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Bush Christmas

Bush Christmas is a 1947 Australian-British children's adventure film directed and written by Ralph Smart, in which a group of young friends, including an Aboriginal boy, track horse thieves through the rugged Australian bush to recover their family's stolen mare and foal, ultimately returning home in time for Christmas celebrations.^[1] The story is set in the fictional Mara Mara valley in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, where siblings Helen, John, and their young cousin Snow, along with their friends Michael and Neza Saunders—an Aboriginal youth skilled in bush survival—embark on a perilous journey after unwittingly aiding the thieves in stealing the horses.^[1] The children demonstrate resourcefulness by eating bush tucker like witchetty grubs and snakes, navigating treacherous terrain, and outwitting the culprits, led by the villainous Long Bill, before police intervention ensures their safe return.^[1] Filmed on location in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, the production emphasized authentic Australian landscapes and wildlife to appeal to British audiences, highlighting the exoticism of the outback while portraying children's independence and cross-cultural friendship between white and Indigenous characters.^[1] Produced by the newly formed Children's Entertainment Films (CEF), a subsidiary of the Rank Organisation aimed at providing wholesome entertainment for youth cinema clubs across the British Empire, Bush Christmas marked CEF's inaugural feature film and was released in Sydney in December 1947, enjoying an eight-week run.^[1] The cast featured prominent Australian actor Chips Rafferty in a rare antagonistic role as Long Bill, alongside newcomers including Helen Grieve as Helen, Morris Unicomb as John, Nicky and Michael Yardley as Snow and Michael, and Neza Saunders as himself, drawing on local Indigenous community involvement for authenticity.^[1] The film received positive reception in both Australia and Britain for its engaging tale of adventure and survival, though modern viewings note dated racial stereotypes in its depiction of Indigenous characters.^[1] It has been preserved in Australia's National Film and Sound Archive as a significant early example of children's cinema promoting Australian identity to international audiences.^[1] In 1983, a remake titled Bush Christmas (also known as Prince and the Great Race) was released, directed by Henri Safran and serving as a loose adaptation of the original, focusing on an outback family racing to save their farm by entering their horse Prince in a New Year's event, only for the children—including a young Nicole Kidman in her screen debut as Helen—to pursue thieves who steal the animal.^[2] Filmed in Queensland's Lamington Plateau, the 1983 version incorporates music by Australian folk band The Bushwackers and emphasizes family resilience amid economic hardship, achieving modest success and introducing Kidman to wider audiences.^[2]

Background and Production

Development and Pre-production

Bush Christmas marked the inaugural feature film production for Children's Entertainment Films (CEF), a subsidiary of the Rank Organisation established in 1943 by J. Arthur Rank specifically to create content for children's cinema clubs across Britain.^[1]^[3] The project originated as part of Rank's broader initiative to expand into family-oriented programming, leveraging Australian settings to offer wholesome adventure stories appealing to young international audiences.^[1] Ralph Smart, an English filmmaker with Australian roots who had spent the early 1940s in Australia producing shorts for the Department of Information and the Royal Australian Air Force, was selected to direct, write, and produce the film.^[1] Drawing from his experiences, Smart crafted an original story centered on Australian bush life, emphasizing themes of youthful resilience and exploration in the outback. The scripting process unfolded in late 1945, incorporating consultations with local Australian experts to ensure realistic portrayals of rural childhood and authentic outback elements.^[1] Australian actor Chips Rafferty, who had risen to prominence following his role in the Rank-financed The Overlanders (1946), was brought on as the star and played a key role in early planning discussions.^[4] The production was financed primarily by British capital from the Rank Organisation, with an estimated budget of around £25,000, aimed at exporting Australian narratives to global markets, particularly Britain.^[3] Pre-production encountered several hurdles typical of the post-World War II era in Australia, including resource constraints from wartime rationing that complicated equipment and supply logistics for remote shoots.^[5] Casting proved particularly challenging, as the team sought non-professional child performers from rural communities to capture genuine bush authenticity, requiring extensive scouting in regional areas.^[1] Development commenced in 1945 following the project's announcement in August of that year, with core decisions on script, cast, and locations solidified by early 1946.^[1]

