The Cattle Carters

In the wide open spaces of North-West Australia, cattle are transported in giant 48-ton diesel trucks from Anna Plains to Meekatharra, a 760 mile journey through some of the roughest and toughest country in Australia.
This 1961 BP film tells the story of two unlikely friends - an uptight Englishman and a laid back Australian - who set out on this journey together.
This film was used as a BBC2 Trade Test Colour film.

[@Frank-uk6jh]

Remember it well and it's been well over 50 years since I last watched it.

[@grimmy5595]

I remember these trade test films from back in the early 70's Used to watch cattle carters over and over...even though not even video recorders were a few years off The hashmagandy scene sticks out in my mind too Happy memories Thanks for sharing 👍

[@brrygilbertyahoo]

Yes ... when we had parties we would put all the left over drinks in a bowl and call it hash magandi

[@Ledendg]

I still use the phrase hash magandy to this day

[@brianhepke7182]

I thought that sounded like Frank Ifield... at the height of his career when this was made. A nice piece of early 60s cinematography. 😊 Thanks for posting.

[@DARANGULAFILM]

That was Frank Ifield

[@davidfrost779]

Never ever thought I'd be watching this over 50 years since I watched it last

[@davidfrost779]

@@ttf2011 Getting kids today too watch anything 40,50 years or more is like getting blood out of a turnip

[@sylvester-jb3lj]

I remember this as BBC2 test film they put on about 4pm every afternoon..i remember BBC2 didnt start properly to 6pm...use to watch it when home from school...damn Im old now !!

[@ericsbuell]

@@davidfrost779 Depends on how hard you squeeze them...😉

[@comicmania2008]

Yes, I remember watching originally, early BBC2 trade test transmission. I must have been on 6 weeks holidays from school and about 10 yo when I last saw it. Was trying to place the singer, thought it was Frank Ifield just couldn't remember his name.

[@brrygilbertyahoo]

Make no mistake ..these films were brilliant

[@sidneylotterby9929]

For me this was the most memorable and best-loved of all the 1970s BBC2 Trade Test Transmission short-films, although now 50 years later (and 62 years since it was created!) it seems sadly short of content for an 'epic journey'. Also a hidden gem in music history, because ' The Cattle Carters' theme song is sung by Australian/UK country & western star Frank Ifield, so early in his career he had only 1 album & 4 singles - the following year he had his first UK #1 (I Remember You). Previously in '59 Ifield also did the theme song to 'Whiplash' (western starring Mission Impossible's Peter Graves!).

[@classicandmodernshowcarsau3098]

My uncle Ted would have been about 45 years old when he played the role of Walter in this movie. I don’t know how he found the time to audition; he would have been a full time bricklayer back in 1961.

[@pipcopur]

Wonderful, Is that his real voice? sounds a bit like Sam Kydd

[@classicandmodernshowcarsau3098]

@@pipcopur , it's his voice, but for some reason he cleaned up his cockney accent.

[@Rich6Brew]

"What's up, had an overdose of ugly pills?" A phrase I use to this day. 😃

[@davidstaples746]

Sadly on the 8/8/63 he did overdose on his meds treating him for PTSD having been in the horrific Korean War. You will notice that he has a finger missing from a bullet to his arm.

[@daveinthailand]

BRILLIANT I remember this so clearly as if it was yesterday Been looking for this for a while Thanks

[@982golfer]

Fantastic memory! My faves as a small boy were this, closely followed by ride the white horses. Many thanks for letting us see this again. 🙂

[@Jesusandbible]

Giuseppi was good too

[@982golfer]

Yeah that was brilliant too. Love how he oiled the creaking cart wheel.

[@yan24to]

And me.

[@anthonylyons9810]

Wow the last time I watched this Film was way back in 1973 on BBC2 as a 14 Year Old School Kid., Thanks for Sharing !

[@jackharrison6771]

Same here.

[@Jesusandbible]

This Trade Test Colour film stuck in my mind from the hashmagandy scene, but I remembered it from boyhood as tinned peaches.

[@982golfer]

Grab and gobble, gobble and grab. 🙂

[@982golfer]

Actually it's the other way round - gobble n grab, grab n gobble. 🙂

[@yan24to]

And me.

[@yan24to]

I remember watching this in the school holidays many times.

[@keddw]

I only vaguely remember this one, but Atlantic Parks, Evoluon, Single Propeller, Plastics and Giuseppina were watched many times, and have stayed in the old memory. Still it's a great one and a bit of Gary Cooper influence in the acting, it seems.

[@basketballjones6782]

I always have a beer before taking off in my big truck too.

[@pmm1054]

If remember these test transmissions including this Aussie one. Especially the number of gears!!! There was also a programme about plastics. “All are good insulators and some are superb”.

[@neildavies2783]

Made in 1961... but I didn't think we got colour TV until late 60's ... but I recall watching as a child in colour ... maybe I remember wrongly and it was black & white...

[@lordwobbly]

Hashmagandy 😋

[@yan24to]

Have you tried it?

[@speakfreeley4473]

Thanks to KZbin the trade test films can be relived.

[@ttf2011]

They're also available on Odysee @ttf2011 in case of KZbin's random copyright strikes.

[@rogeruk4291]

Those were the days when you could turn up off the boat in Australia and as long as you spoke English you had a job. Try it now and you’ll be back on the way back home. 😅

[@fiestababe1]

Well 50+ years later and I am 66 now, it still captures my imagination, thank you for making it all happen........Again.

[@ttf2011]

My pleasure 😊