Ted Kotcheff's Wake in Fright (1971) has an excellent reputation for a movie that has been out of circulation for years. We're all waiting for a DVD release (now the original negative has been refound), but here is some information from the original advertising supplement in the meanwhile.

It was released overseas as Outback. The blanks in this material are for people to add the details of their local release.

Wake in Fright / Outback ad

Group W Films and NLT Productions ⁽²⁾
presents
Donald Pleasence
Gary Bond
Chips Rafferty
Sylvia Kay
in
⁽¹⁾ "OUTBACK"
Produced by George Willoughby
Associate Producer Maurice Singer
Directed by Ted Kotcheff
Music by John Scott
Screenplay by Evan Jones
⁽³⁾ Based on the novel 'Wake in Fright'
by Kenneth Cook
Executive Producers
Howard G. Barnes and Bill Harmon
Color by Technicolor
United Artists

(1) Title in Australia and New Zealand — Wake in Fright
(2) In Australia and New Zealand — NLT Productions and Group W presents
(3) 1/3 size of Evan Jones credit — maximum 35% no less than 1/3 Evan Jones credit.
Artwork title permitted.

Gary Bond and Sylvia Kay in Wake in Fright / Outback Gary Bond and Sylvia Kay star in a drama of violence in the down-under continent. "Outback," which also stars Donald Pleasence, will open ________ at the ________ Theatre through United Artists release.

'Outback,' Drama of Despair, Filmed in Australia

Advance Feature

"Outback," which will have its local opening ________ at the ________ Theatre, derives its title from the setting of its story, the "outback" area of Australia. It is a violent section of the down-under continent: violent in color, violent climate, violent gambling and violent drinking. The picture was the official Australian entry in the 1971 Cannes Film Festival where it caused an uproar seldom experienced in the Festival's history.

Starred in the picture, which is being released by United Artists, are Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty and Sylvia Kay. Produced by George Willoughby and directed by Ted Kotcheff, it is based on the novel, "Wake in Fright," by Kenneth Cook. It was filmed in Technicolor.

In this outback section a young schoolteacher finds himself adrift, without money. Trapped in this territory of incredible heat, he encounters the terrifying friendship of the people and their sterile pride of the city in which they live.

The "Outback" cages him, strips him bare, and tortures him, but in exchange it gives him, on his brief, destructive stay, a new understanding of his own humanity.

Gary Bond plays the school-teacher. He has appeared in several films, most notably "Anne of the Thousand Days." Donald Pleasence, one of England's great stars of stage and film, has a long and popular list of credits in both mediums. Director Ted Kotcheff, a Canadian, is most noted for "Life at the Top," the brilliant successor to "Room At The Top."

John Scott composed the film's score.

Filmed Down-Under

If "Outback," which will open ________ at the ________ Theatre through United Artists release, has the sound, look and feel of authenticity, it is because most of it was filmed in the "outback" section of Australia — a tropically hot, violent, gambling, drinking area. This controversial film was the official 1971 Australian entry at the Cannes Film Festival.

During the shooting, the heat averaged 110 degrees Fahrenheit and sometimes soared as high as 115. Starred in the film are Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty and Sylvia Kay.

Donald Pleasence Stars in New Film 'Outback'

Donald Pleasence, the distinguished British actor whom most critics rank as one of today's out- standing performers on stage or screen, stars in "Outback," which will open ________ at the ________ Theatre. Filmed in Technicolor, it is released through United Artists. It represented Australia's official entry in 1971 at the Cannes Film Festival. He plays a recluse doctor who bas given up his practice as a medico and only performs minor doctoring services mainly among his friends, for drinks. His most recent stage appear- ance on Broadway was in "The Man in the Glass Booth." Some of his famous film roles include "You Only Live Twice," "The Great Escape," "Night of the Generals" and "Soldier Blue."

Donald Pleasence in Wake in Fright / Outback
Donald Pleasence plays an alcoholic doctor in "Outback," which will open ________ at the ________ Theatre. Filmed in the "outback" section of Australia, in Technicolor, the picture is released by United Artists.

Wake in Fright / Outback ad

Go to the IMDB page

Australian Horror

Wake in Fright

'Outback,' Drama of Despair, Filmed in Australia

Filmed Down-Under

Donald Pleasence Stars in New Film 'Outback'