| Adam's Woman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Philip Leacock |
| Written by | Richard Fiedler |
| Story by | Lowell Barrington |
| Produced by | Arthur M. Broidy Louis F. Edelman |
| Starring | Beau Bridges Jane Merrow |
| Cinematography | Bill Butler |
| Edited by | Anthony Buckley |
| Music by | Bob Young |
Production companies | SBP Films Warner Bros-Seven Arts |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 116 Minutes |
| Countries | Australia United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,500,000[1] or $2 million[2] |
| Box office | $15,000 (Australia)[3] |
Adam's Woman is a 1970 Australian-Americanhistoricaldrama film directed byPhilip Leacock and starringBeau Bridges,Jane Merrow andJohn Mills.[4][5] It has been called a "convict Western".[6]
In the 1840s, an American sailor ashore inLiverpool is wrongly convicted and sent to thepenal colony inSydney, Australia, where he engages in a battle of wills with the Governor. The Governor offers him a pardon if he helps pioneer new land for the growing colony. He marries an Irish woman, Bess, and together they establish a farm despite the harassment of bushrangers.
Opponents of the Governor persuade a visiting Crown commissioner, Lord Croydon, to revoke Adam's pardon. Adam attempts to escape but is arrested. Bess pleads his case, and Adam ultimately receives a full pardon.
The film was originally known asThe Return of the Boomerang. It was announced in November 1965 as part of a four film slate by Motion Pictures International, a new company formed bySteve Broidy and Louis F. Edelman.[7] In June 1966 it was reported that Lowell Barrington, author of the novelReturn of the Boomerang had been signed by Broidy to write the script for Edelman, with filming to begin in the Australian summer.[8]
In March 1967 Broidy said the film would be one of five he would make that year the others beingThe Fox,God's High Table,Ignatz andThe Coasts of War.[9] In April Edelman said thatLewis Allen would direct from a script byT. E. B. Clarke with filming to begin in October.[10]
In February 1968 Eldeman announced that Philip Leacock would direct the film from a script by Clarke.[11] The following month it was reported Richard Fielding was writing the script for Edelman with filming to begin "this fall".[12]
By November 1968 the project was being made for Warners-Seven Arts and Beau Bridges, Jane Merrow, James Booth and John Mills were cast.[13] The film was given a three-month schedule in Australia.[14] In DecemberChips Rafferty was listed among the cast (but he does not appear in the final film.)[15][16]
The film was titledAdam's Woman in December 1969.[17]
The film was shot entirely in Australia with finance from Hollywood. The script, director, cinematographer and star were all imported. The film was shot in late 1968 and early 1969, on location in the small town ofCambewarra, near Nowra and theShoalhaven River, and in the studio ofAjax Films.[1][18] There were a number of movies being shot in Australia at the time includingSqueeze a Flower andNed Kelly.[19]
The film had its world premiere in Canberra in March 1970.[20]Adam's Woman took $15,000 at the box office in Australia.[21] Overseas reaction was not strong.[1]