The Odd Angry Shot
Encyclopedia
Based on the novel of the same name by William L. Nagle
, The Odd Angry Shot is a film following the experience of Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War
. It traces the departure and tour of duty of an Australian Special Air Service Regiment
reconnaissance team and avoids much of the political comment on Australia’s involvement in Vietnam
; a theme that became more popular in the 1980s when Hollywood began to explore the rights and wrongs of the Vietnam War.
The film centres on the experiences of the soldiers away from the battle field, spending the bulk of their time playing cards, smoking, drinking beer
, nursing their tinea
, making jokes about masturbation
and having some friendly competition with the American forces
. The film also contains some small scale battle scenes. When the men return to Australia, they reflect on how both they and the general Australian society have changed.
The movie was filmed at the Australian Army's Jungle Warfare Training Centre in Canungra, Queensland
. During the Vietnam War, all Australian soldiers - including draftees - who were to be deployed to Vietnam went through four weeks' specialized training in Canungra.
The Iroquois ('Huey')
helicopters used in this movie are those of 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
, on loan from the Australian Defence Force
. This squadron and the helicopters seen in the film served in combat during the Vietnam War.
William Nagle (author)
William Lawrence Nagle was an Australian soldier, author, actor, and screenwriter. His first book, The Odd Angry Shot, written after his return from the Vietnam War and exit from the army,...
, The Odd Angry Shot is a film following the experience of Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It traces the departure and tour of duty of an Australian Special Air Service Regiment
Australian Special Air Service Regiment
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army...
reconnaissance team and avoids much of the political comment on Australia’s involvement in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
; a theme that became more popular in the 1980s when Hollywood began to explore the rights and wrongs of the Vietnam War.
The film centres on the experiences of the soldiers away from the battle field, spending the bulk of their time playing cards, smoking, drinking beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, nursing their tinea
Tinea
Tinea is a general term used to describe skin mycoses. The term ringworm is even less precise, but is usually considered a synonym.It is sometimes equated with dermatophytosis, and it is true that most conditions identified as "tinea" are members of the imperfect fungi that make up the dermatophytes...
, making jokes about masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
and having some friendly competition with the American forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. The film also contains some small scale battle scenes. When the men return to Australia, they reflect on how both they and the general Australian society have changed.
The movie was filmed at the Australian Army's Jungle Warfare Training Centre in Canungra, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. During the Vietnam War, all Australian soldiers - including draftees - who were to be deployed to Vietnam went through four weeks' specialized training in Canungra.
The Iroquois ('Huey')
UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
helicopters used in this movie are those of 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, on loan from the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. This squadron and the helicopters seen in the film served in combat during the Vietnam War.
Cast
- Graham KennedyGraham KennedyGraham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
.... Harry - John HargreavesJohn Hargreaves (Australian actor)John Hargreaves was an Australian actor. He won three Australian Film Institute Awards and was nominated six times.-Background:...
.... "Bung" Holey - John JarrattJohn Jarratt-Early life:Jarratt was born and grew up in Wongawilli, a small rural town near Wollongong, New South Wales and later in the Snowy Mountains area. Jarratt's father was a coal miner and later concreter, who worked on the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme. Both his parents were of Irish origin....
.... Bill - Bryan BrownBryan BrownBryan Neathway Brown, AM is an Australian actor.-Early life:Brown was born in Sydney, the son of John Brown and Molly Brown, a house cleaner who worked as a pianist in the early days of the Langshaw School of Ballet. He grew up in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown and began working at...
.... Rogers - Graeme BlundellGraeme BlundellGraeme Blundell is an Australian actor, director, producer, writer and biographer.Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne...
.... Dawson - Graham Sproule .... Gunner
- Richard MoirRichard Moir-Biography:In 1990, Moir was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, the degenerative effects of which gradually brought his acting career to a premature end...
.... Medic - Ian GilmourIan Gilmour (actor)Ian Gilmour is a New Zealand-born actor.He has acted in several Australian television series, most notably as Kevin Burns in Prisoner in 1980...
.... Scott - Graham Rouse .... Cook
- John Allen .... Lt. Golonka
- Tony BarryTony BarryTony Barry is an Australian actor who has performed in 55 feature films and 45 television series, across a four-decade career.-Filmography:He is known for his roles in the 2008 film Australia, Return to Snowy River, Never Say Die, the 1988 film Surfer and The Coca-Cola Kid.After acting in...
.... Black Ronnie - Brandon Burke .... Isaacs
- John Fitzgerald .... Intelligence corporal
- Mike Harris .... Sergeant Major
- Johnny Garfield .... Padre
- Ray MeagherRay MeagherRay Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...
.... Range corporal - Frankie J. Holden .... Spotted soldier
- Roger Newcombe .... Clifford
- Brian Evis .... Mayberry
- Rose Ricketts .... Nurse
- Chuck McKinney .... First Marine
- Freddie Paris .... Second Marine
- Sharon HigginsSharon HigginsSharon Higgins was an American country and gospel songwriter. Born in Bonne Terre, Missouri, Higgins was one of twelve children. When she was nine, her father was killed in a car accident. The loss impacted her greatly...
.... Bill's girl - Joy WestmoreJoy WestmoreJoy Westmore is an Australian actress, best known to television viewers for her long-running role in Prisoner as friendly but highly ineffectual officer Joyce Barry....
.... Bill's mum - Brian WenzelBrian WenzelBrian Wenzel is an Australian character actor, most famous for his long run as Police Sergeant Frank Gilroy on television program A Country Practice. He was an original cast member and remained along with Shane Porteous through the entire series, winning a Silver Logie for the role...
.... Bill's dad - Brian Anderson .... Barman
- Sarah Lee .... Bar girl
- Max CullenMax CullenMax Cullen is an Australian stage and screen actor. Max has appeared in many Australian films and television series but is best known for his role in the film Spider and Rose and the television series The Flying Doctors and Love My Way.Cullen was born in Wellington, New South Wales...
.... Warrant Officer - Tim PageTim Page (actor)Tim Page is a New-Zealand-born actor. After emigrating to Australia in 1973 where he was cast as Henrik Eggerman in Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' but he later became best known for playing Dr Graham Steele in the Australian television series The Young Doctors throughout its entire run...
.... P.O. Corporal - Tim Burns .... Guest at Party