Filming and Locations

Principal photography for Bush Christmas commenced in March 1946 and was conducted entirely on location, spanning approximately one month to capture the film's outdoor sequences.^[6] The production utilized the natural beauty of New South Wales landscapes, with principal filming sites including the Capertee Valley, Kanangra Tops, Burragorang Valley, and the Blue Mountains, allowing the rugged Australian bush to serve as the authentic backdrop without relying on built sets or studio interiors.^[7]^[8] Cinematographer George Heath employed black-and-white 35mm film to highlight the expansive wilderness, contributing to the film's visual emphasis on the outback's dramatic terrain.^[9] The shoot faced logistical challenges from the remote, rugged locations, including difficulties transporting equipment and managing child actors during demanding horse-riding scenes essential to the story.^[7] Real horses were employed throughout for authenticity, adding to the production's immersion in the natural environment.^[8] Editing was handled by James Pearson, who assembled the footage into a 76-minute runtime focused on brisk, engaging pacing suitable for young audiences.^[6] The original score, composed by Sydney John Kay, incorporated elements to reflect the sounds and spirit of the Australian wilderness, enhancing the on-location authenticity.^[10] One notable on-set incident involved child actor Neza Saunders falling from a horse, though he recovered fully within two days, allowing filming to continue without major delays.^[6] Due to the isolation of the sites, the crew occasionally improvised solutions for technical issues arising from limited access.^[7] Post-production, including final editing and sound work, was primarily completed in Sydney by June 1946, with the family-friendly rhythm refined to appeal to children in both Australia and the United Kingdom as part of the Rank Organisation's initiative.^[6]

Cast and Characters

The principal adult roles in Bush Christmas were filled by established Australian performers who brought authenticity to the film's depiction of rural life. Chips Rafferty portrayed Long Bill, the reluctant leader of a group of horse thieves, drawing on his reputation as a rugged bushman actor from his breakout role in The Overlanders (1946), which helped ground the character's folksy demeanor in genuine outback experience.^[11]^[12] John Fernside played Jim, another member of the thieves, as a veteran character actor born in Wollongong in 1892, whose prior collaborations with Rafferty in The Overlanders added seasoned comic timing to the ensemble.^[13]^[14] Stan Tolhurst appeared as Blue, the third thief, leveraging his background as an Australian actor and filmmaker with credits dating back to Phantom Gold (1937) to deliver a straightforward supporting performance.^[15] The child leads, portraying the resourceful Thompson siblings and their friends, were played by non-professional young actors selected for their naturalism, emphasizing the film's innocent, adventurous tone. Helen Grieve took the role of Helen Thompson, the eldest sibling, in her second screen appearance after debuting in The Overlanders, where director Ralph Smart had first spotted her talent at age 13. Nicky Yardley, aged 7 and a local from the Burragorang Valley filming location, played Snow Thompson, the youngest brother and an enthusiastic young rider. Morris Unicomb, 12, portrayed John Thompson, bringing slight prior stage and radio experience to the middle sibling's energetic portrayal. Michael Yardley, 13 and Nicky's brother, appeared as Michael, the visiting English boy in the group. Neza Saunders, 12 and recruited from a mission station near Rockhampton, Queensland, played Neza, the Aboriginal boy, contributing an authentic rural perspective as the children's companion.^[16]^[3]^[17] The casting process prioritized rural Australian children to capture unpolished authenticity, with most making their film debuts as amateurs to highlight the characters' wide-eyed innocence. Director Ralph Smart scouted talent locally in New South Wales and beyond, such as selecting Helen Grieve directly from her prior work and drawing Neza Saunders from Queensland for diversity in backgrounds. Chips Rafferty assisted in on-location talent scouting during production, ensuring the young cast's interactions felt genuine amid the remote bush setting. Several performers, including Rafferty, Fernside, and Grieve, reunited from The Overlanders, fostering a cohesive ensemble that enhanced the film's warm, community-oriented tone without relying on polished professionals.^[16]^[3]^[8]

