197 Films & TV Shows Set In Oceania During The 20th Century
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The Wackiest Ship in the Army
🇦🇺 Australia 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea The 1940sYou'll crack your timbers when you see how the Navy sticks the Army sad sacks with the crumbiest ship afloat! — Lieutenant Rip Crandall is hoodwinked into taking command of the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" – a real garbage scow with a crew of misfits who don't know a jib from a jigger. What none of them knows, including Crandall, is that this ship has a very important top-secret mission to complete in waters patrolled by the Japanese fleet. Their mission will save hundreds of allied lives – if only they can get there in one piece.
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On the Beach
California Victoria The 1960sThe Biggest Story of Our Time! — In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
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Tarawa Beachhead
🇰🇮 Kiribati 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands The 1940sDirector Paul Wendkos' 1958 WWII drama stars Kerwin Mathews, Julie Adams, Ray Danton, Karen Sharpe and Onslow Stevens.
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Until They Sail
🇳🇿 New Zealand The 1940sThey couldn't have the love they wanted, so they took the love they could get! — Four sisters in New Zealand fall for four U.S. soldiers en route to the Pacific theater in WWII.
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The Proud and Profane
🇳🇨 New Caledonia The 1940sA MOVIE OF STARTLING FRANKNESS...! — In this romantic drama, beautiful Red Cross volunteer Lee Ashley (Deborah Kerr) arrives on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, Howard, in the Battle of Guadalcanal. There, Ashley falls for the gruff, seductive Marine Lt. Col. Colin Buck (William Holden), but struggle and tragedy follow when the widow learns about the reality of Buck's life back home.
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A Town Like Alice
England 🇲🇾 Malaysia Northern Territory The 1940sA tale of survival. — In 1941, The advancing Japanese army captures a lot of British territory very quickly. The men are sent off to labor camps, but they have no plan on what to do with the women and children of the British.
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Geordie
Scotland Victoria The 1950sA Giant Among Comedies — Concerned about his small stature, a young Scottish boy applies for a mail-order body building course, successfully gaining both height and strength. The film was released as "Wee Geordie" in the USA.
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Beachhead
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands The 1940sIs not just a war move. — On a Japanese-occupied island during World War II, only two soldiers remain alive after a mission attempt goes horribly wrong. Trapped on the island, they must escort a scientist and his daughter to the other side of the island where their ship awaits. They must battle nature, hard terrain, and advancing Japanese troops.
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Kangaroo
New South Wales The 1900sIn turn-of-the-century Australia, two criminals ingratiate themselves with a rancher in order to swindle him. However, the two partners become rivals for the affection of the rancher's beautiful daughter.
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Sands of Iwo Jima
🇰🇮 Kiribati The 1940sA great human story... makes a mighty motion picture! — The relationship between Sergeant Stryker and a group of rebellious recruits is made difficult by the Sergeant's tough training tactics. At Tarawa, the leathernecks have a chance to see Stryker in action, and begin to appreciate him.
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Bitter Springs
South Australia The 1900sA family buy land set around a water hole in a remote location, that is occupied by native Australians. The two groups clash.
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Sister Kenny
Queensland The 1910sA woman made for love . . . but whose service to humanity became her destiny! — True story of the Australian nurse who fought to gain acceptance for her polio-treatment methods.
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The Rats of Tobruk
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea 🇱🇾 Libya The 1940s The 1930sThree friends enlist in the Australian Army and serve in North Africa, holding the city of Tobruk against Rommel's forces.
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Abroad with Two Yanks
🇦🇺 Australia The 1940sTwo roaring Romeos who thought even the dames were on lend lease! — Biff and Jeff, two American G.I.'s on furlough in Australia during The Second World War, are enjoying their time the way most soldiers on leave do. When they meet the beautiful Joyce, however, they both fall head over heels for her, and start competing for her attentions. As their R&R time begins to run out, the schemes they each come up with to win her affection and foil the other's plans to do the same become more and more outrageous.
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Marine Raiders
California 🇦🇺 Australia 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands The 1940sCOURAGE - Cold as the Steel of their Bayonets! ROMANCE - Warm as the Love which Inspires It! ACTION - Shaking the Skies! — A Marine major (Pat O'Brien) looks out for his captain (Robert Ryan) on Guadalcanal and in Australia.
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Guadalcanal Diary
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands The 1940sThe Victory picture of the year ! — Concentrating on the personal lives of those involved, a war correspondent takes us through the preparations, landing and initial campaign on Guadalcanal during WWII.
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The Man from Down Under
🇦🇺 Australia The 1930sTHRILLS! FUN! ACTION! — An Australian blowhard raises two orphaned children as his own in the years leading up to WWII.
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They Flew Alone
England 🇦🇺 Australia The 1930sSHE LED THE PARADE FROM SILK TO KHAKI! -- This girl who bolted a white-collar job to win her place in the air force...it's the amazing story of Amy and her Jim -- The Flying Mollisons. — The story of flyer Amy Johnson the girl from Yorkshire who won the hearts of the British public in the 1930s with her record-breaking solo flights around the world. Her marriage to fellow aviator Jim Mallison was less noteworthy.
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Pearls and Savages
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea The 1920sFrank Hurley (1885-1962) was firmly established by 1925 as Australia's most famous photographer. After World War 1, having filled the position as the first official photographer of the Australian war effort, Hurley became interested in Papua New Guinea. In December 1920, he left Australia to record the work of Anglican missions in Papua and to make "travelogue entertainment". The result was this documentary, "Pearls and Savages" which was released in Sydney, in December 1921.
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Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to New Zealand
🇳🇿 New Zealand The 1900sThe Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York travelled to New Zealand in 1901 to thank New Zealanders for their contribution to the Boer War. Only a short fragment remains of a much longer film.
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Inauguration of the Commonwealth
New South Wales The 1900sThis clip shows part of the official parade for the Inauguration of the Commonwealth on 1 January 1901 as it passes through the temporary gate built especially for the occasion in Hyde Park, Sydney.
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The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer War
🇳🇿 New Zealand The 1900sNew Zealand's oldest surviving film shows a troop of horsemen from the Boer War Second Contingent in camp at one of the open days held before their departure at Newtown Park, Wellington, likely 13 January 1900. (https://ngataonga.org.nz/)