‘That’s not a knife’: Paul Hogan’s tribute to late Crocodile Dundee writer
Writer Ken Shadie, who co-authored one of the most famous lines to come out of an Australian movie — ‘That’s not a knife’ — died last week. Read Paul Hogan’s tribute to the man behind Crocodile Dundee.
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It is one of the most famous movies to come out of Australia, and last week Crocodile Dundee actor Paul Hogan — who delivered the immortal “that’s not a knife” line — paid tribute to its co-author at a private funeral held in Sydney last week.
Ken Shadie, who co-wrote the internationally acclaimed movie with Hoges and John “Strop” Cornell, died at the age of 84 on Monday.
The Sydney man, a legend of Australian entertainment, was given a fitting send-off, with Hoges — unable to leave his US home due to flight restrictions — among those to send tributes.
It was no surprise that Dundee turned out to be comic gold, with Hogan describing Shadie — who also wrote for The Paul Hogan Show – as having a “brilliant sense of humour” and never failing to deliver “clever, funny, topical gems”.
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“Ken Shadie was a comedy producer’s dream,” Hoges’ note said.
“A brief to Ken was … I need two sketches next week.
“In nine years he never failed to deliver clever, funny, topical gems … a soft-spoken laid-back gentleman with a brilliant sense of humour. A class act and a good mate. RIP Ken.”
In an interview, Shadie recounted how he wrote the first draft of the 1986 hit on a typewriter from his northern Sydney home in Brooklyn, wondering if it would ever see the light of day.
The “knife scene”, which he brainstormed with Cornell and Hoges, “wasn’t funny on paper”, he had recounted.
Upon its release, Shadie was nominated for an Oscar.
Cornell, who produced the movie, was among mourners able to make the funeral, along with the film’s director Peter Faiman.
Other VIP guests included Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, who was Shadie’s local MP, Hornsby Shire Mayor Philip Ruddock and former television presenter Brian Bury.
Ken Shadie is survived by his sons Tim, 54 and Peter, 52, and four grandsons Charlie, Rory, Duncan and Alex.
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Originally published as ‘That’s not a knife’: Paul Hogan’s tribute to late Crocodile Dundee writer