Stone (1974 film)

Stone
Directed by	Sandy Harbutt
Produced by	David Hannay
Written by	Sandy Harbutt Michael Robinson
Starring	Ken Shorter Sandy Harbutt
Music by	Billy Green
Cinematography	Graham Lind ASC
Editing by	Ian Barry
Distributed by	Hedon Productions
Release date(s)	1974 (1974)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	‹See Tfd› Australia
Language	English
Budget	$A 192,000

A gun emplacement used in one of the scenes in the movie. In the scene an under cover police officer (Stone) was initiated into the bikie gang

Stone is a 1974 Australian film produced and directed by Sandy Harbutt. It was a low budget movie, written by Sandy Harbutt and Michael Robinson.

Police officer Stone goes undercover with the Gravediggers outlaw motorcycle gang, to find out who is murdering their members, one by one.

The film stars Ken Shorter and features Rebecca Gilling, Bill Hunter and Helen Morse. The film's soundtrack was composed by Billy Green and featured some members of his group Sanctuary. Motorcycles featured include the legendary Kawasaki Z1(900). Stone initially rides a Norton.

The promotional trailer clip on YouTube features narration by radio and media personality John Laws. The film was featured in the documentary, Not Quite Hollywood about Australian exploitation films.

Plot

When several members of the GraveDiggers outlaw motorcycle club are murdered, Sydney detective Stone (Ken Shorter) is sent to investigate. Led by the Undertaker (Sandy Harbutt), a Vietnam war veteran, the GraveDiggers allow Stone to pose as a gang member. Leaving behind society girlfriend Amanda (Helen Morse), Stone begins to identify with the Undertaker and his comrades Hooks (Roger Ward), Toad (Hugh Keays-Byrne), Dr Death (Vincent Gil), Captain Midnight (Bindi Williams), Septic (Dewey Hungerford) and Vanessa (Rebecca Gilling), the Undertaker’s girlfriend. Amid violent confrontations with the Black Hawks, a rival gang the GraveDiggers hold responsible, Stone uncovers a political conspiracy behind the killings. When the truth is revealed, Stone must choose between his job and his loyalty to the GraveDiggers.

Locations

All Sydney, Australia

• Kurnell on Botany Bay for the opening scene at the first European landing site of Captain James Cook in 1770.Google Map link
• The Domain across from the Art Gallery of NSW; public forum and the assassination.Google Map link
• Lurline Bay for the stunt ride off the cliff into the ocean. Google Map link
• Gore Hill Cemetery, near Royal North Shore Hospital. Google Map link
• F3 Freeway, north of Sydney (including crossing the Hawkesbury River many times, including in the wrong direction) for the funeral procession.Google Map link
• Balmain for the pub ("Forth & Clyde" -now closed) Forth & Clyde Hotel and street fight scenes. Google Map link
• Northern Beaches,including Bilgola Beach and Avalon.Google Map link
• Neutral Bay and Mosman streets for the "race" and crash scenes (the park has two ovals, an upper and lower, the race starts at the top of Montpelier St at Forsyth park and goes up through Premier St then across to Alfred St next to the fwy and down to Eaton St then back to the first part of Montpelier St at the bottom of Forsyth park then up to were Stone crashes at a s-bend turn in the middle of the park). Google Map link
• Middle Head Fortifications on Sydney Harbour at the Gun emplacements. Google Map link
• Beehive Casemate Interior scenes for the gangs hide out were shot inside the Beehive Casemate in Obelisk Bay and made to look as though it was part of the Middle Head Fortifications.
• Washaway Beach for the dawn swim scene. Google Map link
• Lane Cove (mostly Burns Bay Road and River Road) for various group riding scenes.Google Map link

Box Office

Stone grossed $1,572,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $10,611,000 in 2009 dollars.

See also

• Cinema of Australia

External links

• Stone at the Internet Movie Database
• Stone at the National Film and Sound Archive
• STONE at The "Oz Film Database" Australian Film Database at Murdoch University
• STONE FOREVER -25 Years of Stone at the "Urban Cinefile" database
• The official site of the Stone movie remake - currently in development
• Article in FilmInk about STONE and the remake
• Milesago