Australian Film: Stone (1974)
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Stone is a 1974 Australian outlaw biker film written, directed and produced by Sandy Harbutt. It is a low budget film by company Hedon Productions.
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. Many of the scenes were filmed on Sydney's lower north shore.
I like to think of this as how The Nightrider and the Toecutter met before the collapse of society. It’s their origin story.
Yeah & Kundalini still wants his hand back.
@@paulrummery6905 He was just a kundalini meanie.
Perfect
Very few people had a Harley Davidson in Australia back then.
Kawasaki Z900 or a Honda CB 750 is all we could afford.
They were the quickest and most reliable bikes back then.
Thanks for this memory 🎼🤘🏻
Yeah, I've always found it funny that from say the mid-80s on, bikie type people always called Japanese bikes 'Jap crap' and looked at them with disdain, but back in the early '70s those same people all rode either Kwaka 9s or 750-4s.
First watched this on VHS back in about 82.
Me and my mates all loved it along with Mad Max and Quadrophenia.
The early / mid eighties was the end of the teenage rocker / biker era in the UK.
But these films inspired plenty of us to ride like this and wear the leather jacket, jeans, boots and denim cutoffs.
In case anyone is wondering. Most of this was scene was filmed in and around North Sydney and Kirribilli NSW. The first scene here the bikes are coming around Bent St North Sydney, just where it joins Alfred St Nth.
Sandy Harbutt lived on Bent st. at the time the film was made.
@@leslieayling7932 Wow, definitely didn't know that. Thanks for telling me. Cheers.
Look at the empty roads it was great!
As someone who lived in Greenwich I totally agree with you re the locations.
2:25 Premier Street North Sydney.
As an Aussie bikie , this film sums up true brotherhood . Sadly not the case nowdays . 1%
Lol most drive Chrysler 300c's now with "gangster bling" and follow more club rules than us civvy bikers ever would,they're a joke
It's BIKER not Bikie 🤦🏼♀️
@@alisonholland7531 Are you Australian Alison? because in the 1970's in Australia I was a Bikie, we still call patched riders Bikies, Biker is an American term and thank f#@k we aren't all Americans.....
@@alisonholland7531 Not in Australia mate.
sadly not the case nowdays , you got that right , spent 6 years about 10 years ago looking for brotherhood , none to be found that i could see , all about the $$$$$$$ and useing cnts to get it , ive gone lone wolf solo 👍
I had a Honda 750 K3 in the mid 70's and this film was the most talked about topic of the members of our small group. We identified with the bikes, people and the lifestyle depicted in the film. A lot of research went into its making and although some aspects were a little overstated it was a rare look into the world of big bikes that we all frequented and knew well. It was made at a time when Kawasaki had recently released their big fours in Australia and this film showcased them to the world. I believe that after shooting the film, many of the cast purchased the very bike they rode during the making of the film as each one was monogrammed "customised" to the individual rider. I would love to see how many of them, if any, have survived. I still have a copy of "STONE" in my DVD collection. Long live the big fours.
yep I hear ya man. I'm still riding a 900 Yammy from last century. and yes still have a copy of' Stone'
I was riding a 550four with those curved tail pipes. What great times we had.!! In 1979 came MadMax.
You werent a real biker if you never owned a kwaka 9 or honda four at some stage .
@@paddingtonbear5172 when you ride a bike , I mean a big bike!!!! what can stop us man what can stop us!!!!
Still watch this on my old video player. Great film.
Stone, such a great movie. This movie was rare here in the U.S. It was a while before it was available on DVD. This race was a little hard to believe. The Norton Commando was light and nimble, but it was not enough to take that Z900. He would have to be a really good rider to out run that 900; the big Z was like a rocket ship in comparson back then.
Those roads would favour the Norton heavily, lots of off camber, tight turns and the straights just aren't that long, even some of what appear to be straight are actually sweepers, the roads are ordinary even now, 50 years ago with cars that leaked oil to mark their spot, they'd be frightening.
Those Brit bikes were winning championships long past their designs use by date, the Z's certainly had the power but, even with my rose coloured glasses on, changing direction was like trying to manhandle a block of flats, and I remember that rocking motion it would get even at an easy going speed in a quick sweeper, you got used to it, but it was one of the ways you made judgement on your speed limits.
Those roads are unforgiving, sandstone walls to catch mistakes.
Riding hard back in the day, no matter what they were riding, the movies stars were the bikes.
In 1974 Nortons still won some races, even against the 4cyl.
