Ned Kelly (2003 film)

Ned Kelly is a 2003 Australian historical drama film about an innocent man who becomes one of the most wanted criminals the world has ever known.

Directed by Gregor Jordan. Written by John Michael McDonagh, based on Robert Drewe's 1991 novel Our Sunshine.

You can kill a man but not a legend.taglines

Ned Kelly

I was the hero of Hughes Creek. I can still see the glint in me Da's eye as he looked down at me, his hand on me shoulder. What did he call me that day? Ah, what did Da call me? That's right. He called me Sunshine.

I wore it seriously, me hero's sash of green and gold - proof that I'd saved a life as well.

What I best recall is riding alone with the sun behind me, seeing me own shadow cantering ahead against the roadside weeds and willows, and leaving me stretched far behind galloping to chase it. Like a centaur in the picture books.

I've never shot a man, but if I do, so help me God, you'll be the first!

They said I'd lost what it meant to be human, maybe never had it in the first place, but wasn't this about protecting the ones I loved? The ones who gave me food, and shelter, even the clothes on me back? And therefore wasn't it now a war?

And wasn't this the challenge of your whole life, Superintendent? A feather in your cap? You can't catch me. You don't have a hope of catching me, so you take my friends instead - over a hundred men arrested, stuck in stinking cells without trial while their crops perish in the fields. And guess what? Not one of 'em caves in and tries to claim the reward. Not one of 'em. They loved me the just same and hated you all the more, didn't they? Did you really think I was gonna let 'em all rot?

There's a certain type of black tribesman that bends in the wind. Blends into the background. Mostly he employs the help of the dead to destroy other people. "The Night Dancer", they call him.

They say the trouble with the Irish is that they rely too much on dreams and not enough on gunpowder. Whereas the English were shy on dreams, as usual, but had plenty of the other. Now we had both.

So our plans were set. One, the traitor, Aaron Sherritt; dead, as arranged. Two; the police special from Benalla coming to meet us, the line torn up to send the train to hell, as arranged. Three; Superintendent Hare, if he lives, easily worth an outlaw's mother. And four; the townspeople out of harms way, drinks on us, as arranged.

What I best recall is riding alone with the sun behind me, seeing me own shadow cantering ahead against the roadside weeds and willows, and leaving me stretched far behind galloping to chase it. Like a centaur in the picture books.

Such is life.

Joe Byrne

Ah! The monkey's been shot! Poor little bugger!

I'm sure there's no harm in being friendly.

[in the middle of the Glenrowan shootout, right before his death] Jesus Christ, lads, I think I need a drink.

Dialogue

Intertitle: Australia, 1871

Ned Kelly: [narrating] I was the hero of Hughes Creek. I can still see the glint in me Da's eye as he looked down at me, his hand on me shoulder. What did he call me that day? Ah, what did Da call me? That's right. He called me Sunshine.

[Ned rides back into the main street of the town of Greta with Jane.]

Old Man on verandah: Handsome looking horse you got there, Ned. You're cuttin a flash, all right.

Ned Kelly: [sees a policeman up ahead] Ah, great.

Constable Hall: You're Ned Kelly, aren't ya? Red Kelly's boy?

Ned Kelly: Get down Jane. [Jane gets off horse].

Constable Hall: Fine animal you got there. Distinctive, wouldn't you say?

Ned Kelly: She's Wild Wright's.

Constable Hall: That's the postmaster's mare.

Ned Kelly: No, it isn't. It's Wild Wright's. He lost her when she bolted into the bushes.

Constable Hall: You're a liar, Kelly.

Ned Kelly: No, I'm not. I found her this morning, grazing.

Constable Hall: She's been reported stolen.

Ned Kelly: Stolen, my arse!

Constable Hall: A horse thief! It's not your horse!

Ned Kelly: Get your hands off me! [pulled down from the horse.]

Constable Hall: You're under arrest! [Horse runs away, Ned jogs after it to no avail.] Stand, Kelly, or I swear to God, I'll shoot you down.

Ned Kelly: I was only going after the horse.

Constable Hall: You were trying to escape, you blaggard. You're just as thick as your bloody father. [gun shoots]

Ned Kelly: Jesus Christ! Now, what are you trying to do? I could've tanned your hide for that.

Constable Hall: Strike an officer, and you'll bloody swing for it!

Ned Kelly: Strike you down to the ground! [Pushes Constable Hall down to the ground] No blows struck yet, Constable Hall!

Constable Hall: Help me someone!

Ned Kelly: Help him! Help Constable Hall! Poor Constable Hall! He's such a fuckin rat'!

