Crocodile Dundee
Encyclopedia
"Crocodile" Dundee is a 1986 Australian comedy film
set in the Australian Outback and in New York City. It stars Paul Hogan
as the weathered Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski
as Sue Charlton.
Inspired by the true life exploits of Rodney Ansell
, the film was made on a budget of under $10 million as a deliberate attempt to make a commercial Australian film that would appeal to a mainstream American audience, but proved to be a worldwide phenomenon. Released on 30 April 1986 in Australia, and on 26 September 1986 in the United States, it was the second-highest-grossing film in the United States in that year and went on to become the number-one film worldwide at the box office
.
There are two versions of the film: the Australian version, and the American/international version, the latter of which had much of the Australian slang replaced with more commonly understood terms, and was slightly shorter. The international version also changes the title to "Crocodile" Dundee, adding the quotation marks. The film was followed by two sequels: "Crocodile" Dundee II (1988) and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
(2001).
), a feature writer for Newsday
engaged to marry her editor, Richard (Mark Blum
), travels to Walkabout Creek, a small hamlet
in the Northern Territories
of Australia to meet Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee (Paul Hogan
), a bushman
reported to have lost a leg to a Saltwater Crocodile
. On arrival, she finds his leg is not missing, but has a large scar.
At first Sue think Dundee is not as legendary as she had been led to believe, being unimpressed by his behaviour and clumsy advances towards her; however, she is later amazed when in the Outback
, she witnesses "Mick" (as Dundee is called) subduing a Wild Asian Water Buffalo
, taking part in an Aboriginal tribal dance ceremony, killing snakes with his hands, and (at her request) scaring tourists from their sport of shooting kangaroo
s. Offended by Mick's assertion that she is incapable of surviving the Outback alone, Sue goes out alone to prove him wrong, but is attacked by a crocodile and rescued by Mick. She finds herself becoming attracted to him.
Sue invites Mick to return with her to New York City
on the pretext of continuing the feature story. There he is perplexed by New York behaviour
and customs but is still able to overcome problematic situations including attempted robberies and two encounters with a pimp
. When Richard proposes marriage to Sue at a dinner party, Mick is upset and decides to go 'walkabout
' around the USA; but Sue, having refused Richard, follows him to a subway station. There, she cannot reach him through the crowd on the platform, but has members of the crowd relay her message to him, whereupon he walks to her on the heads and raised hands of the jubilant crowd and embraces her.
The film was released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures in September 1986. It grossed $174,803,506 at the domestic box office. It was the second highest grossing film that year for both the studio and the United States
box office.
Award nominations:
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
set in the Australian Outback and in New York City. It stars Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan, AM is an Australian actor best known for his role as Michael "Crocodile" Dundee from the Crocodile Dundee film series, for which he won a Golden Globe award.-Early life and career:...
as the weathered Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski is an American actress. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.-Early life:Kozlowski was born in Fairfield, Connecticut to a Polish family...
as Sue Charlton.
Inspired by the true life exploits of Rodney Ansell
Rodney Ansell
Rodney William Ansell was an Australian from "the bush" who became the inspiration for Paul Hogan's character in the 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee...
, the film was made on a budget of under $10 million as a deliberate attempt to make a commercial Australian film that would appeal to a mainstream American audience, but proved to be a worldwide phenomenon. Released on 30 April 1986 in Australia, and on 26 September 1986 in the United States, it was the second-highest-grossing film in the United States in that year and went on to become the number-one film worldwide at the box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
.
There are two versions of the film: the Australian version, and the American/international version, the latter of which had much of the Australian slang replaced with more commonly understood terms, and was slightly shorter. The international version also changes the title to "Crocodile" Dundee, adding the quotation marks. The film was followed by two sequels: "Crocodile" Dundee II (1988) and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles is a 2001 Australian-American comedy film, directed by Simon Wincer and starring Paul Hogan. It is the sequel to the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II, which itself was the sequel to 1986's Crocodile Dundee and the third and final film of the trilogy...
(2001).
Plot
Sue Charlton (Linda KozlowskiLinda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski is an American actress. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.-Early life:Kozlowski was born in Fairfield, Connecticut to a Polish family...
), a feature writer for Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
engaged to marry her editor, Richard (Mark Blum
Mark Blum
Mark Blum is an American actor in movies, on television and stage.-Career:Blum started acting on stage in the 1970s. Beginning in the 1980s as an actor in movies like Lovesick, Desperately Seeking Susan and Crocodile Dundee, he later appeared in television series as guest, with the failed show...
), travels to Walkabout Creek, a small hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the Northern Territories
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia to meet Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee (Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan, AM is an Australian actor best known for his role as Michael "Crocodile" Dundee from the Crocodile Dundee film series, for which he won a Golden Globe award.-Early life and career:...
), a bushman
The Bush
"The bush" is a term used for rural, undeveloped land or country areas in certain countries.-Australia:The term is iconic in Australia. In reference to the landscape, "bush" describes a wooded area, intermediate between a shrubland and a forest, generally of dry and nitrogen-poor soil, mostly...
reported to have lost a leg to a Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, also known as estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles...
. On arrival, she finds his leg is not missing, but has a large scar.
At first Sue think Dundee is not as legendary as she had been led to believe, being unimpressed by his behaviour and clumsy advances towards her; however, she is later amazed when in the Outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, she witnesses "Mick" (as Dundee is called) subduing a Wild Asian Water Buffalo
Wild Asian Water Buffalo
The wild water buffalo also called Asian buffalo and Asiatic buffalo is a large bovine native to Southeast Asia...
