BrianRxm Coins in Movies 244/377
The Overlanders (1946)
Australian Western with George VI pennies used in "Two-up" game
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The 1946 film "The Overlanders" is set in 1942 Australia and shows two Australian large pennies used in a gambling game called "Two-up."
 
A group of Australian cattle ranchers drive a herd of cattle across northern Australia to keep Japanese invaders from taking them.
 
The film stars Chips Rafferty as Dan McAlpine, John Nugent Hayward as Bill Parsons, and Daphne Campbell as Mary Parsons.
 
Two Australian pennies appear during a gambling scene where men are playing the Australian "Two-up" game.
 
Overlanders
1. Title
A poster warns of a possible Japanese invasion of Australia in 1942.
 
Overlanders
2. "He's coming south"
The Japanese Army is moving towards Australia, and some cattle ranchers decide to drive their cattle over 1500 miles across the country to keep the Japanese from taking them.
 
Two such ranchers are Dan McAlpine and Bill Parsons. Most of the experienced "drovers" (cowboys) plan to join the army, so the ranchers has to hire people the army doesn't want including native Aborigines and women.
 
The drive is being organized and the local men are waiting to join the army.
 
They play a popular Australian coin game called "Two-up."
 
Overlanders
3. Playing the game
Corky, a local individual, handles the money.
 
Overlanders
4. Up in the sky!
Everyone is watching the skies.
 
Overlanders
5. It's round!
A round object is seen.
 
Overlanders
6. Two pennies
The obverse of the coins has King George VI on them.
 
An Australian penny:
 
Australia Penny 1942
7. An Australian penny from 1942
Bronze, 31 mm, 9.45 gm
 
Obverse: King George VI facing left, GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.
George VI by the Grace of God, King of all the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India Reverse: Kangaroo facing left, AUSTRALIA 1942 PENNY
 
McAlpine and Parsons sign contracts with a meat company to deliver the herd. They will start at Wyndham in northwest Australia and head 1500 miles to Rockingham on the east coast. They will get two shillings for each 100 miles each cow moves.
 
Overlanders
8. Bill and Mrs. Parsons and Dan McAlpine
A ship leaves with the soldiers.
 
Overlanders
9. Waving goodbye
The cattle drive then starts with McAlpine as the leader, Bill Parsons, Mrs. Parsons driving a wagon, Mary and Helen Parsons, Corky, a local man, Sinbad, a British sailor, and Jackie, a native.
 
Overlanders
10. Helen and Mary Parsons
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons bring their two daughters, Helen, age about 12 and Mary, age about 21. McAlpine does not want to hire Mary as a drover but decides to take a chance on her. The drovers pass a rocky area.
 
Overlanders
11. Watchers
Native Aborigines are watching quietly.
 
The drovers first big obstacle is a river.
 
Overlanders
12. Water hazard
The drovers get their wagon and the cattle cross the river.
 
Overlanders
13. Cattle swimming
McAlpine has to shoot a crocodile who gets too close.
 
The group arrives at the town of Anthony's Lagoon which has a hotel.
 
Overlanders
14. The Hotel
They spend a night at the hotel.
 
Overlanders
15. Windmill
A lonely windmill shows the barren nature of the area.
 
Something is seen in the sky.
 
Overlanders
16. Watch the skies!
An airplane flies low over the herds.
 
Overlanders
17. The airplane
The airplane is a Douglas DC-3, a common two-engine propeller aircraft of the period.
 
Overlanders
18. Airplane landing
The airplane stops so that an official can check some of the cattle. They pass inspection.
 
Overlanders
19. The way ahead
The drovers face water shortages and cattle stampedes along the way. The ranchers decide to change the destination to Brisbane.
 
Overlanders
20. She's doing a man's work
McAlpine has changed his opinion about women:
I was paying her a man's wage, so I wanted to see how good she was. She seemed to shape up all right.
 
The men have to get off their horses to stop a cattle stampede.
 
Overlanders
21. Standing up to the herd
The group and cattle finally arrive at Brisbane.
 
Overlanders
22. Brisbane
Their drive along with others is a news story and newsreel cameras turn up.
 
Overlanders
23. Newsreel
After a stay in Brisbane some members fly home and others stay.
 
Overlanders
24. Heading home
Weary veterans of the drive rest.
 
Overlanders
25. Rest
Cast, Directors, Writers:
 
Chips Rafferty as Dan McAlpine
John Nugent Hayward as Bill Parsons
Jean Blue as Mrs. Parsons
Daphne Campbell as Mary Parsons
Helen Grieve as Helen Parsons
John Fernside as Corky
Peter Pagan as Sinbad
Clyde Combo as Jackie
 
Director: Harry Watt
Writers: Harry Watt
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