Vale David Stratton
Author and film critic David Stratton has died, aged 85.
Allen & Unwin writes:
Allen & Unwin is deeply saddened by the loss of Australia’s beloved film critic, David Stratton AM.
David is best remembered for the 28 years he co-hosted movie shows on SBS and ABC TV as yang to Margaret Pomeranz’s yin. Who could forget David’s cool, measured tone in response to Margaret’s passion?
Soon after David arrived in Australia from the UK in 1963, he was appointed Director of the Sydney Film Festival, a position he held for 18 years. In addition to his regular weekly TV slot, he reviewed films for the US film industry magazine Variety (1983-2003) and for three decades for The Australian. He served twice as a member of the international jury at the Venice Film Festival, and on other international juries. He was twice president of the International Film Critics juries at Cannes Film Festival, and also in Venice. He also lectured for 35 years on film history for the continuing education program at The University of Sydney, where he had a devoted following of students who returned year after year.
Film lovers will also remember fondly the feature documentary A Cinematic Life which first screened on ABC TV in 2017, in which David gives a very personal history of Australian cinema. This was followed by a three-part TV spin off, David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema.
Characteristically David continued to share his deep knowledge of cinema, even after he left our TV screens and retired as the leading film critic at The Australian newspaper. His last book, Australia at the Movies, was published by Allen & Unwin in November 2024.
Australia at the Movies is David’s magnum opus, his reviews of (almost) every feature film from the past 30 years in Australian cinema, from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to The Drover’s Wife. He brings to these reviews his rich understanding of our cinema traditions and fascinating details and titbits about the directors, producers and actors he has followed over decades.
His other books, all on cinema, are My Favourite Movies (2021), 101 Marvellous Movies You May Have Missed (2018), I Peed on Fellini (a memoir 2008), The Avocado Plantation (1990), and The Last New Wave (1980).
Among the many awards David received over his long career, in 2007 he received the 60th Anniversary Medal from the Festival du Film de Cannes; in the 2015 Australia Day honours, David was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia; and in 2024 he became National Cinema Pioneer of the Year.
We send our very best wishes to David’s wife Susie, and their children.
Category: Daily obituary Local news
