The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith deals with the plight of a half-caste aborigine, Jimmie Blacksmith – very movingly portrayed by non-actor Tommy Lewis.
Set in central-western New South Wales in the 1890s, Jimmie is inevitably and tragically caught between the white society to which he aspires (he was raised by missionaries) and the aboriginal life which the white man has irreversibly corrupted.
As a half-caste, Jimmie is constantly being exploited by the white bosses whose approval he so conscientiously seeks and is cut off from the natural world of his black ancestors.
Pushed beyond endurance when his latest employers, the Newbys, withhold food from him and his hapless white wife, Gilda (Angela Punch McGregor), in an attempt to persuade her to leave Jimmie, he embarks on a bloodbath from which there is no turning back.
Taking to the bush with his fully-black half-brother Mort (Freddy Reynolds) Jimmie finds only temporary concealment but no comfort and his bloody end coincides with the birth of Australian nationhood and talk of Federation.
Based on a novel by Thomas Keneally, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith had a budget of more than $1.2 million and was the most expensive Australian film made up to that time.
Despite the publicity attending the film’s making – the depth of rage on screen was absolutely unprecedented in Australian film at the time – and generally glowing reviews, the film failed commercially.
Jimmie Blacksmith
Tommy Lewis
Mort
Freddy Reynolds
Farrell
Ray Barrett
Reverend Neville
Jack Thompson
Martha Neville
Julie Dawson
Gilda Marshall
Angela Punch McGregor
Uncle Tabidgi
Steve Dodds
McCready
Peter Carroll
Mrs McCready
Robyn Nevin
Mr Jack Newby
Don Crosby
Mrs Heather Newby
Ruth Cracknell
Miss Gray
Elizabeth Alexander
Dowie Steed
Peter Sumner
Healey
Tim Robertson
Mrs Healey
Jane Harders
Dud Edmonds
Ray Meagher
Hyberry
Brian Anderson
Harry Edwards
Jack Charles
Smith
Gregory Apps
Mullett
John Bowman
J.C. Thomas
Michael Carman
Jones
Bill Charlton
Kate
Liddy Clark
Timmy Newby
Matthew Crosby
Peter Newby
Marshall Crosby
Vera Newby
Katie Lillie
Jane Newby
Rosie Lillie
Eddie
Ian Gilmour
Wilson
Ken Grant
Carmichael
Alan Hardy
Michaels
John Jarratt
Nancy
Justine Saunders
Kelly
Mirvin Drake
Director
Fred Schepisi
