near Rockhampton and was discovered by Chips Rafferty. Morris Unicomb was a veteran of stage and radio. Shooting The film was entirely shot on location in March 1946. Filming took place in the Capertee Valley and at Kanangra Tops and Burragarong Valley, in the Blue Mountains. They also did a week's work at Carr Park, Kogarah. Neza Saunders fell off a horse while filming but had recovered within two days. Post production was completed in Sydney by June 1946. Smart left Australia in October, promising to be back in a few months to make more movies; he took four scenarios with him. Release Reviews were positive. Rank were so happy with the movie that instead of just playing it in cinema clubs they released it as a support feature for Frieda. Box office The film was very popular in Britain and Australia and was seen in 41 countries. Variety said it did "solid biz" in Australia. It was reportedly among the most popular films of the year in Britain in 1947, along with Courtneys of Curzon Street, Great Expectations, Duel in the Sun, Odd Man Out, Jassy, The Upturned Glass, Black Narcissus, Holiday Camp, They Made Me A Fugitive and The Jolson Story. By February 1948 the film had screened on American television. Spin Offs It was serialised in children's magazines and a novelisation of the script was published. The film was also adapted for radio with a young John Meillon. Follow Up When Smart returned to Australia in January 1947 he announced plans for £150,000 worth of children's films in Australia, including a feature set on a Northern Territory outback station, a serial, and a series of documentary films. Yardley signed a contract to appear in the Territory film and also the serial, which was to be about buckjumping. These films did not eventuate. Smart made Bitter Springs with Rafferty in 1950. Helen Grieve decided to study science rather than pursue an acting career. Yardley later became newsworthy when his nose was broken in a boomerang-throwing accident. See also Bush Christmas 1983 remake References External links Bush Christmas at Australian Screen Online Bush Christmas at Oz Movies US review of film at Variety UK review of film at Variety Complete film at Internet Archive 1947 films 1940s adventure drama films 1940s Christmas films 1940s English-language films British adventure drama films British Christmas films 1940s children's adventure films Australian adventure