Cast Mates: Australian Actors in Hollywood and at Home

Sam Twyford-Moore

Cast Mates is a group biography of Australian acting giants across the ages.

Australia has a long cinema history — starting with the world’s first feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, made in Melbourne and released in 1906. Today, much of Australia’s film talent goes to the United States, looking for bigger and more lucrative opportunities. But what does this mean for the history and future of Australian cinema?

The larger-than-life personalities that form the heart of this book — Errol Flynn, Peter Finch, David Gulpilil and Nicole Kidman — have dominated cinema screens both locally and internationally and starred in some of the biggest films of their eras — including The Adventures of Robin Hood, Network, Crocodile Dundee and Eyes Wide Shut among others.

From the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s to the streaming wars of today, the lives of these four actors, and their many cast mates, tell a story of how a nation’s cinema was founded, then faltered, before finding itself again.

Wry, erudite, engrossing, Cast Mates is a red-carpet ride from home to Hollywood.

- Briohny Doyle

More than a story of colourful characters and famous faces, and more than a history of the movies, Cast Mates is an illuminating and entertaining portrait of the relationship between Australia and the United States.

- Dan Golding

Passionate, opinionated, political, this journey through Australia’s iconic stars is meticulously researched and absolutely enthralling. For lovers of Australian cinema this is a must-read!

- Margaret Pomeranz

Release: Jul-2023

ISBN: 9781742237541

RRP (AUD): $34.99

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback & ebook

Category: FILM HISTORY, POPULAR CULTURE

Sam Twyford-Moore

Sam Twyford-Moore is a writer and cultural critic. His first book, The Rapids: Ways of Looking at Mania, was published by NewSouth Publishing and the University of Toronto Press.