Mad Dog Morgan (1975)

Dennis Hopper is Daniel Morgan, a young man working in the gold fields of Australia and having little luck at striking it rich.

So he eases his worries by smoking opium and decides to cover his expenses by robbing others.

He’s caught, of course. For a single robbery, he’s sentenced to 12 years in prison, branded with an “M” for malefactor and put to work building roads.

After six years, he’s released on good behavoir and retreats into the wilds of Australia, only to be bitten by a snake.

Saved by an aborigine named Billy who claims to be half-white, Morgan befriends the black man.

Once he recuperates, Daniel begins a quest to live up to his nickname of Mad Dog.

He’s a sort of hero to those disdainful of the ruling class.

But as the price on his head rises, it becomes more difficult for Daniel to know who he can trust and who’s likely to turn on him.

Meanwhile, authorities are tired of being embarrassed by Daniel’s elusiveness.

And Superintendent Cobham insists Mad Dog will pay the price if he crosses into his jurisdiction.

Review:

A crude-looking, but surprisingly effective film, partly because of the violence and brutality if depicts.

In an early scene, whites descend on Chinatown, setting it ablaze because they hate Chinese. A judge doles out long prison sentences not because they’re warranted, but because the region has lots of roads to be built.

Hopper turns in an intense performance as a man who leaves prison swearing he’s not a killer, but soon proves otherwise.

Any slight committed against Mad Dog will be met with retaliation, a mindset that puts the outlaw in danger time and again.

Released five years after Ned Kelly (1970) featuring Mick Jagger, this is superior to that film.

Directed by:
Philippe Mora

Cast:
Dennis Hopper … Daniel Morgan
Jack Thompson … Detective Manwaring
David Gulpilil … Billy
Frank Thring … Superintendent Cobham
Michael Pate … Superintendent Winch
Wallas Eaton … Macpherson
Bill Hunter … Sergeant Smith
John Hargreaves … Baylis
Martin Harris … Wendlan
Robin Ramsay … Roger
Graeme Blundell … Italian Jack
Gregory Apps … Arthur

Runtime: 102 min.

aka:
Mad Dog
Mad Morgan

Music: Patrick Flynn

Memorable lines:

Martin, smoking opium with Daniel Morgan: “Are you sure it’s okay to do this?”
Morgan: “I find, when you’re in the gold fields, it’s the best cure for not finding gold.”

Superintendent Cobham: “What do you think creates a monster like this man Morgan, Dr. Dublin?”
Dr. Dublin: “Apparently, he has some of the physical features of a gorilla. Professor Helfort would like to examine his skull.”

Superintendent Cobham: “I’ll tell you one thing, doctor, the more I see of man, the more I admire dogs.”

Martin Harris as Wendlan posing with the body of the outlaw he killed in Mad Dog Morgan (1975)

David Gulpilil as Billy and Dennis Hopper as Morgan prepare to action in Mad Dog Morgan (1975)