User Reviews

Obviously filmed on a shoestring budget, which keeps things thankfully simple, was this moving true story about the desperate search for four year old Stephen Walls, who went missing in rugged New South Wales bushland in February, 1960.

"For four days and three nights a nation prayed and waited" as thousands of volunteers combed dense scrub and heavy brush in search of young Stephen. Certainly anyone from Guyra, NSW would be able to tell you of the time when all of Australia held its breath in hope.

Writer/director Terry Bourke tells this heart-rending tale without flare of finesse, keeping the narrative basic and just relating it as it happened. The all Australian cast do well in conveying the concerns and fears of a shaken community, with John Hargreaves strong as the young boy's father "Jacko", and Nathan Dawes doing well in his debut.

Bob Young's music is ineffective and melodramatic, while cinematography can't go wrong lensing spectacular Aussie bush. Highly recommended for all the family is this warm, touching story of "The Little Boy Lost".

Friday, March 1, 1996 - Video

This was the first movie I ever saw at the drive in theater. I was 5 years old and only remember bits like the little boy laying leaves over an animal that had died and I think hiding from the rescuers, although I may be wrong. I would love to see it again as my memories are so hazy of the story and plot. I have been reading the credits and see some names I recognize, an Australian movie is always good value. Heres hoping for a future screening of a classic Australian movie. Would even be nice to see a re release accurate to the original to show how we Aussies do things by way of a great community spirit and rallying together to do things!

The story of the 'Little Boy Lost' spawned a hit song by Johnny Ashcroft in 1960, but this filmed version of the story is a bit of a flop, despite the presence of John Hargreaves, Tony Barry, and John Jarratt.

Apparently the production was a shambles with many involved walking out, which may explain the lack of coherence of the story. According to this version, the search was hampered by the fact that the boy was comfortable in the bush but shy of strangers and kept clear of the noisy bunches of searchers for 3 days.

In addition the local policeman (Tony Barry) seems unable to organise the crowds of volunteers and some areas were full of searchers while other areas were overlooked, leading to much disgruntlement all around. John Hargreaves, as the boy's beloved father, is good at first, but quickly fades from the story and becomes a peripheral figure, unable to take action or properly express himself. Steve Dodd, the Aboriginal black-tracker, is accompanied by a cheesy musical theme, presumably meant to signify Aboriginal mystical relation to the landscape.

The film has some good moments, but is a bit of a mess really.

I remember seeing this story as a child and finding it deeply disturbing. It's an ineffectual movie that has stayed with me. I would have much preferred never to have been taken to see it. I just think about the marvelous movies that are produced now and that my children have had the opportunity to enjoy.

Given the little boy did everything you are not meant to do if lost in the outback (such as wondering far from the wrecked plane that was his hope for survival) and was rewarded for it by an adult saying to the boy's father "I think if I know anything about him, he will go looking for you" I can't think of anything useful that came out of simply repeating a story that happened. Were the producers of this negative film glad the boy dangerously wandered aimlessly around so viewers could get a hit out of his futile pain and suffering? A loathsome, miserable film.