Once upon a time, there was a young actor who got a big
break in Mad Max, and parlayed that into an amazing role in a movie called
Gallipoli.
.
And Gallipoli was so amazing, so wonderful, so different
that he was forgiven many many many bad choices in his career. Almost forgiven for calling a Malibu
Police-Woman “sugar tits”. That is how
good Gallipoli is!
.
Gallipoli is the War movie that isn’t about a war. It takes place primarily in Australia, where
two young men meet each other in a footrace race and become friends. Ultimately Mark Lee, as Archy, wants to
enlist in the Army to help England in World War 1. But he is too young and must travel across
the out-back to lie about his age.
.
His new pal Frank (Mel Gibson) goes with him and the story is really one
of friendship.
.
The story does, ultimately, transfer to Gallipoli for a short time at the
end. Where the men are dug in outside of
Istanbul in a hopeless sideshow that is of little important. The movie shows what a hash war makes of
honor, friendship and intentions.
.
Mel is, at that time, still acting not just playing Mel
Gibson. And Mark Lee is forever
associated with that role. If you watch
it, Gallipoli will be with you always.