Australian Film 1900-1977

'a welcome reappearance to tell of Australia's unique, pioneering contribution to the art form and its own myriad cultural sense of self.'
– Geoffrey Rush

Pike & Cooper remains the 'bible', the authoritative reference source on feature films ... The passage of time has enhanced the value and validity of this now classic book, for its style is timeless, and factual accuracy does not date.
– Ray Edmondson, National Film and Sound Archive

Australian Film 1900–1977 is a comprehensive guide to the feature films of the first eight decades of filmmaking in Australia – from some of the earliest films made anywhere in the world to the renascence of Australian cinema in the 1970s. Ranging from Soldiers of the Cross (1900) to films such as Don's Party and The Last Wave, the authors detail each production team and cast, write a synopsis of the plot, and describe the shooting and marketing. There are 488 films and more than 400 illustrations, many of them published for the first time. The book is fully indexed and is accompanied by an article on film preservation and by a bibliographical note. Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush wrote the foreword.

Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, both of whom have long been involved in the study and production of Australian films, spent more than ten years compiling Australian Film 1900–1977. They interviewed pioneers of the film industry and studied their voluminous correspondence, read film trade journals and newspapers, searched through State and Commonwealth film archives, and viewed and reviewed the films themselves.

Australian Film 1900–1977 – first published in 1980 and highly regarded by the film industry ever since – is an indispensable reference book for all those whose work or pleasure lies in films.