, taking part in an Aboriginal tribal dance ceremony, killing snakes with his hands, and (at her request) scaring tourists from their sport of shooting kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s. Offended by Mick's assertion that she is incapable of surviving the Outback alone, Sue goes out alone to prove him wrong, but is attacked by a crocodile and rescued by Mick. She finds herself becoming attracted to him.
Sue invites Mick to return with her to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on the pretext of continuing the feature story. There he is perplexed by New York behaviour
Mores
Mores, in sociology, are any given society's particular norms, virtues, or values. The word mores is a plurale tantum term borrowed from Latin, which has been used in the English language since the 1890s....
and customs but is still able to overcome problematic situations including attempted robberies and two encounters with a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
. When Richard proposes marriage to Sue at a dinner party, Mick is upset and decides to go 'walkabout
Walkabout
The walkabout is a purported Australian aboriginal ritual of manhood.Walkabout may also refer to:- Art :*Walkabout , a 1959 book written by James Vance Marshall, set in the Australian outback...
' around the USA; but Sue, having refused Richard, follows him to a subway station. There, she cannot reach him through the crowd on the platform, but has members of the crowd relay her message to him, whereupon he walks to her on the heads and raised hands of the jubilant crowd and embraces her.
Cast
- Paul HoganPaul HoganPaul Hogan, AM is an Australian actor best known for his role as Michael "Crocodile" Dundee from the Crocodile Dundee film series, for which he won a Golden Globe award.-Early life and career:...
as Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee - Linda KozlowskiLinda KozlowskiLinda Kozlowski is an American actress. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.-Early life:Kozlowski was born in Fairfield, Connecticut to a Polish family...
as Sue Charlton - John MeillonJohn MeillonJohn Meillon was an Australian actor, most widely known outside Australia for his role as Walter Reilly in the films "Crocodile" Dundee and "Crocodile" Dundee II. He also voiced Victoria Bitter beer commercials until his death.-Biography:Meillon was born in Mosman, Sydney...
as Walter Reilly - David GulpililDavid GulpililDavid Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu , is an Indigenous Australian traditional dancer and actor. His first starring role was Walkabout....
as Neville Bell - Reginald VelJohnsonReginald VelJohnsonReginald VelJohnson is an American actor of film, stage and television, well known for his role as Carl Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters, where he was the only cast member to appear in every single episode. He also portrayed LAPD Sgt...
as Gus - Steve RackmanSteve RackmanSteve Rackman is an Australian actor and professional wrestler, best known for his role as Donk in Crocodile Dundee, as well as Steve Crusher Rackman in his wrestling career. Rackman was born in the United Kingdom, and worked as a doorman before he became a professional wrestler...
as Donk - Gerry Skilton as Nugget
- Terry GillTerry GillTerry Gill is a British-born actor who carved a nichè in Australian television playing police officers.He was a recurring cast member in the women's prison drama Prisoner as Det. Insp. Jack Grace, a regular cast member as Sgt...
as Duffy - Peter TurnbullPeter TurnbullPeter Turnbull was a Scottish professional association football player who played as a centre forward.-References:...
as Trevor - Christine Totos as Rosita
- Graham 'Grace' Walker as Angelo
- Mark BlumMark BlumMark Blum is an American actor in movies, on television and stage.-Career:Blum started acting on stage in the 1970s. Beginning in the 1980s as an actor in movies like Lovesick, Desperately Seeking Susan and Crocodile Dundee, he later appeared in television series as guest, with the failed show...
as Richard Mason - Michael Lombard as Sam Charlton
- Caitlin ClarkeCaitlin ClarkeCaitlin Clarke was an American theater and film actress best known for her role as Valerian in the 1981 fantasy film Dragonslayer and for her role as Charlotte Cardoza in the 1998–1999 Broadway musical Titanic....
as Simone - Alan Dunlea as Dingo
- John SnyderJohn Snyder (actor)John Snyder is an American voice actor best known for voicing Daisuke Jigen in The Castle of Cagliostro and Kazundo Gouda in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG...
as Pimp - Anne CarlisleAnne CarlisleAnne Carlisle is an actress, performance artist, acting teacher, author, and model.She is known for co-writing and playing both the lead male and female roles in the movie Liquid Sky...
as Gwendoline - Anne FrancineAnne FrancineAnne Francine was an American actress and cabaret singer. She is well-known for her role as villain Flora Simpson Reilly in the American television series Harper Valley PTA.-Biography:...
as Fran - Paige Matthews as Party Girl
- Paul GrecoPaul GrecoPaul Greco was an American actor and musician, best known for his role as Sully, the leader of the Orphans, in the 1979 film The Warriors...
as New Yorker
Reception
The film has a rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. James Berardinelli of Reelviews.net gave the film three stars out of four stating, "What the storyline lacks in ambition, it makes up for in sheer, unfettered likability."Box office
The film was a worldwide box office hit. The film grossed $47,707,045 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $104,001,358 in 2009 dollars.The film was released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures in September 1986. It grossed $174,803,506 at the domestic box office. It was the second highest grossing film that year for both the studio and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
box office.
Awards
Award wins:- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyGolden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyThe Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951...
– Paul Hogan
Award nominations:
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
- Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay – Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie, John Cornell
- BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay – Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie, John Cornell
- BAFTA Award for Best Actor – Paul Hogan
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting ActressGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureThe Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year....
– Linda Kozlowski