Content and Style

Plot Summary

Bush Christmas is set in the rural Australian bush during the Christmas school holidays in the Mara Mara valley. The story centers on the Thompson family, particularly the children Helen, John, and Snow, who along with their friends Michael—an English boy visiting from wartime evacuation—and Neza, the son of an Aboriginal stockman, enjoy riding their horses through the bush. The family's prized mare and her young foal are central to their daily life and plans for the holidays.^[1] While riding home from their final day of school, the children take a forbidden shortcut and encounter two strangers camped in the bush: the rugged Long Bill and his companion Jim. The men befriend the children, offering them money in exchange for guiding them through a mountain pass to shorten their journey. Unbeknownst to the children, the strangers are horse thieves, and this assistance unwittingly enables Long Bill, Jim, and their associate Blue to steal the mare and her foal from the Thompson property that night, dashing the family's hopes for a celebratory Christmas trip to the city.^[18]^[1] Determined to recover the horse and alert authorities, Helen, John, Snow, Michael, and Neza mount their own horses and set off in pursuit of the thieves through the rugged Australian bush. The journey tests their endurance as they navigate perilous terrain through the mountains. Neza shares his knowledge of bush survival, teaching the group to forage for food such as snakes and grubs, while Snow demonstrates his tracking skills by following the thieves' trail of hoofprints and campfire remnants. The children camp under the stars, sharing stories and strengthening their bond amid the isolation of the wilderness.^[1] As the pursuit intensifies, the children begin to harass the thieves to slow them down, stealthily stealing their boots and blankets at night and piercing their water bag to force delays. This leads to a tense chase through the mountains, with the thieves firing warning shots but unable to catch the agile young trackers. The children track the thieves to an abandoned ghost town, a relic of past gold rush days, where they walk into a trap. Meanwhile, Mr. Thompson, alerted to the theft, rallies the local police and tracks the group to the ghost town, where the outlaws are apprehended without further violence. With the mare recovered and the thieves in custody, the children ride triumphantly home through the bush, arriving just in time for a joyous Christmas dinner with their family, where the spirit of the holiday unites everyone in celebration.^[1]

Themes and Style

Bush Christmas explores core themes of children's empowerment in confronting adult challenges, the resilience of bush life against urban expectations, and Christmas as a period of forgiveness and communal harmony in rugged, non-traditional environments. The film portrays young protagonists who demonstrate resourcefulness and bravery by tracking horse thieves through the bush, highlighting how children can navigate perilous adult worlds with ingenuity and determination. This empowerment motif underscores a post-war Australian ideal of self-reliance, where youthful initiative bridges generational gaps and fosters personal growth. Additionally, the narrative contrasts the structured, urban-influenced expectations of the children's families with the raw, adaptive survival skills demanded by the bush, emphasizing national identity rooted in rural endurance and harmony with the land.^[1]^[19] Recurring motifs reinforce these themes, with the horse serving as a powerful symbol of freedom, family bonds, and the adventurous spirit of the Australian frontier. The stolen horses propel the children's quest, representing not only material loss but also the disruption of familial stability, which the protagonists restore through collective effort. The bush wilderness functions dually as a site of exhilarating adventure and inherent peril, evoking the untamed beauty and isolation of the Blue Mountains landscape that tests and tempers the characters' resolve. Casual depictions of Australian Indigenous elements appear through Neza, an Aboriginal stockman's son who joins the group; his tracking expertise and cultural knowledge complement the white children's skills, presenting an idealized integration of distinct cultures within a shared community, though reflective of 1940s portrayals that emphasize complementarity over deeper historical context.^[1]^[19] Director Ralph Smart employs a light-hearted comedy-adventure tone suited to young audiences, blending humor with moral lessons on honesty and camaraderie while avoiding overt violence. His use of non-professional child actors from the Blue Mountains region lends authenticity to the performances, capturing the natural exuberance and innocence of rural youth without polished theatricality. The pacing remains simple and unhurried, allowing scenic transitions and character interactions to drive the story forward, prioritizing emotional accessibility over complex plotting. Visually, the cinematography showcases the dramatic vistas of the Blue Mountains and Mara Mara valley, using expansive shots to immerse viewers in the exotic allure of the Australian bush, which served as an appealing contrast for international audiences. Aurally, an orchestral score swells during key action sequences, such as the children's horseback pursuit, evoking heroic nostalgia and tying auditory cues to the landscape's emotional resonance. The film fuses family-oriented adventure with Western influences, focusing on moral development through ethical dilemmas resolved via forgiveness, particularly in the communal Christmas resolution that celebrates unity over retribution.^[1]^[20]

