Hammers Over the Anvil

Set in the summer of 1910 in Australia the film follows the story of 14 year old Alan Marshall (Alexander Outhread) as he stumbles out of childhood towards the exciting yet forbidding world of adulthood. For Alan, despite the effects of polio, there is only one passion in life - to become a great horseman just like his hero, the reclusive horse trainer East Driscoll (Russell Crowe). Alan is one of East's few friends and also one of the few who knows about the affair between East and the aristocratic English woman Grace McAlister (Charlotte Rampling). Things inevitably take a turn towards the tragic when East becomes determined to force Grace to leave her husband and run away with him. Hammers Over The Anvil is an evocative coming of age film from Australian director Ann Turner.

Cast

Russell Crowe

as East Driscoll

Charlotte Rampling

as Grace McAlister

Alexander Outhread

as Alan Marshall

Frankie J. Holden

as Bushman Marshall

Jake Frost

as Joe Carmichael

Alethea McGrath

as Mrs. Bilson

John Rafter Lee

as Charles McAlister

Frank Gallacher

as Mr. Thomas the Preacher

Amanda Douge

as Nellie Bolster

Kirsty McGregor

as Elsie Marshall

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