Man from Snowy River: 40th anniversary of successful movie’s first screening

The film remains one the nation’s biggest cinematic success stories 40 years after its premiere. But none of it would have been possible without these behind-the-scenes legends.

The Man from Snowy River is one of Australia’s biggest cinematic successes, acclaimed for its majestic horse scenes and authentic Australian roots.

Big-name stars lured viewers to the box office with the film grossing more than $17 million when it was released in 1982. But co-producer Geoff Burrowes says it wouldn’t have been a hit without a team of real “crack” horsemen who helped bring Banjo Patterson’s iconic poem to life on the screen.

Mansfield’s Gerald Egan was the double for Tom Burlinson in The Man from Snowy River. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mansfield’s Gerald Egan, who was stunt double for lead actor Tom Burlinson, is one of them.

Egan, then 17, had won the all-round cowboy title at the 1977 Merrijig rodeo, and made an instant impression on Burrowes, who was watching in the crowd.

“He was just what we were looking for,” Burrowes said.

“He was quiet, wasn’t boastful and just performed.”

Egan didn’t know Burrowes from a “bar of a soap” when he was first approached about being part of the movie.

John Lovick. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“It was a big eye-opener,” he said. “I’d just finished my apprenticeship as a boiler maker and was ready for an adventure.

“No one knew what was going to happen one day to the next.

“It made a lot of money and still does today.”

Egan was recruited before Tom Burlinson had even been cast for the main role of Jim Craig.

Doubles were also required for other actors including American star Kirk Douglas, who played two characters, Harrison and Spur, and Australian Jack Thompson, who played Clancy.

Burrowes hit the jackpot again with Thompson’s double.

The late Ken Connley of Benambara was involved in The Man from Snowy River.

The late Ken Connley, a fearless brumby catcher from Benambra who dominated Mountain Cattlemen’s Cup races in the 1980s, was a perfect match.

Brothers Tom and Jack Purcell, Buck Hearn and Chester Wallis were other “cracks” and their combined input was an integral part of the movie’s stunning box-office success – as the highest earning Australian film until Crocodile Dundee was released four years later – and its enduring popularity 40 years later.

John Lovick was also among a large army of people working behind the scenes on the movie.

Connley, who died aged 74 in 2020, was a larger than life character but also a highly skilled horseman.

Charlie Lovick taught Tom Burlinson how to ride for his starring role in the movie. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“There was no Ken Connley-lite,” Burrowes said.

“He was full on and exactly the guy we wanted.

“If you needed someone to ride to the head of a mob of horses, Ken Connley was the first bloke you’re going to.

“When we chose the cracks, we wanted them to be representative of the very best of bush riders.”

Burrowes was a regular visitor to the Mansfield area in the 1970s and a high country ride with members of the Lovick family were often part of any trip.

Tom Burlinson as Jim Craig in The Man from Snowy River.

Charlie Lovick taught Burlinson to ride and also showed him how to split wood with one blow of an axe and crack a whip for different movie scenes.

His can-do attitude impressed all on set.

“He had hardly ridden a horse and we asked him not to take lessons until he came to join us for the film so we could teach him how to ride our way,” Burrowes said.

“There is a different way of riding when you’re in the hills.

“You tend to take much more of your weight in the feet in the stirrups so the horse can swing a bit more underneath you.”

Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton at the film’s reunion in 2009.

Filming began early in 1981 with Douglas, Burlinson, Thompson and other main actors Sigrid Thornton, Lorraine Bailey and Gus Mercurio all on set until June when the area near Merrijig chosen for the movie became too wet.

But only Burlinson was needed to return in late spring for filming of final scenes including the ride down the “terrible descent” that took eight takes in total, according to Burrowes.

“In all cases Tom rode down that terrible descent,” he said. “Gerald was on standby if needed, but wasn’t.”

Burrowes said the film still wows viewers to this day.

“It’s still out there working,” Burrowes said.

“I’ve got friends my age who go crook at me because they had to put up with it playing non-stop when their kids were growing up and now it’s going non-stop when their grandkids are growing up.

“It says we hit the right chord.”

Gerald Egan, Charlie Lovick, Geoff Burrowes and John Lovick. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Egan and Burlinson worked alongside each other again in Phar Lap soon after with Burlinson playing the famous racehorse’s strapper and trainer, Tommy Woodcock.

Towong and Adaminaby racecourses were used for scenes in Phar Lap with Egan going on to work on the Lighthorsemen and Quigley Down Under movies and television mini series All The Rivers Run.

Changes to Australian taxation legislation 10BA in the late 1980s slowed Australian movie production, forcing Egan to forge a new career.

Horses remained a constant as he took up training racehorses and tutoring apprentice jockeys from his Mansfield property.

“In the film business they say you shouldn’t work with animals and children,” he said.

“But that’s exactly what I’ve done, trained racehorses and apprentice jockeys.”

Burrowes also produced television miniseries Anzacs in the late 1980s and also lives at Mansfield.