Dagg Day Afternoon

In 1977 famed farmer Fred Dagg joined director Geoff Murphy (Goodbye Pork Pie) for what would be Dagg's only big screen appearance. Murphy and Dagg creator John Clarke cooked up a freewheeling plot about a mission to find a bionic sheep. It gave them an excuse for Dagg and his army of Trevors to get silly, parody hit show The Six Million Dollar Man, and send up the military (as played by Derek Payne). Shot in roughly five days, Dagg Day Afternoon screened on a double bill with Murphy's Wild Man (which Clarke also acted in). In the backgrounder, writer Costa Botes explains how both films got off the ground.

I think the film's a cracker, I think it's a beauty, I'm very happy with it. With any luck and a good tail wind, it'll be a boomer.

– John Clarke talks up Dagg Day Afternoon, The Listener, 28 May 1977

Key Cast & Crew

John Clarke

Co-Director, Writer, Music, As: Fred Dagg

Geoff Murphy

Co-Director, Writer, As: Man standing on the street

Michael Wilson

As: Secret agent

Michael McDonald

As: Gav (Dalgety store worker)

Derek Payne

As: Army officer

John Barnett

Producer