Constable Hall: He's trying to kill me, the rascally blaggard! Help me someone! [Other police officers run up to grab Ned]

Ned Kelly: Stand put! Go on! Put me down! He tried to shoot me for Christ's sake! All right! All right! [Hall hits him with gun butt] Is that the best you can do, you bloody coward? [Hall hits him again] Go on. I can take it.

Officer: [orders Hall to stop] That's enough! [looks at Ned got blood on his head badly hurt]

[Fitzpatrick rides up to the police station, meeting Lonigan outside.]

Lonigan: What the hell happened to you?

Fitzpatrick: Ned Kelly shot me.

Lonigan: He what?

[then at the Kelly household, Police come in and are arresting Ma.]

Ellen Kelly: Take your rotten hands off me, you bastard!

Kate Kelly: Get off her!

Lonigan: You're under arrest! I'm taking you to the cells!

Ellen Kelly: You're filthy, you mean bastards!

Aaron Sherritt: [Coming outside half undressed] Hey, gotta keep your voice down? I've a visitor.

Joe Byrne: Who?

Aaron Sherritt: Mary Hegarty.

Joe Byrne: Mary Hegarty?

Aaron Sherritt: Mm-hm.

Joe Byrne: Jesus, she can be only thirteen!

Aaron Sherritt: Ah, I'm not superstitious.

Ned Kelly: [narrating] So I killed their policemen and I robbed their banks, but burning their mortgages, well, that was destroying crown property. It was like slapping Queen Victoria herself across the face. So they send in Hare, Superintendent Francis Hare, late of Cape Town, South Africa. And wasn't this the challenge of your whole life Superintendent? A feather in your cap. You can't catch me. You don't have a hope of catching me. So you take my friends instead. Over a hundred men arrested. Stuck in stinkin' cells without trial while their crops perish in the fields. And guess what? Not one of 'em caves in and tries to claim the reward. Not one of 'em. They loved me just the same and hated you all the more, didn't they? Did you really think I was gonna let 'em all rot?

[At the Jerilderie Bank, Ned and Joe are packing bags full of money. Steve takes a watch from an old man.]

Old Man: I say, give me that back. That blackguard just stole my watch.

Steve Hart: They say the Lord helps those who help themselves.

Ned Kelly: Give him back his watch.

Steve Hart: What?

Ned Kelly: You heard what I said. I said give him back his damn watch.

Steve Hart: Have you gone simple all of a sudden. We're robbing a bank.

Ned Kelly: Listen here, kid. This is the last time I tell you. Give him back his damn watch.

[Steve gives the watch back.]

Old Man: You're not innocent men. You're a bunch of common criminals.

Ned Kelly: Now did you hear that? If we act like common thieves, that's just what they'll call us. [jumps the counter and talks to all the captive people.] My mother is rotting away in a prison cell. Because of the lies of a policeman named Fitzpatrick. She's an innocent woman, and so are these boys here. My Irish brethren have been imprisoned unlawfully and blacklisted from their selections. How do you expect me to behave other than to stand up against this treatment. Any one of you here can take a shot at me and not be charged for it. There's me gun. [places his gun on the counter.] Any of you feeling brave enough, go ahead. [looks around.] No? That's what I thought. So if I can beg your patience, this is my statement to the Premier of Victoria, Graham Berry, and you here are my witnesses. Joe, take out a pen and paper. We'll write ourselves a letter. [Superintendent Hare and the three police constables went up the stairs, back to bank when Joe begins writing.]

Ned Kelly: Dear sir. Dear sir.

Graham Berry: [reading the letter] Dear sir. I wish to acquaint you with some of the occurrences of the present, past and the future. It will pay government to give those people who are suffering-

Ned Kelly: Justice and liberty.

Graham Berry: Justice and liberty. I seek revenge for the evil name given me and my relations. By the light that shines, this is my warning.

Ned Kelly: My brother and sisters and mother have to put up with the brutal and cowardly conduct of a parcel of-

Graham Berry: Big, ugly-

Ned Kelly: Big, ugly, fat-necked -

Graham Berry: Fat-necked -

Dan Kelly: Wombat headed.

Ned Kelly: Wombat headed.

Graham Berry: Wombat headed, big-bellied, -

Woman: Magpie legged.

Ned Kelly: Magpie legged. Thank you very much, ma'am. Joe, write that down. Magpie legged.

Graham Berry: Narrow-hipped, splaw-footed, sons of Irish bailiffs -

Ned Kelly: Or English landlords, better known as what? The Victorian police.

Graham Berry: This section here you might find less amusing, Superintendent.

Ned Kelly: I give fair warning to all those who have reason to fear me, not to attempt to reside in Victoria. Neglect this and abide by the consequences which shall be worse than the rust in the wheat. I do not wish to give this order full force without timely warning but I am an widows son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed!

Ned Kelly: The country belongs to us.

