Morris West's The Naked Country R

Starring: John Stanton, Rebecca Gilling, Ivan Kants

Based on a novel by Morris West, this is a classic American cowboy tale set in Australia's exotic outback, with the Aborigines pitted against a rancher, Lance Dillon (John Stanton) because he is on their land. After a renegade Aborigine, Mundaru (Tommy Lewis), kills one of Lance's Brahma bull's and a ranch hand who gets involved, Mundaru spears the fleeing Lance in the shoulder but does not catch up with him to finish the job. The story of Lance's survival is the focus of the film, along with a parallel story of his wife, Mary (Rebecca Gilling), temporarily falling for Lance's opposite, Sgt. Neil Adams (Ivar Kants). The characters of the two men, and Mundaru, are contrasted against a setting of conflict that escalates out of control. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide