Jess Bartone I was moved to write something after reading with dismay comments from others that this was a fair depiction of Morgan... it wasn't.Daniel Morgan was not named "Mad Dog" for no reason. He was a murderous rapist, and anyone with the interest to research the matter will agree. On one occasion Morgan joined forces with "Gentleman" Ben Hall to rob a large, well guarded, and very wealthy homestead, but when Morgan attempted to rape one of the women, Hall intervened and the two came to blows, Hall stood his ground and it almost became a gunfight. Hall took control and ordered Morgan off the property, threatening to shoot Morgan on the spot if he didn't go.Morgan may well have been a victim of a corrupt and autocratic Colonial Rule, but so was Hall, and he never mistreated his victims, other than to take their valuables. Hall never robbed or disrespected women, in fact male victims upon being "baled up" would quickly put all their money and valuables into the women's purses, knowing that Hall would never commit any bad act against a woman. Hall countered by begging forgiveness, but "could the dear lady please remove all the men's belongings from her purse?" His manner was so gracious and flattering they would usually blush and comply.Mad Dog was entirely the opposite, a brutal and violent psychopath, and to glorify Morgan is simply fictitious sensationalism designed to garner applause for what is essentially a very bad movie. I thought Hopper did not take the role seriously and it seems he felt his reputation was all that was required for the payday. The movie was completely disjointed and came across as a series of unconnected one-act plays.I gave it 3/10 purely for the beautiful Australian backdrop, but ONLY 3 because it was so poorly shot.

classicsoncall I became a Dennis Hopper fan the time I saw him on a talk show once (can't remember which) many years ago, and he cried real tears on demand at the host's request. Ever since I figured he could do just about anything in cinema. As the title character here, Hopper transforms his Easy Rider Billy into an enigmatic bush-ranger outlaw, basically despicable but deemed a folk hero to the locals who admire his tenacity in taking it to the authorities. Befriended and saved from death by an aborigine (David Gulpili), the pair become willing partners in crime after Billy teaches Morgan how to hunt and live off the land. You'll have to forgive the film for it's awkward skips and jump cuts and fill in some of the blanks on your own. That and somehow find a way to contain yourself at the sight of Hopper's ridiculous fake beard that looks like it might have been fashioned for a Saturday Night Live skit. No doubt viewers will recall with ease their most memorable scenes from the film. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a barbecued snake.

wes-connors In the mid 1800s, Irishman Dennis Hopper (as Daniel Morgan) emigrates to Australia, seeking a share of the continent's gold. Instead, Mr. Hopper finds himself branded, and thrown in a torturous prison; there, he is gang-raped. Upon release, Hopper hooks up with aborigine David Gulpilil (as Billy), with whom he seeks revenge upon sadistic Bill Hunter (as Sergeant Smith), Jack Thompson (as Detective Mainwaring), and others. Eventually, vengeance becomes heroism; Hopper is admired and assisted by the common people, and hunted by corrupt and powerful authorities. Hopper's "scarcely human" performance certainly fits the disjointed feel of the film. Mr. Gulpilil heads up a strong supporting cast. The personnel involved in "Mad Dog Morgan" make it not only worth a look, but also a huge disappointment. *** Mad Dog Morgan (1976) Philippe Mora ~ Dennis Hopper, David Gulpilil, Bill Hunter

uds3 If you check the credentials of Philippe Mora you will find he leans towards the outre school of film-making. In terms of cinematic crap he has managed to helm three of the all time greatest duds: THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE, SWAMP THING and the never to be forgotten, HOWLING 2 (The jury is still out on HOWLING III: THE MARSUPIALS...its either WORSE than 2 or a camp classic)Whatever, MAD DOG MORGAN (MAD DOG in the US) offers too much to either ignore per se or to slate unmercifully. As a towering portrait of a reasonably obscure bushranger, it is just to disjointed and lacking in sane continuity to be considered a winner. Dennis Hopper's work and intense interpretation of Morgan however is just plain awesome - I consider it amongst his career highlights - up there with BLUE VELVET (are these two characters cosmically related somehow?)The cinematography is sumptuous although on some dvd's I've noticed a strange discoloration towards the center of the screen throughout the print...oddly though it adds rather than detracts. The music is at times jarring and fully inappropriate, then before you can say "Is this one odd flick or not?" you're watching Hopper perched alone in a bar room, musing on his past and telling his would-be seductress - "I only ever knew one woman - my mother...I'm sorry." That scene alone makes the film worth watching. One of those scenes stays with you if you have any compassion whatsoever.Frank Thring still thinks he's playing Herod from KING OF KINGS as the head of Victorian Police. His psychotic demands at the end of the film sicken even his subordinates. Clearly he is closer to an institution even than Morgan!Excellent supporting work from Gulpilil as always. He also plays the film's didgeridoo on the soundtrack.MAD DOG MORHAN is no thinking-person's classic, its not even an especially good film. What it DOES achieve though, is a fairly accurate representation of Australian Bush life from a bygone period. Within its budgetary limitations, insane direction and superior acting, it is a mini-beacon of sorts from the mid seventies. PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK it ain't...but neither does it generate the cringe factor of THE ADVENTURES OF BARRY MACKENZIE. The 4.8 IMDb rating is woefully inadequate and quite absurd. This is a 5.6 (min) to 6.5 (max) if you consider the film rationally by virtue of the sum of its parts.