Tim Burstall facts for kids

Timothy Burstall was an important English Australian film director, writer, and producer. He was born on April 20, 1927, and passed away on April 19, 2004. He is most famous for directing the popular Australian movie Alvin Purple in 1973 and its follow-up, Alvin Rides Again, in 1974.

Many well-known Australian actors appeared in Tim Burstall's films early in their careers. These included Jack Thompson, Bruce Spence, Jacki Weaver, and Judy Davis. The star of Alvin Purple, Graeme Blundell, and John Waters also worked with him.

Life Story of Tim Burstall

Early Years and Education

Tim Burstall was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England, in April 1927. His family moved to Australia in 1937. This happened because his father became a professor of engineering at the University of Melbourne. Tim went to Geelong Grammar school, where a famous historian named Manning Clark was one of his teachers.

After World War II, his parents went back to England, but Tim stayed in Australia. He earned a degree in History from the University of Melbourne in 1946. While at university, he met Betty Burstall, who he later married.

Starting in Film

Tim Burstall first wanted to be a novelist, someone who writes books. He thought working in film might help him get into writing. He started at the National Film Library, hoping to become a scriptwriter for the Commonwealth Film Unit. He worked on documentaries, writing and editing films about Antarctica. He became very interested in filmmaking after seeing a French film called White Mane in 1953.

In 1959, he and Patrick Ryan started their own film company called Eltham Films.

Tim Burstall's Early Film Career

First Films and Success

Tim Burstall's first film was a short, black-and-white movie called The Prize. This film won a bronze medal at the 1960 Venice Film Festival. His two young sons even acted in the movie!

Eltham Films made many short films and documentaries about Australian art. They also created an early children's puppet series called Sebastian the Fox. This show first appeared on the ABC in 1962-63. Tim Burstall described Sebastian as one of the first "recessive Oz heroes," meaning a quiet or understated Australian hero.

Studying in America

From 1965 to 1967, Tim Burstall lived in the United States. He was there on a special scholarship called a Harkness Fellowship. During this time, he studied how to write scripts, direct films, and act. He learned from famous people like Paddy Chayefsky and Lee Strasberg.

La Mama Theatre: A Creative Space

One important thing that came from Tim Burstall's time in America was the creation of La Mama Theatre. His wife, Betty Burstall, founded it in Melbourne in 1967. It was inspired by a similar "off-off-Broadway" theatre in New York City called La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. La Mama became a very important place for new and experimental plays in Australia.

Moving Towards Popular Movies

After returning from America, Tim Burstall wrote and directed a feature film called 2000 Weeks in 1969. This movie was not very successful and critics didn't like it much. Because of this, Tim Burstall decided to make more popular films next. His later films, Stork and the comedy Alvin Purple, were made for a wider audience.

He then started a new company with Pat Ryan, David Bilcock, and Rob Copping. They planned to make commercials to help fund their feature films.

Stork and Working with David Williamson

The Success of Stork

The film Stork came out in 1971 and was quite successful. It won several Australian Film Institute awards, including best movie and best director.

More Films with David Williamson

After the huge success of Alvin Purple, Tim Burstall worked with writer David Williamson on three more films. These included Petersen (1974), a social drama that was even seen in England and the United States. Famous director Stanley Kubrick praised Tim Burstall's directing and Jack Thompson's acting in Petersen.

They also made Eliza Fraser (1976), a big-budget adventure film, and Duet for Four (1982), which was about a mid-life crisis. Eliza Fraser had a larger budget because the film company wanted international stars. Susannah York played Eliza, and Trevor Howard was also in the cast.

The Alvin Purple Phenomenon

Directing a Hit Comedy

After creating Hexagon Productions, Tim Burstall directed, produced, and helped write his next film, the comedy Alvin Purple (1973). This movie was a huge hit! It was so popular that it led to a successful sequel, Alvin Rides Again, which Tim Burstall also helped write.

Later Projects

Later films made by Hexagon Productions were not as successful at the box office. In 1980, Tim Burstall directed the war movie Attack Force Z. He took over this project when the original director had disagreements with the producers.

Tim Burstall's Television Work

Tim Burstall also directed episodes for several television series. These included Special Squad, Return to Eden II, The Man from Snowy River, and Water Rats. His miniseries Great Expectations: The Untold Story was a special project. It was the first time an independent filmmaker worked with ABC TV to create a co-production.

Awards and Achievements

Tim Burstall received several Australian Film Institute awards for his work. He won best director for Stork, which also won the main prize. He was also nominated for best director for his 1976 thriller End Play.

His last major film for cinemas was Kangaroo in 1986, based on a book by DH Lawrence. In 1996, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This is a special honor given to people who have made a big difference to Australia. His wife, Betty, received a similar honor in 1993.

His Passing

Tim Burstall passed away on April 19, 2004, at the age of 76. He suffered a stroke the evening before. He was survived by his wife Betty (who passed away in 2013) and his two sons, Dan and Tom.

Awards and Nominations

• 1960?: Venice Film Festival. Award for The Prize
• 1969: 6th Moscow International Film Festival - Golden Prize for 2000 Weeks
• 1987: 15th Moscow International Film Festival - Golden Prize for Kangaroo
• 1996: Member of the Order of Australia

Selected Filmography

• Sebastian the Fox (1961, director, children's television series)
• Nullarbor Hideout (1964, director, children's feature)
• Hombre (1967, assistant, feature)
• 2000 Weeks (1969, director and scriptwriter, feature film)
• Getting Back to Nothing (1970, director, documentary)
• Stork (1971, director, feature film)
• Libido (1973, director, one part of the four part feature film - "The Child")
• Alvin Purple (1973, director, feature film)
• Petersen (1974, director, feature film)
• Alvin Rides Again (1974, producer and co-writer, feature film)
• End Play (1975, director, feature film)
• Eliza Fraser (1976, director, feature film)
• High Rolling (1977, producer, feature film)
• The Last of the Knucklemen (1979, director, feature film)
• Attack Force Z (1981, director, feature film)
• Duet for Four (1982, director, feature film)
• A Descant for Gossips (1983, director and co-scriptwriter, three-part miniseries)
• The Naked Country (1985, director)
• Kangaroo (1986, director, feature film)
• Great Expectations: The Untold Story (1987, director and scriptwriter, miniseries)
• Nightmare at Bittercreek (1988, director, feature film)
• Water Rats: Dead in the Water (1996, director, telemovie length first episode of Water Rats)

Short Films

• The Prize (1960)
• Nullabor Hideout (1964)
• Kropp's Last Tape (1966)
• The Hot Centre of the World (1971)
• Three Old Friends (1974)
• Blues From the Jungle (1977)

Documentaries

• Australian Art (1960–63) - 13 x 10 minute films
• Painting People (1965)
• Sculpture - Australia (1969)
• Getting Back to Nothing (1970)