SYDNEY, Australia – David Stratton, a titan of Australian film criticism who championed local cinema and introduced global films to new audiences, has died at age 85. For six decades, Stratton dedicated his life to celebrating and advancing the Australian film industry, developing a childhood habit of watching one new film daily into a remarkable career.
A Life Devoted to Cinema
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Stratton’s passion for storytelling on screen was ignited at age seven in England, watching his hero Chips Rafferty in “The Overlanders.” He left England in 1963 as a “10-pound Pom,” seeking adventure in Australia’s outback, but found the landscape, much like in his favorite film “Wake in Fright,” to be menacing.
Stratton critiqued at least 25,000 films, aiming for one new viewing daily.
- David Stratton, a pivotal figure in Australian cinema, has passed away at 85.
- He directed the Sydney Film Festival for 18 years, beginning in 1966, and championed Australian films.
- Stratton co-hosted “The Movie Show” and “At The Movies,” becoming a familiar face to Australian film lovers.
- His work included challenging censorship laws and promoting international cinema.
From Usher to Director
Instead, Stratton found his calling at the Sydney Film Festival. He volunteered as an usher, gaining free entry to films, and by 1966, he became its director. For 18 years, he dedicated himself to promoting Australian cinema, much to his father’s dismay. At the time, Australia lacked a recognized film industry.
Stratton launched short film competitions, fostering emerging talent. By the 1970s, federal funding arrived, ushering in Australian cinema’s new wave. He ensured classics like “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (which he watched “dozens of times”), “Mad Max,” and “Newsfront” gained international acclaim.
David Stratton and longtime collaborator Margaret Pomeranz at a farewell party for At The Movies in December 2014.
Phillip Adams, a writer and broadcaster, recalled Stratton as a “warrior in the cause of finding an audience for Australian films.” Stratton also championed French cinema and world cinema diversity.
“I still vividly remember seeing Truffaut’s first feature, 400 Blows, for the first time and walking out of the cinema feeling I’d seen something extraordinary,” Stratton said.
Stratton fought against Australia’s “draconian censorship” laws of the 1960s, calling censors “ignorant, stupid people” for attacking films of “real stature and real importance.”
A Familiar Face on Screen
Stratton became widely recognized as the white-bearded co-host of “The Movie Show” on SBS (1986-2004) and later “At The Movies” (2004-2014). His dynamic with co-host Margaret Pomeranz, marked by good-humored debate over star ratings, earned them a devoted following.
Their differing opinions led to fans identifying as “a David” or “a Margaret.” Director Geoffrey Wright, unhappy with a review of his film “Romper Stomper,” infamously threw a glass of wine at Stratton years later.
Early Life and Legacy
Born Sept. 10, 1939, in Melksham, England, Stratton’s childhood during WWII meant his parents were often absent. His grandmother took him to the cinema daily, shaping his lifelong passion. He left school at 16 to work in the family business but immersed himself in film societies.
Stratton’s 2017 documentary revealed his “fractious relationship” with his father, who wished for him to join the family business and couldn’t comprehend his film interests. His younger brother, Roger, noted their father was a “stranger” to David in his early years.
Stratton reviewed films for Variety from 1984 to 2003, earning a reputation for speed. He meticulously documented every film he saw on cards.
He served on international juries at Berlin, Montreal, Chicago, and Venice film festivals, and twice chaired the Cannes critics’ jury. Stratton was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 and a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by France in 2001.
His 2008 autobiography, “I Peed on Fellini,” detailed an awkward encounter with the director. He also authored books on his favorite movies and taught film history at the University of Sydney, receiving an honorary doctorate in 2006.
Stratton lived a private life in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, with his wife, Susie Craig.