Woman in Crowd: Yeah.

Man in Crowd: That's right.

Ned Kelly: And we'll go wherever we like.

[Crowd cheers]

Dan Kelly: Where do you think Da is, heaven or hell?

Ned Kelly: No. He... he wouldn't be in hell, you know. He wasn't such a bad fella. He... he was just a dumb paddy who got picked on his whole life. And that does something to your pride, you know?

Julia Cook: Don't make me grieve for you

Ned Kelly: I ain't dead yet!

[Steam locomotive hissing steam, Superintendent Hare is speaking to a gathered group of police constables at the train yards in Melbourne.]

Superintendent Hare: We have received word that one of your informants has been shot dead by the Kelly gang over near Beechworth. We will entrain immediately and proceed to Wangaratta. From there, you will be split up into units and will fan out across the country encircling the immediate vicinity. Stay close to your troop commanders for your orders of march. I would remind you all that the men we are hunting have not only plundered two banks, kidnapped men, women and children, but have murdered three of your fellow officers. They have outrun us before, gentlemen. Do not allow them to do so again.

Constable: Don't you worry, sir. We'll show the bloody animals. We'll blow 'em all to kingdom come. [Officers laughter]

Superintendent Hare: These are not animals, constable. These are men who have been glorified as the leaders of a movement, a movement that threatens the stability of an entire country. Underestimate them and it will be you who will be blown to kingdom come.

Ned Kelly: I 'spose you're the Great Orlando.

The Great Orlando: That I am.

Ned Kelly: Well, I'm the Great Ned Kelly, and this here's the Fabulous Joe Byrne. [raising their guns] We'd like to join your circus.

Ned Kelly: [narrating] So our plans were set. One, the traitor, Aaron Sherritt; dead, as arranged. Two; the police special from Benalla coming to meet us, the line torn up to send the train to hell, as arranged. Three; Superintendent Hare, if he lives, easily worth an outlaw's mother. And four; the townspeople out of harms way, drinks on us, as arranged.

[back inside the Glenrowan Inn. Dan is helping Steve put on his armour. Joe hands him a pistol. Ned walks in from the rain.]

The Great Orlando: Knights in shining armour!

[Ned walks up to the gang.]

Ned Kelly: Curnow stopped the train.

Steve Hart: Jesus.

Dan Kelly: What does this mean?

Ned Kelly: Hare's on his way.

Dan Kelly: You mean we didn't get any of 'em.

Ned Kelly: Not a soul.

Joe Byrne: There'll be a hundred of 'em. At least.

[Outside the town of Glenrowan a hundred officers are running for cover in the rain. They are shouting orders. inside the Glenrowan Inn].

Ned Kelly: You okay Dan?

Dan Kelly: Yeah I'm okay Ned.

Ned Kelly: Steve?

Steve Hart: A short life. And a merry one.

Ned Kelly: Joe?

Joe Byrne: We're gonna give them a good old fight, or aren't we?

Ned Kelly: That's that then. Alright, everyone listen to me. We're getting you out of here.

[At the end of the Glenrowan shootout, right before they each commit suicide]

Steve Hart: I'm out of rounds. Do you have any left?

Dan Kelly: Only two.

Steve Hart: I guess that's all we need then, isn't it?

Dan Kelly: We never stood a chance, did we?

[They both commit suicide]

[Ned is laying on a stretcher inside a carriage of the police special. A doctor unravels his bloody clothes, and removes the green and gold sash from Ned's waist. Hare comes into the carriage and the surrounding officers stand tall as he enters. The doctor hands Hare the green and gold sash.]

Superintendent Hare: Do you mind if I have this?

[Ned doesn't answer, but just looks at him intensely. Hare simply shakes his head. As the train whistle blows, Ned looks out the window, where three young boys have seen him.]

Boy: Hey look! It's Ned Kelly!

Boys: Ned! Hey, Ned!

[They start jumping up and down to get his attention. He just looks at them, as the train starts to move away on it's journey back to Melbourne.]

Ned Kelly: [narrating] Such is life.

Intertitle: Despite petitions for a pardon that bore a total of 32,000 signatures, Ned Kelly was hanged on 11th of November, 1880.

Intertitle: He was 25 years old.

About Ned Kelly (2003 film)

Like Buffalo Soldiers, Ned Kelly takes a dense novel as its source material - in this case, Our Sunshine by Robert Drewe - and applies liberal amounts of voiceover to both stitch together an episodic narrative and provide a flavour of the book. But Kelly was, of course, more than a book, and Jordan - perhaps hamstrung by a limited budget - elides key episodes, hurries others, and singularly fails to elucidate the precise relationships of the Kelly gang.
- Colin Kennedy, Ned Kelly Review, (25 Sep 2003).