Crocodile Vendee Essay

Film Analysis – Jackson Gould – Ms. Resetti

Welcome all. I am extremely excited to introduce Crocodile Dundee to our fabulous audiences here at the world renowned Australian Film Festival. Released in 1986, this acclaimed and illustrious film captures the raw essence of the identity of the typical Australian male, the landscape of the Australian outback and the value of masculinity, all greatly appreciated by many Aussies during the time of release.

The film Crocodile Dundee, set in both the barren Australian outback and the busy streets of America, contrasts life in the crowded and rushed city of New York and the relaxed and carefree town of Walkabout Creek. The landscape in Australia is shown through a variety of extreme long shots, to show the emptiness of the land, to portray the outback as isolated and ruthless. One location which is important in

the film is the pub at the Walkabout Creek Hotel. This scene is used to set the course for the movie, and many medium shots are used to focus on the characters and what they are wearing and participating in, such as fighting, drinking, dancing and playing darts, so the viewer can fully absorb the Aussie culture and traditions. A few audio codes such as locusts or music are used to increase tension or change mood rapidly. This is used to portray the Australian outback as an unpredictable and scary place. All of this, however, is contrasted when Dundee and Sue travel to New York. The use of lighting and technical codes are made apparent to make shots seem duller, with many scenes being shot next to grey walls and buildings. It is always crowded in New York, to represent it as very busy and frustrating at times, compared to the relaxation felt while in Australia. This is clearly depicted in a scene where Dundee finds it painstakingly hard to walk around town, where as in Walkabout Creek, it is very rare to see someone else unless you are at a popular area like the pub. This is done to develop the impression of Mick’s rightful home in Walkabout Creek. During the scenes in New York, all that can be heard in the background is the footsteps and talking of everyone around, making it sound like a very fast-paced area, whereas in Australia, the noises are much more natural, being animal noises and Australian songs, to create a very down-to-earth feeling within the viewer.
The most powerful identity represented in the film is the typical Australian male.

This is done by having Dundee wear an animal skin vest with a loose button-up shirt and blue jeans, with an Akubra. A combination of this and how he acts recklessly and talks with very little formal language represents him as a man that has a feeling of independence and roughness about him. This thought is further encouraged by the fact that he survived a crocodile attack all alone in the middle of nowhere, and lives to tell the tale as if it’s a joke, also showing a sense of larrikinism within the Aussie stereotype. Many medium and close-up shots are used to show how Dundee looks and where he is, again building up the Aussie stereotype. This is done through the use of a levelled camera angle, to make the viewer feel as if they are in the scene, so they can fully appreciate the representations of the characters. The line from the film “I always feel safe when I’m with you”, spoken by Sue Charlton represents Dundee as protective and loyal. All these attributes are the building blocks, creating what is known as the typical Australian

male.

Crocodile Dundee also represents the value of masculinity. This is portrayed positively, but also as if everyone in Australia must have a bold sense of masculinity about them, and if not, they are not truly Australian. This is seen within the movie through many aspects and scenes, such as the bar scene. Everyone within that scene is represented as carelessly dressed, dirty, wild, drinking a lot of beer and fighting in some parts, all values associated with be a ‘manly person’ or a ‘bushman’. This is also seen whenever Dundee displays his bushmen-skills in Australia or New York, or tells stories about his escape from the crocodile. This value is further reinforced by the setting for most scenes while in Australia, being shot in the bush, mainly related to manly activities. This is again contradicted in New York with most of the males being business-men, and have no knowledge of the bush or how to survive alone in the wilderness. The setting for most scenes while in New York is in a room or on the streets with many buildings in the background.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, this movie represents the typical Australian stereotype with humour, mateship and courage depicted throughout the whole movie. These landscapes, identities and values portrayed within the film were found at the time of release in Australia, and are still found in modern Australia to this day.