Release and Commercial Performance

Theatrical Release

Bush Christmas premiered in the United Kingdom in June 1947 as the inaugural feature film from Children's Entertainment Films (CEF), a division established by J. Arthur Rank in 1944 to produce content specifically for young audiences through his network of British children's cinema clubs.^[1] The film was distributed domestically by the Rank Organisation, targeting Saturday morning matinees to capitalize on post-war efforts to engage families and rebuild cinema attendance with wholesome, educational entertainment.^[3] In Australia, the theatrical release occurred on 19 December 1947, timed for the Christmas season to align with its holiday-themed narrative, opening at the Embassy Theatre in Sydney where it enjoyed an eight-week run.^[1] The distribution strategy emphasized the film's appeal as an authentic portrayal of Australian bush life, positioning it as an adventurous family outing that introduced British viewers to Commonwealth cultures amid post-World War II reconstruction and a renewed interest in empire-building stories.^[1] Marketing efforts highlighted its exotic elements, such as the children's pursuit of horse thieves through rugged landscapes, and promoted it alongside tie-ins like serializations in children's magazines and adaptations into multilingual books to extend its reach.^[3] Internationally, the film was rolled out to European markets and beyond, gaining popularity for its emphasis on youthful resilience and the educational value of outback survival skills.^[1] With a runtime of 76 minutes, Bush Christmas was certified suitable for all ages, underscoring its design as accessible entertainment that blended adventure with subtle lessons on Australian rural heritage and holiday traditions.^[3] This release approach reflected broader post-war British cinema trends, where Rank-backed productions like this one fostered cultural ties within the Commonwealth to attract diverse audiences and support recovering film industries.^[1]

Box Office Performance

Bush Christmas achieved significant commercial success in the United Kingdom, where it was a huge hit with audiences of the British Children’s Cinema Clubs, particularly during children's matinees.^[1] As the first feature produced by the Rank Organisation's Children's Entertainment Films unit, the film's strong attendance contributed to the profitability of Rank's children's programming slate in 1947.^[21] In Australia, the film was released as a popular holiday feature on December 19, 1947, drawing large family crowds and running for eight weeks at Sydney's Embassy Theatre.^[1] Despite being produced primarily for British viewers, it resonated strongly with local children and marked a commercial triumph for post-war Australian cinema.^[1] This performance helped revive the Australian film industry following World War II by demonstrating viability for family-oriented exports.^[21] Internationally, Bush Christmas was screened widely across Commonwealth nations, capitalizing on its Empire-themed appeal.^[1] In the United States, it lacked a major theatrical run due to perceived limited appeal but gained visibility through later television airings, including on Turner Classic Movies.^[22]

Home Media

Bush Christmas became available on home video formats in the decades following its theatrical debut, allowing wider access to audiences beyond cinemas. In the 1980s, the film was released on VHS by Australian distributors, catering to family viewers interested in classic children's adventures.^[23] An early major DVD edition appeared in 2005 from MGM Home Entertainment.^[24] A subsequent edition was released in 2012 from VCI Entertainment, running 76 minutes in black-and-white, and was distributed internationally, remaining purchasable through retailers like Amazon, often bundled with other vintage titles.^[25]^[26] Digital streaming options emerged later, with the full film accessible for free on the Internet Archive, facilitating easy viewing for global audiences.^[27] Preservation efforts ensure the film's longevity, as it is archived by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, which offers non-theatrical loans of prints for educational and festival screenings.^[28] The original release's popularity as a holiday staple has sustained steady demand among classic film collectors, with DVDs seeing periodic boosts during seasonal viewings.^[29]

