The Overlanders (1946) (with old adverts from 2002)

In 1942 during World War Two the Japanese army is thrusting southwards, and Australia fears invasion. So much so that families are burning everything before fleeing in a "scorched earth" policy. However, when Bill Parsons hears about plans to slaughter all the cattle as part of the policy, he decides to save the herd and under the leadership of Dan McAlpine and some others they transport the cattle across treacherous terrain as they flee for safety. Starring Chips Rafferty, John Nugent Hayward, Daphne Campbell, Jean Blue, Helen Grieve, John Fernside, Peter Pagan, Frank Ransome, Stan Tolhurst, Marshall Crosby, Clyde Combo, Henry Murdoch, Edmund Allison, Jock Levy, John Fegan and Steve Dodd. Originally released on September 27th 1946, this was actually based on true events and was a huge and unlikely hit in Britain. Chips Rafferty was a big star in Australia, but some of the others were plucked from obscurity, including leading lady (and future politician) Daphne Campbell, who was a nurse when her photo was spotted on the front of a magazine. She would go on to meet her future husband Sam Calder on the film, while her younger screen sister Helen Grieve's appearance in this caught the notice of her own future husband David Joseland when he saw the film as a teenager and dreamed of marrying her one day. That became reality and they lived a rancher's life for real, but sadly Helen Grieve died far too young in 1981 aged just 49. This comes from one of my video tapes - complete with adverts - and was a favourite of my Mum's, which is why I have it. Because of it being a recording, it may have glitches, so apologies in advance. I'm hoping this video avoids the fate of a couple of my previous film uploads, which were later blocked, which seems bizarre to me considering they were old recordings with the old adverts in them. Hence why I've got it mentioned in the title that this has adverts, in a bid to deter any blocking. Still it's a decent film and all the more remarkable considering that it was based on true events, but despite the perils they face there are (surprisingly) no Japs!