@@jeeves6490 100% correct
Don’t forget the Z would have had bloody awful Japanese tyres on it while the Norton would have had British Avon’s or Dunlops which were much better for grip.
Also the Norton if it had the Combat engine and lowered gearing would have been quick off the line and out of corners with the Norton frame, forks and shocks giving it a good edge.
The Japanese didn’t really overtake the Brits on handling until the eighties. Triumph sold lots of Bonnevilles in the US because of better handling as well as looks.
The Norton shown is a standard 750 roadster, the combat engine bikes came with front disc brakes.
Bloody fantastic film saw it on the big screen at Chullora twin drive in 😁😁😁
This film slipped me by, never heard of it till last year!
"Take The Trip".
Glad you discovered it.👍
classic Aussie movie.The Grave Diggers patch on permanent loan to Veterans MC ...respect
I think awarding the "Grave Diggers" colours to the Vetrans MC is a most respectful and wonderful token of appreciation . I applaud them all. Well done.
@@robertkupper1327 agreed mate. I'm still riding a Yammy 900 from last century
@@michaeledwards8058 I'm still riding a Kwaka Z1R, love me an old Jap bike...!
i always said the Commando was the star of the show👍👍🇭🇲🇬🇧
I know a bloke who worked at the place where these bikes were painted. After the movie was made he and his cousin each got one of the bikes.
They probably got a couple of the pink bikes hahaha
did they get the frogs?
I had a new z650 candy apple red loved that bike
After riding both I'd rather have the 650.
Better all round motorcycle.
@@jeeves6490 I still have a 650, amongst a few other old Jap bikes, and the old 650 still handles well for an old girl, way better than the old 900's. Interesting fact, in the 70's , it was common to use 650 triple clamps on the 900's when racing, they had a better offset and settled down the 900's rather poor handling....
The Z650 was a cracking bike. Quick as most 750s, great looks, handled well for its time and a bulletproof engine
God, what I wouldn’t give to go back to 1972 armed with the knowledge I have now.
The producer of Stone told Kawasaki Australia, “If you loan us 14 of your brand spanking new Z900s, we’ll give you a 90 minute commercial about what a Z900 can do.”
The first bikes were delivered within a few days.
Commando probably blew a gasket at each take... :o)
Great movie nevertheless
You obviously don’t know much about norton commandos.
Apparently, whoever made the Hollywood feature Stone Cold (1991) starring Brian Bosworth and Lance Henriksen were big fans of this one, right down to swiping the name and cop-going-undercover plot.
since this flick was totally unknown in the states they probably figured nobody would ever know it was just a remake. 'reservoir dogs' was a remake too and nobody outside hong kong ever knew it until much later.
One of my stand out films when I was a whole lot younger. My favourite character name from this film was "Stink Finger"!! 😂
outstanding name for sure
Let us not ask how he came about it.
@@tomservo5347 His mate, arsehole, doesn't like to talk about it.
@@jeeves6490 Or perhaps his biker chick Shelly everyone calls Smelly?
I had the good fortune of meeting Ken Shorter in 1982. He's quite a tall bloke and very easy going. It seemed like he was up for giving anything risky a go.
You couldn't beat Japanese big fours. Love my '79 XS11 Special.
The worst handling Japanese big four cylinder bike.
I owned lots of Yamahas but in the XS1100 era the Suzuki GS1000 (chain drive) was the best handling big four.
In a straight line there wasn’t much between them.
Decent flick for its time. Have a copy on DVD...
Great scene watching vintage bikes roars
Hugh Keyes burne before he was the toe cutter.
Good to see them all wearing helmets! Safety First! 👍
A snippet of Australian biker culture in the 70s
Great film
The norton far more nimble but on the straight no chance
Don’t forget the Norton handled better, had better tyres (British Avons or Dunlops instead of Japanese Bridgestones) and if it had the Norton Combat engine with lower gearing it’s acceleration off the line and out of corners would have been better.
On short straights the Zed wouldn’t have been able to use all of its top end power.
Norton were still winning circuit l races late in the seventies.
@@nigeh5326 Peter Williams and Dave Croxford...
@@MrPomdownunder yep there is a great video on UA-cam about Peter Williams and Norton it’s an old 1970s documentary well worth watching
What were they riding? Triumphs?
A great movie.
My dad’s mate was in it and one of my school teachers was an extra I believe….Sataaaaan!
I feel old!
I was lucky enough to ride in the Stone memorial ride back in the early 90’s. From Sydney to Newcastle. If I remember correctly some one died on the ride. We turned back half way. Riders were doing stupid things. Good memory though.
