Stone (1974 film)

Stone

DVD cover
Directed by Sandy Harbutt
Produced by Sandy Harbutt
Written by Sandy Harbutt
Michael Robinson
Starring Ken Shorter
Sandy Harbutt
Music by Billy Green
Cinematography Graham Lind ASC
Edited by Ian Barry
Production
company
Hedon Productions
Distributed by British Empire Films (Australia)
Release dates
 28 June 1974
Running time
 103 minutes
Country Australia
Language English
Budget A$192,000 [1]
Box office $1,572,000 (Australia)
A gun emplacement used in one of the scenes in the movie. In the scene an under cover police officer (Stone) was initiated into the bikie gang

Stone is a 1974 Australian biker film written, directed and produced by Sandy Harbutt. It was a low budget movie by company Hedon Productions

Police officer Stone goes undercover with the Gravediggers outlaw motorcycle gang, to find out who is murdering their members, one by one.

The film stars Ken Shorter and features Rebecca Gilling, Bill Hunter and Helen Morse. The film's soundtrack was composed by Billy Green and featured some members of his group Sanctuary. Motorcycles featured include the legendary Kawasaki Z1(900). Stone initially rides a Norton.

The promotional trailer Video on YouTube features narration by radio and media personality John Laws. The film was featured in the documentary, Not Quite Hollywood, in which Quentin Tarantino enthuses about his admiration for the film.

Plot

When several members of the GraveDiggers outlaw motorcycle club are murdered, Sydney detective Stone (Ken Shorter) is sent to investigate. Led by the Undertaker (Sandy Harbutt), a Vietnam war veteran, the GraveDiggers allow Stone to pose as a gang member. Leaving behind society girlfriend Amanda (Helen Morse), Stone begins to identify with the Undertaker and his comrades Hooks (Roger Ward), Toad (Hugh Keays-Byrne), Dr Death (Vincent Gil), Captain Midnight (Bindi Williams), Septic (Dewey Hungerford) and Vanessa (Rebecca Gilling), the Undertaker’s girlfriend. Amid violent confrontations with the Black Hawks, a rival gang the GraveDiggers hold responsible, Stone uncovers a political conspiracy behind the killings. When the truth is revealed, Stone must choose between his job and his loyalty to the GraveDiggers.

Cast

Production

Sandy Harbutt got the idea in 1970 when he wrote a script for an episode of the TV series The Long Arm in which he was appearing.[1]

The Australian Film Development Corporation invested $154,000 in the film. The remainder of the budget and most of the technical facilities were provided by Ross Wood Productions in Sydney. The movie was shot in late 1973.[1]

The Hells Angels club (Sydney) provided assistance during production.

Locations

All Sydney, Australia

Release

Although Stone was given an "R" rating it grossed $1,572,000 at the box office in Australia,[2] which is equivalent to $10,611,000 in 2009 dollars. It made a profit to its investors within 18 months.[1]

Influence

Several of the cast went on to appear in Mad Max (1979).[3]

Stone Forever

Stone Forever
Directed by Richard Kuipers
Starring Ken Shorter
Sandy Harbutt
Distributed by SBS TV
Release dates
 11 December 1999
Running time
 63 mins
Country Australia
Language English

Stone Forever is a 1999 documentary about Stone. Richard Kuipers was contacted by David Hannay and Sandy Harbutt to film a bike ride commemorating the film's 25th anniversary, which led to a full documentary about the impact of the film and the fate of the people who made it.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998 p278
  2. ↑ Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
  3. ↑ David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p262
  4. ↑ Richard Kuipers, 'THE STONE TRIP - 25 YEARS IN THE MAKING', Urban Cinefile accessed 30 September 2012
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