Summary: A 'meet Australia' film for US servicemen, with commentary in the form of a GI's letter home.
Description: The film shows the actions described in the letter as the 'writer' and his friend explore Sydney. They disembark from a troopship and leave camp on pass to see the sights (Sydney Harbour Bridge, war memorial); tangle with 'wrong side' traffic; meet two "Aussie" soldiers who leave their girlfriends to buy the Yanks a beer. In a Red Cross canteen, the two Americans befriend Pat, a waitress, who goes with them to the zoo (kangaroo, koala and platypus); they return by tram (woman conductress, Australian money) and ferry (cars converted to run on gas or charcoal); they walk Pat home and accept invitation to dinner (rationing, English eating style). 'Conversation' over dinner introduces film of Melbourne, Canberra, the beaches and economy (agriculture) of Australia. The GI is seen writing his letter (often stressing that 'it's just like home') as a trooptrain takes him northwards.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:CAU 246
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1945
Production Country: Australia
Production Details: United States Army, South West Pacific Area (Production sponsor)
Commonwealth Department of Information, Australia (Production sponsor)
Firman, Patricia (Production cast)
Hayward, John Nugent (Production cast)
Steinbeck, Muriel (Production cast)
Taylor, Grant (Production cast)
McCallum, John (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: United States Army (regiment/service)
Australian Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: recreation, Australian military - general (object name)
recreation, United States military - leave (object name)
society, Australian - general (object name)
Australia & Canberra, NSW (geography)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (geography)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1765 ft; Running time: 19 mins
