Prospect Productions Pty Ltd

At the start of the WW2, despite Adelaide’s conservativism, there was a burgeoning modernist literary and art movement dominated by a bright young poet, Max Harris. At Adelaide Uni Max co-founded the modernist literary magazine, Angry Penguins and initiated the SA Contemporary Art Society along with renowned artists Dorritt Black and Jeffrey Smart. He fell in love with Yvonne (Von) Hutton and they later married and stayed together for 55 years. An interview with Von in 2007 forms the backbone of the film. Other interviewees include Max’s daughter, Samela, friend Peter Goers and historians Philip Butterss and Nicholas Jose. Max’s grandson Ryder Grindle reads from Max’s writings. Other readings include Ern Malley poems, trial transcripts and letters. Max partnered with arts patrons John and Sunday Reed and in 1943 moved to Melbourne, along with Von, and spent time at the Reed’s property known as “Heide” which was a focal point for modernists including Nolan, Hester and Tucker.

Dutton was a writer, poet, publisher and founder of the Adelaide Festival and Writer’s Week. Married to Ninette for 40 years he walked away from his family and from Adelaide and his later life brought controversy, fuelled by his autobiography, “Out In The Open.” A close friend of Patrick White they had a bitter falling-out but he remained close with Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Geoff’s many loves included two wives, a fiancé, many mistresses, his children, fast cars, travel, flying, literature and art and his upbringing was dominated by material wealth but haunted by emotional poverty. He was a founding member of the Republican Movement in the 1960’s Featuring interviews with the Dutton children, TV identity Paula Nagle, Festival director Anthony Steel, artist Lawrence Dawes and writers Peter Goldsworthy and Nicholas Jose, the film challenges the image and reputation of one of Australia’s great arts figures. The Dutton story is told with the aid of home movies from the 40s

A documentary film produced and directed by Rob George. The Advanced School for Girls, was Australia’s first state high school and aimed to educate girls to the same standard as boys. Madeline Rees George “Madge” was headmistress for 22 of its 29 years and she dominated girl’s education in South Australia for almost half a century. She was an indomitable figure in the colony and always with her, but in the shadows, was her younger sister, Marian (“Bibs”). Most of the female graduates of Adelaide University in the 19th century were former students. Moving between re-enactments of letters and newspaper interviews, personal anecdotes and interviews with leading historians and the Governor of SA, Her Excellency, Frances Adamson, “Madge & Bibs and the Advancing Girls” paints an entertaining picture of a radical colony that uses education to transform the status of women in society, politics and their own hearts and minds. "An engrossing and entertaining documentary" Greg Mackie

Dutton was a writer, poet, publisher and founder of the Adelaide Festival and Writer’s Week. Married to Ninette for 40 years he walked away from his family and from Adelaide and his later life brought controversy, fuelled by his autobiography, “Out In The Open.” A close friend of Patrick White they had a bitter falling-out but he remained close with Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Geoff’s many loves included two wives, a fiancé, many mistresses, his children, fast cars, travel, flying, literature and art and his upbringing was dominated by material wealth but haunted by emotional poverty. He was a founding member of the Republican Movement in the 1960’s Featuring interviews with the Dutton children, TV identity Paula Nagle, Festival director Anthony Steel, artist Lawrence Dawes and writers Peter Goldsworthy and Nicholas Jose, the film challenges the image and reputation of one of Australia’s great arts figures. Featuring home movies from the 40s to the 80s.

At the start of the WW2, despite Adelaide’s conservativism, there was a burgeoning modernist literary and art movement dominated by a bright young poet, Max Harris. At Adelaide Uni Max co-founded the modernist literary magazine, Angry Penguins and initiated the SA Contemporary Art Society along with renowned artists Dorritt Black and Jeffrey Smart. He fell in love with Yvonne (Von) Hutton and they later married and stayed together for 55 years. An interview with Von in 2007 forms the backbone of the film. Other interviewees include Max’s daughter, Samela, friend Peter Goers and historians Philip Butterss and Nicholas Jose. Max’s grandson Ryder Grindle reads from Max’s writings. Other readings include Ern Malley poems, trial transcripts and letters. Max partnered with arts patrons John and Sunday Reed and in 1943 moved to Melbourne, along with Von, and spent time at the Reed’s property known as “Heide” which was a focal point for modernists including Nolan, Hester and Tucker.

A documentary film produced and directed by Rob George. The Advanced School for Girls, was Australia’s first state high school and aimed to educate girls to the same standard as boys. Madeline Rees George “Madge” was headmistress for 22 of its 29 years and she dominated girl’s education in South Australia for almost half a century. She was an indomitable figure in the colony and always with her, but in the shadows, was her younger sister, Marian (“Bibs”). Most of the female graduates of Adelaide University in the 19th century were former students. Moving between re-enactments of letters and newspaper interviews, personal anecdotes and interviews with leading historians and the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency, Frances Adamson, “Madge & Bibs and the Advancing Girls” paints an entertaining picture of a radical colony that uses education to transform the status of women in society, politics and their own hearts and minds. "An engrossing and entertaining documentary" Greg