Awww... I wanted the Norton to win...
😭😭😭
Just noticed Midnight only has a nearside mirror :-)
The horse trough used to be there where he crashed. What happened to that when they redid the water pipes ? (~2013 ?) Why'd they have to remove that part of history ?
There's a horse trough still there like that on Yass st Cootamundra, you don't see them much anymore.
That horse trough is still there on Montpelier Street today
Not anymore it isn't.@@bluemax697
Nothing has changed for Six bob tourists since Gallipoli.
Funny thing is if you actually as a guest went ahead of the president and VP it would not be a great day for you.
Ken shorter trying his best to fit in with the bike culture
Good old days
Name the film ?
Stone...
Stone
Nice White riding Gloves very hip
Had to have number plate Front & back. Looks like hey
correct. I believe the Motorcycle Riders Association had them outlawed because the front plates restricted air flow to the engine
@@michaeledwards8058 I heard it was the RTA as they were deemed a cut hazard to pedestrians if you ran into one ?
Front number plates were stopped as in an accident with a pedestrian especially a child it could cause real damage.
Same in the UK around 74 they stopped fitting them
So sad Elizabeth St in Melbourne has been replaced by bubble tea shops.
what? no bike shops anymore? that's where I bought my first Ducati back in the early 80s
@@michaeledwards8058 True, the atmosphere has changed so much, got my Z750 in Heidelberg 1981. Ride a push bike now. 😆.
for starters, Bubble Tea is fantastic so don't even start on that, secondly it was the stupid city council that caused that to happen NOT the people that happened to take over the stores so don't take it out on them.
@@perpetualgrin5804I'm on a old Yammy 900 still and 89 GSXR 750
How do i get that movie called Stone to Play
Should be a stone tour
How bad is the music.
Yamaharley and Hardly Davidson. Girlie stuff.
3:55 Cool stunts!
3:38🎼👍🏻😎
Sucks what meth is doing to that beautiful country these days such a shame!
Who told you that sh1t ? Meth is only a problem if you go looking for it, like any drug..
Yep
Reckon the Norton would have been a combat 750
See reference immediately following comment regarding Mr. Earnhardt
Nice to know who kept vetter fairings in business
ทางดีเหม่อะจิบๆ
WAS "the gravediggers"' A REAL GANG OR JUST INVENTED FER THE FLICK?
Just made up for the film but after the films release the back patch was given to an Australian club called the Vietnam Veterans which later on became The Veterans who still use the patch now.
รถช้ามากหมวกไปก่อนมีด้วยหรอ
а где негры и китайцы?
Where do you Think in prison and at work!!!!
Australia had the white Australia policy right up to the late 70's immigration was mostly restricted to white Europe
@@blake9358 73 was the end of it.
719 Floy Key
why hav they all got the same bike, did the ppl who made the movie heir them from the same shop lol
It's important to the plot. One of them witnessed a crime, and the criminal is trying to murder them all 'cos they all ride Kwaka9's and have full-face helmets - he can't tell them apart.
Those helmets! Chin piece below the chin! Front number plates!
Immortal Joe
I fondly remember the opening scene, the wire strung across the road taking a head off.
The helmet law was introduced in 1971
Which curtailed freedom and became claustrophobic!
and saved lives
Freed up the Hospitals though
If you've got a cheap useless head, don't wear a helmet. Freedom.? hahahahaha, hahahahahaha...FFS
"curtailed freedom" hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Just before I got my motorbike licence. I was mad about that - I wanted the wind in my shoulder-length hair! Back then I would never ever have believed that they would eventually make bicycle riders wear helmets too, (unless you're a Sikh).
TOE CUTTER IN THE MAKING 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
its the Satan's Koala's biker gang
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🍺🍺🍺🍺👍😜
Cringe
What they riding dirt bikes
dirt bikes like the Devil, those are Triumphs.......
Nah mate .. Norton Commando and Kawasaki Z9's
You tend to forget how small even big bikes were back then.i think in 74 i was on a Yam FS1e.lol
Now I am on a 9 foot long 1400 cc FXDWG
My Uncle rode on the film . Kawasaki on the day presented ( I think around 40 ) brand new Z900 for the Freeway/Funeral scene..
The Z900 was ahead of it's time
👍👍👍👍👍
The whole city had one bike showroom having one model only.
Next to 70’s pornos l guess these old motorcycle adventure movies are the worst!
This was without a doubt one of the worst ever Australian movies. It’s even worse than Razorback or The Cars That Ate Paris