The Getting of Wisdom **** (1977, Susannah Fowle, Julia Blake, Dorothy Bradley, Kay Eklund, John Waters, Hilary Ryan, Barry Humphries) – Classic Movie Review 9350

Director Bruce Beresford’s attractive, episodic 1977 Australian coming-of-age film The Getting of Wisdom about turn-of-the-last-century girls’ school life is taken from an autobiographical novel by Henry Handel (Ethel) Richardson, with an effective screenplay by Eleanor Witcombe.

Susannah Fowle does well as Laura Tweedle Rambotham, a boarder at a Melbourne Presbyterian college who develops crushes on the new chaplain, the Rev Shepherd (John Waters), and an older girl, Evelyn (Hilary Ryan), while Barry Humphries pops up to serious effect as another reverend gentleman, the Rev Strachey.

Beresford is very successful in evoking the period atmosphere and encouraging sensitive performances.

The Getting of Wisdom is one of the important, well-regarded films of the 1970s New Australian Cinema, in the style of the 1979 My Brilliant Career, but just a shade less successful, though it is still excellent.

Also in the cast are Sheila Helpmann, Patricia Kennedy, Kerry Armstrong, Alix Longman, Julia Blake, Dorothy Bradley, Kay Eklund, Noni Hazlehurst, Sigrid Thornton, Celia De Burgh, Terence Donovan, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Max Fairchild, and Jan Friedl.

The Getting of Wisdom is directed by Bruce Beresford, runs 100 minutes, is made by Southern Cross, AFC, Victoria Film Corporation, Nine Network, is written by Eleanor Witcombe, is shot by Donald McAlpine, is produced by Phillip Adams and is designed by John Stoddart.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9350

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