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reception

Upon its release, Bush Christmas received positive attention from UK audiences, particularly through its popularity in the British Children’s Film Foundation's cinema clubs, where it was embraced as engaging family entertainment for children.^[1] Time magazine described it as "an engagingly simple adventure story" featuring Australian children pursuing horse thieves.^[30] In Australia, the film proved popular with young viewers, praised for its authentic depiction of bush life, including survival skills and location shooting in the Blue Mountains that captured the rural landscape's realism.^[1] Contemporary reviews highlighted the strong performances by the young cast, noting their natural resourcefulness and capability in portraying innocent, brave children navigating the outback.^[1] The film's appeal lay in this youthful authenticity, with the children's adventures evoking a sense of wonder and self-reliance amid the Australian wilderness. In modern assessments, Bush Christmas is regarded as a pioneering children's film and an Australian classic, acclaimed worldwide for its innovative approach to youth-led storytelling and on-location authenticity.^[8] The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has called it "a superb film which won critical acclaim around the world upon its release."^[8] However, retrospective reviews critique its dated elements, including casual racism in the portrayal of Indigenous characters, such as the Aboriginal boy Neza, who is depicted through era-specific stereotypes despite his role as a skilled tracker.^[31] Common Sense Media awarded it 2 out of 5 stars, noting its outdated feel and potential challenges for contemporary young audiences.^[31] Overall, the film holds a mixed legacy: lauded for its innocent charm, innovative location shooting, and influence on the children's adventure genre, yet reflective of 1940s cultural biases.^[1]^[8] It maintains an IMDb user rating of 6.1 out of 10 based on 544 votes (as of November 2025).^[32]

Awards and Recognition

Bush Christmas received no major contemporary awards or nominations at international film festivals, such as Cannes.^[33] However, it was selected as one of the inaugural productions for Children's Entertainment Films, a J. Arthur Rank initiative aimed at creating prestige content for young audiences, which later evolved into the Children's Film Foundation.^[1] The film aired on British television, including BBC broadcasts, where it was valued for its educational portrayal of Australian outback life and family adventure.^[34] In retrospective recognition, Bush Christmas has been inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's collection of classic Australian films, highlighting its role in early post-war cinema.^[35] It has been featured in discussions of overlooked Australian cinema, including analyses by the British Film Institute, which praised its influence on children's programming.^[34] The film is credited as a foundational work for the Children's Film Foundation, demonstrating effective storytelling for juvenile viewers and indirectly contributing to the development of dedicated children's categories in awards like those from BAFTA.^[23] Commercially, Bush Christmas achieved strong performance in the 1947 UK box office among family-oriented films, ranking highly due to its appeal to young audiences and broad distribution by Rank Organisation.^[36]

Cultural Impact and Adaptations

Following its release, Bush Christmas generated several immediate spin-offs that extended its reach to other media formats. The story was adapted for radio by the Australian Broadcasting Commission as early as 1944, with a young John Meillon making his debut in the production. A novelization of the film's script, retold by Mary Cathcart Borer and attributed to director Ralph Smart, was published in 1947 by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, adapting the adventure for young readers. The film was also serialized in British children's magazines, including Children's Film and Television Review, capitalizing on its appeal to juvenile audiences. In 1983, Bush Christmas received a full remake directed by Henri Safran, starring veteran actor John Ewart as the family patriarch and featuring a teenage Nicole Kidman in her screen debut as one of the children. This color version updates the original narrative by centering on an English boy visiting his Australian relatives for the holidays, who joins the siblings in pursuing horse thieves; it echoes core plot elements like the outback pursuit and themes of camaraderie while modernizing the setting for contemporary viewers. Released internationally as Prince and the Great Race in select markets, the remake was produced by Paul Barron and distributed by Hoyts, maintaining the family adventure tone but emphasizing environmental and familial bonds. The film played a pioneering role in establishing the outback adventure genre for children's cinema in Australia, as the first feature produced by Children's Entertainment Films (later the Children's Film Foundation) specifically for young audiences in cinema clubs. It influenced later works in the vein, such as Anthony Kimmins's Smiley (1956), which similarly depicted youthful mischief and rural escapades in the Australian bush. Bush Christmas also significantly advanced the career of star Chips Rafferty, whose portrayal of the horse thief Long Bill and involvement as co-producer helped solidify his status as a leading figure in post-war Australian filmmaking. As a cultural artifact, Bush Christmas symbolizes post-war Australian identity, celebrating rural resilience, children's independence, and the vastness of the outback as emblems of national character. It remains a touchstone for holiday storytelling Down Under, with echoes in annual festive traditions that evoke its blend of adventure and seasonal warmth. The film is often studied in media scholarship for its representation of Indigenous Australians, particularly through the character of Neza, an Aboriginal boy whose bush survival skills drive key plot moments; this portrayal advances an "ideal integration" of cultures while respecting distinct Indigenous knowledge and autonomy, though it reflects the era's limited perspectives on reconciliation.

