Sunstruck
Date: 1972
Director: James Gilbert
Production Company: Immigrant Productions
Storyline:
Emigrating to Australia after realising that his unrequited love for a colleague will never flourish, a Welsh teacher organises his pupils into a children’s choir.
Additional Information:
Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson
More information about the film and details about the locations seen in the production can be found on the Australian ABC website by clicking here.
And even more about the outback village used for filming can be found here and here.
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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
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The story opens with a panning shot across the Taff Bargoed Valley to the south of Merthyr Tydfil in Mid-Glamorgan. In the centre distance stand houses on Heol Isaf, Ael-y-Bryn and Bron Deg in Trelewis while the rooftops of Pritchard Street and Evan Street in Treharris cross the foreground.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Drifting through the air, the sound of a school choir grows louder. The white faced houses to the left stand on Cherry Tree Way in Trelewis.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
The camera settles and zooms in on the school where Stanley Evans longs for a relationship with fellow teacher Miss Morgan. To the bottom stands Webster Street School in Treharris as identified on IMDb. The building has since been demolished and homes on Brotalwg now occupy the site.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
As they head home after lessons, Pupils giggle at the chalk figures of Lusty Evans and Busty Morgan drawn on the gatepost. Facing north-west at the top of Cross Street, Treharris.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Stanley Evans (Harry Secombe) hides the graffiti from Jennifer Morgan (Pamela Conway) and her boyfriend the Gym Teacher (Donald Houston) as they come out of the school together. The gateway to Webster Street School in Treharris, Mid Glamorgan.
- Capture 6
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The couple drive away leaving Stanley to collect his bicycle for the ride home. Looking south-eastward along Cross Street with Fox Street in the left distance, beyond the crossroads formed by Webster Street.
- Capture 7
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Mr. Evans freewheels down the hill from the school before turning left. Cross Street in Treharris.
- Capture 8
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Facing north-east on Fox Street from the corner of Cross Street in Treharris with the winding gear of the Deep Navigation Colliery in the right distance. The mine closed in 1991.
- Capture 9
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Sidings at Deep Navigation Colliery, now redeveloped as Taff Bargoed Park.
- Capture 10
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This is looking north along the since realigned track running between Bontnewydd Terrace and Captains Hill off Cardiff Road in Trelewis with properties on Bontnewydd Terrace to the top right.
- Capture 11
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Glancing up as he rides, Stanley sees a railway notice board displaying a poster inviting teachers to teach in New South Wales. Bontnewydd Terrace in Trelewis from where Webster Street School can be made out in the centre distance beyond the winding gear of the Deep Navigation Colliery.
- Capture 12
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Stanley stops, dismounts and returns to the poster. Bontnewydd Terrace in Trelewis, Mid-Glamorgan.
- Capture 13
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Reading the poster, Stanley imagines himself on a sun soaked beach conducting a choir of students wearing bikinis and swimming trunks. Bondi Beach on the Tasman Sea in Sydney, New South Wales. The beach also appears in 'The Last Wave'.
- Capture 14
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Stanley's BOAC flight from Britain passes over Sydney, New South Wales. In the distance, Sydney Harbour Bridge crosses Sydney Harbour from the business district to the North Shore.
- Capture 15
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Flying in ever smaller planes across country, the towns below also reduce in size. Parkes in New South Wales.
- Capture 16
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Stanley looks down onto his destination, Kookaburra Springs. The outback settlement used in the production is Brolgan near Nelungaloo to the west of Parkes in New South Wales.
- Capture 17
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Collecting the village's new teacher from the airstrip, Mick Cassidy (John Meillon) drives him to the Mayfair Hotel. Braeside at Brolgan on the road to Nelungaloo from Parkes.
- Capture 18
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Mick and Sal Cassidy (Dawn Lake) welcome the newcomer to their bar and hotel where he'll be lodging. Braeside in the lost village of Brolgan.
- Capture 19
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On the first day of school, the Pupils arrive from the outlying farms by lorry, motorbike and horse. The school house from Wongalea which was moved to Brolgan.
- Capture 20
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Realising that his Schoolmates could have a four day trip to Sydney after his Dad enters the school into a choral festival, Steve Cassidy (Dennis Jordan) runs to overtake Stanley and remove the snake that he's placed in his desk drawer. The Wongalea school building is preserved at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on Peak Hill Road in Parkes.
- Capture 21
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Stanley finds Willie Marshall sitting on the fence as he arrives to tune his Aunt's piano.
- Capture 22
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Widower Pete Marshall and his son Willie drive away with a load of manure leaving Shirley alone with Stanley.
- Capture 23
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Shirley Marshall (Maggie Fitzgibbon) and Stanley walk back to the house after helping to load the truck.
- Capture 24
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When the choir is accepted to sing in the finals of the festival, Bill invites everyone to a barbecue the day before the Children set off for Sydney.
- Capture 25
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As the evening draws on, Stanley and Shirley raise a glass to the success of the choir.
- Capture 26
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Having landed at the airport the following morning, a bus takes Stanley, Shirley and the Children into Sydney.
- Capture 27
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Olympic Drive in Sydney's North District suburb of Kirribilli with the Opera House across the Harbour and Jeffrey Street ferry terminal to the left
- Capture 28
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Approaching Sydney Harbour Bridge on the Cahill Expressway above Milsons Point.
- Capture 29
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Looking towards Sydney's Business District from the Cahill Expressway above Millers Point with the AMP Building at 33 Alfred Street to the left, once Australia's tallest building.
- Capture 30
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The bus arrives at the heritage-listed New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music on Macquarie Street, Sydney. The Heritage-Listed music school was renamed to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1990.