets. (RL)

David looks for Chris. Harrington Street. The buildings still stand.

Indeed they do, as shown by David Huggan. (RL)

David speaks with Chris under an unidentified railway bridge. IMDB suggests that some filming took place on the Eastern Suburbs Railway, however . . . .

. . . . David Huggan says that it is the Harbour Bridge and supports with his photo. GWWD adds that this is George Street where it runs beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Given the proximity to The Rocks where so much filming took place it is quite logical. (RL)

Harrington Street facing Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney.

David Huggan reveals today's scene. (RL)

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David watches Chris leave. Looking along Harrington Street with Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

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A man announces car parking nearby. Harrington Street.

David follows Chris onto Argyle Street, Sydney.

David Huggan followed no one but took this shot for us. (RL)

David watches as Chris returns to Gloucester Street. The area in the background has been redeveloped.

"Our" David reveals that the background has been redeveloped "just a bit!"(RL)

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After being shown a sacred subterranean site David emerges from water board tunnels onto Bondi Beach. Bondi, New South Wales.

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David watches as the titular 'Last Wave' approaches across the Tasman Sea. Bondi, New South Wales, Australia. The beach can also be seen in 'Sunstruck'.