References

[1]
Bush Christmas (1947) - ASO mobile
Three children and their friend, with an Aboriginal boy, pursue horse thieves in the bush, learning to survive, and eventually return home for Christmas.
[2]
Bush Christmas (1983) - IMDb
Rating 5.2/10 (457) An Australian family hopes their horse will win a race to save their farm, but when the horse goes missing, the children go on a dangerous adventure to ...
[3]
Bush Christmas (1947) - Turner Classic Movies - TCM
A group of children track down rustlers they accidentally helped steal their father's horses.
[4]
Chips Rafferty - Australian Screen
... Bush Christmas (1947), where he played a rare villain. He was memorable as the shearing contractor in Fred Zinneman's version of The Sundowners (1960), with ...Missing: assisted | Show results with:assisted
[5]
Christmas in July 2021: Bush Christmas
Jun 30, 2021 · This Australian-made children's movie was produced on behalf of J. Arthur Rank's Children's Cinema Club. It is also known under the title ...Missing: Organisation | Show results with:Organisation
[6]
Bush Christmas (1947 film) Facts for Kids
Oct 17, 2025 · Bush Christmas is an exciting adventure film from 1947. It was made in both Australia and the United Kingdom.Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
[7]
Bush Christmas (1947)Share
Five children, pretending to camp, seek out the thieves who stole their father's mare, Lucy, and her foal in the Warrigal Ranges.
[8]
Bush Christmas | Ralph Smart | 1947 | ACMI collection
This brilliant Australian film depicts Yuletide life in country Australia in the 1940s. A family of children, whose father owns a horse farm, ...Missing: development pre- Rank Organisation
[9]
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039231/fullcredits
[10]
Bush Christmas (1947) - Cast & Crew — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Director of Photography. Directing. Ralph Smart. Director. Production. Ralph Smart. Producer. Sound. John Reynders. Conductor. Sydney John Kay. Original Music ...
[11]
Bush Christmas movie poster - National Film and Sound Archive
In this early adventure film set in the Blue Mountains of NSW, three siblings and their friends take on a group of horse thieves, with their faithful family ...Missing: principal | Show results with:principal
[12]
Chips Rafferty - National Portrait Gallery
Chips Rafferty. 1970. Anthony Browell. gelatin silver photograph on paper ... Bush Christmas (1947), The Overlanders (1948), Eureka Stockade (1948), Rats ...<|separator|>
[13]
John Fernside - IMDb
John Fernside was born in 1892 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for Bush Christmas (1947), The Glenrowan Affair (1951) and ...
[14]
John Fernside | Girl.com.au
He is best remembered for co-starring with Chips Rafferty in two popular Australian films of the 1940s, The Overlanders (1946) and Bush Christmas (1947).
[15]
Stan Tolhurst - IMDb
He was an actor and producer, known for Phantom Gold (1937), Bush Christmas (1947) and The Hayseeds (1933). He died on 22 February 1983 in Griffith, New South ...
[16]
18 May 1946 - Children featured in film of Australia... - Trove
for "Bush Christmas." which English children will see in serial form. Five young Australian children are working like. Trojans at present in front of film ...
[17]
Bush Christmas (1947)Share
In 'Bush Christmas', children eat snake and witchetty grubs. The scene was intended to amuse and horrify white audiences in Britain.
[18]
Bush Christmas (1947) - Plot - IMDb
In a small town in Australia, five children riding their horses from school take a forbidden path and meet two strangers, who give them money and make them ...
[19]
https://doi.org/10.1080/00309230601080626
[20]
