The Overlanders

“Overall, Vagg’s commentary enhances the experience of watching The Overlanders, since it can’t be fully appreciated without understanding its historical context.”… – Digital Bits

“Vagg discusses quite a lot of topics in this well researched commentary of one of the most important films in Australian cinema, which he immediately says is “Australian” even if it came from Ealing Studios. He discusses the Australian cinema at the time, the behind the scenes of the film, biographies of the actors and crew, the historical facts the story was based on and the logistical concerns, the post production, its highly successful release, its influence and much more.” – DVD Compare see here

Kangaroo

“another great commentary track by Stephen Vagg, who does a nice job of covering the history of this oddball (and somewhat troubled) production.” Digital Bits

“Vagg also provides another well researched commentary for “Kangaroo”, even though he must admit that he does not think the film is particularly good. But in that sense, he does explain the film’s flaws, the plot holes, the troubled production, and how it got there. He discusses the changes made from the original script, gives biographical information on the cast and crew, the details of the production, its lukewarm reception and much more. Another excellent commentary,” DVD Compare see here

A tribute to Saxon is here – https://www.filmink.com.au/the-top-twelve-stages-of-saxon/?fbclid=IwAR1WDGPj4TYkJvcVXCSGnc2SGs1OkN9ozYVnlYb9QWnf_ORncxc29UGPB34

And I look at Walter Hill’s unmade “The Last Gun” here – https://diaboliquemagazine.com/john-wick-with-spurs-a-look-at-walter-hills-unmade-the-last-gun/?fbclid=IwAR0qkzi39QgwTWEzrA_aWKSZchSUA12Ai5KRCXTwqsgAYX4YmKnf9HBTlnQ

A copy is at https://stephenvagg.com/2020/09/23/some-recent-articles-ive-written-on-50s-british-cinema/

Here are some articles I’ve published recently that may be of particular interest to fans of British cinema of the 1950s:

• one on Diana Dors and Belinda Lee (https://www.filmink.com.au/a-tale-of-two-blondes-diana-dors-and-belinda-lee/)
• a look at the relationship between Joan Henry and J. Lee Thompson (https://www.filmink.com.au/joan-henry-the-jailbird-muse/)
• an analysis of the career of Anthony Steel (https://www.filmink.com.au/the-emasculation-of-anthony-steel-a-cold-streak-saga/)

I haven’t updated this for ages. But I’ll start putting some links to articles I’ve written. Here is one on singers turned actors.

The other Saturday I was on Film Buff’s Forecast to talk about the passing of Michael Cimino and Euan Lloyd. A link is attached. (I’m about 1’10 in.)

It’s always nice to be asked back to something? The other Saturday I went into 3RRR to chat “The Richard Burton Diaries” with Paul Harris on 3RRR. A link is here.

The other week Paul Harris was kind enough to invite me back to Film Buffs Forecast on 3RRR to chat about Charlie Brackett and his diaries. You can listen here. (I’m one hour in.)

A documentary on the life and times of Rod Taylor, Rod Taylor: Pulling No Punches, debuted on Foxtel last week. Full disclosure: I’m in it, and am credited as “consultant” – probably the only time in my life I’ll ever co-star with Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, Rod and Tippi Hedren (among others).

There’s some great “talking heads” especially Rod himself, who was interviewed before he died. It features many of the people I was unable to talk with for my book – Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Murray Niedorf, Stephan Elliot and Rod himself. Worth checking out – the trailer is here.

A blog post on the “Movie Morlocks” section of Turner Classic Movies lists ten things you might not know about Rod Taylor, drawing on my biography on him. Thanks for the shout out, Kimberley Lindbergs! A link to it is here.