Australia is Like This is a 1945 documentary about the experiences of two American soldiers in Australia during World War II until they leave for battle. It takes the form of a letter written by one of the soldiers to his family in America describing Australia.
It was also known as A Letter from Australia.A Letter from Australia at National Film and Sound Archive
The film was made for Australia and the United States, but was not released in Australia.
Plot The film is told in the form of a letter written by an American soldier and his friend on leave in Sydney. They leave a troopship and see the sights, encounter 'wrong side' traffic, and meet two Australian soldiers on leave who abandon their girlfriends to buy the Americans a beer. The Americans go to a Red Cross canteen and meet a waitress whose brother is in New Guinea. They take her to the zoo and accept a dinner invitation to her house. The troops then head north.
Cast John McCallum as Australian soldier Muriel Steinbeck as mother Grant Taylor as Australian soldier Patricia Firman as waitress John Nugent Hayward
Production The film was one of a series of shorts made by Australia's Department of the Interior, others including Island Target.
Filming began late September 1944, using a predominantly American crew.
Release The film was completed by January 1945.
References
External links at National Film and Sound Archive Australia is Like This at Imperial War Museum Extract of film at Australian War Memorial