hearing nostalgia and landscape in australian cinema and australia
18 Australian cinema has often adopted this nostalgic orchestral approach. Take, for instance, Bush Christmas (Ralph Smart 1947) where the children find tracks ...
[21]
[PDF] Ealing Studios' Australian Adventure - Sydney Open Journals - The ...
successful children's film, Bush Christmas (1947), for the Rank. Organisation. Bitter Springs was filmed in the Flinders Ranges, which was to become a ...
[22]
Variety (June 1947)
... Bush Christmas" (GFD). J. Arthur Rank's first children's feature film, made in Australia; dubious appeal in U.S.. "Hollywood. Barn. Dance". (Musical) (SG) ...
[23]
Bush Christmas
Bush Christmas is a 1947 Australian–British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Chips Rafferty. It was one of the first movies from Children's ...Missing: development production Rank Organisation<|control11|><|separator|>
[24]
Bush Christmas (1947) On DVD - Loving The Classics
In stockBuy Bush Christmas (1947) On DVD today! Rare Family / Live-Action film starring Chips Rafferty, John Fernside, Helen Grieve, Nicky Yardley, Stan Tolhurst.Missing: VHS streaming preservation
[25]
Bush Christmas by MGM (Video & DVD) - Amazon.com
Bush Christmas by MGM (Video & DVD) ; Returns. Returnable until Jan 31, 2026 ; Payment. Secure transaction ; ASIN, ‎B00UGPTQIG ; Videos. Help others learn more ...
[26]
Bush Christmas : Various, Ralph Smart - Amazon.com
Australian children meet strangers, then discover their horse and foal are stolen. They set off to recover the horses and catch the criminals.<|separator|>
[27]
Bush Christmas : GB Instructional Films - Internet Archive
Feb 13, 2018 · In a small town in Australia, five children riding their horses from school take a forbidden path and meet two strangers, who give them money.
[28]
Bush Christmas (1947) - ASO mobile
Bush Christmas (1947). Sources for the full version of Bush Christmas (1947). Non-theatrical loans. The National Film and Sound Archive loans copies for non ...
[29]
Bush Christmas (DVD, 1947) for sale online - eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bush Christmas (DVD, 1947) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
[30]
[PDF] THE WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE - World Radio History
Bush Christmas. Australian children hound the life out of some horse thieves in an engagingly simple adventure story. (TIME, Dec. Is). To Live in Peace. A ...
[31]
Bush Christmas Movie Review | Common Sense Media
Rating 2.0 · Review by Brian CostelloSep 29, 2025 · Bush Christmas (1947) is an adventure movie with casual racism, rated 9+. It follows children pursuing horse thieves, but has not aged well.
[32]
Bush Christmas (1947) - IMDb
Rating 6.1/10 (544) Very fun and very different Australian Christmas tale. Some thieves steal horses from a local farmer. The farmer's kids and their friends, a visiting English ...
[33]
Awards - Bush Christmas (1947) - IMDb
It looks like we don't have any awards for this title yet. Be the first to contribute. For guidance, please visit the Awards submission guide.
[34]
24 films to watch on TV this Christmas, 2022 - BFI
Dec 18, 2022 · Bush Christmas (1947) ... Set in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Ralph Smart's 1947 festive adventure helped establish what would become ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[35]
Bush Christmas (1947) - ASO mobile
In a rare villainous role, Chips Rafferty plays a horse thief, Long Bill. He is tracked by five kids spending Christmas in the Blue Mountains.
[36]
[PDF] National Box Office Digest Annual (1950)
Names - Credits OF THE BOX OFFICE "BIG TEN" FOR 1947 . . . FEATURED PLAYERS ... Bush Christmas .U-L... 77. Hard Boiled Mahoney .MONO.... 77. Dick Tracy's ...