The Bushranger: A Rough-and-Tumble Ride Back in Time?

Alright, so if you’re someone who genuinely enjoys digging through the archives for classic Westerns, or more specifically, *bushranger* stories from way back when, then yeah, *The Bushranger* could be worth a look. It’s got a certain rough charm to it. However, if you're after anything with modern pacing or intricate character work, you'll probably just find it a bit of a slog. It’s definitely not for everyone, maybe just the history buffs or those with a soft spot for grainy, old-school cinema.

The whole thing feels pretty earnest, which is nice. You can tell they were trying to tell a compelling story about these figures who roamed the bush. Dale Austen plays his role with a kind of stoic intensity that fits the era.

There’s a scene early on, or maybe it was midway, where one of the posse members — I think it was Tim McCoy’s character, who always brings that kind of gruff honesty — just stares off into the distance for what feels like an eternity. You could almost feel the heat radiating off the screen, even if it was shot indoors somewhere.

It’s very much a film of its time, which means some of the dramatic beats land with a clunk, while others, oddly, still resonate. Like, there's a moment when the bushranger character, I believe it was Richard Neill, is cornered. The way the camera just holds on his face, you *almost* feel a pang of sympathy, even though you know he’s the bad guy. It’s a simple shot, but it works.

The outdoor sequences, the ones out in the actual bush, they have this raw, untamed feel. It makes you think about how tough life must’ve been back then. No fancy camera tricks, just the sheer scale of the landscape. It’s quite effective, actually. ✨

On the flip side, some of the dialogue, or rather the intertitles if you’re watching the silent version (which I assume this is, given the cast), felt a little… on-the-nose. Like, they didn't trust the audience to get it. One line about 'justice always finding its way' just hung there, kinda bland.

Russell Simpson pops up too, and he’s always good for a bit of grit. His character seemed to be the one always trying to make sense of things, or at least keep everyone else in line. You know the type. The guy who keeps his head when others are losing theirs.

The film *really* likes its horses. There are so many shots of people riding, and the dust kicking up. It’s iconic, sure, but after a while, you start wishing they'd get to the next plot point a little quicker. It’s not exactly Adam Lindsay Gordon levels of horse poetry, but it tries!

There’s a noticeable shift in tone sometimes. One minute it's all serious and dramatic, then someone does something a bit goofy, and you're not sure if it's intentional or just a product of older acting styles. It gives the film a certain quirky charm, I suppose. 🤔

It’s hard to talk about this one without thinking about the limitations of filmmaking in that era. They did a lot with what they had, and you gotta respect that. The sheer effort of getting those shots in the bush, without all the tech we have today, is pretty impressive. It reminds you how much has changed.

Ultimately, *The Bushranger* is a time capsule. It’s a glimpse into how these stories were told, and it has some genuinely compelling moments mixed in with a fair few that drag. It’s not going to be anyone's new favorite, probably, but it’s a solid piece of history. Give it a shot if you’re feeling nostalgic for a bygone era of cinema, or just want to see what a 'bushranger' actually entails. You might even find a hidden gem in those dusty frames.