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Articles

Digging into the archives for Crocodile Dundee: Part 2

Selling Mick Dundee in Crocodile Dundee

Crocodile Dundee was a huge international hit. How was it marketed in different countries? The second in a two-part series about items from the NFSA collection relating to the iconic 1986 film.

Written by Beth Taylor
21 April, 2016
3 minute read

This is the second in a two-part series about items from the NFSA collection relating to the film.

Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee was a clever extension of the Hoges character created by Paul Hogan for Australian television and also featured in the ‘put another shrimp on the barbie’ tourism campaign.

Crocodile Dundee was an unparalleled hit with both Australian and international audiences, taking $100 million in Australia alone (adjusted for inflation). In the US it was only pipped at the post as the most popular film of 1986 by Top Gun.

This is a rare chance to see the diverse approaches to marketing the film in different countries, from Germany and Poland, to Japan, Russia and the United States.

International film posters

It’s interesting to see how diverse posters for the same movie can be. Compare the US and Australian posters featuring Hogan, who was a known face, with the more abstract designs from Poland, Russia and Czechoslovakia. Artists in Eastern Bloc countries used to create posters for international films from scratch, free from having to reproduce US studio marketing materials.

Click images to enlarge

Crocodile Dundee - posters

Polish Crocodile Dundee poster
Polish one-sheet poster.
Japanese Crocodile Dundee poster
Japanese one-sheet poster.
Russian Crocodile Dundee poster
Russian one-sheet poster.
Czech Crocodile Dundee poster
Czech one-sheet poster.
Australian Crocodile Dundee poster
Australian one-sheet poster.
One-sheet poster displaying lobby card designs in a poster format.
East German one-sheet poster.
American one-sheet poster.
Yugoslavian one-sheet poster.

Above: Australian and international posters for Crocodile Dundee, 1986. Images provided courtesy of Rimfire Films Limited.

‘A crocodile for kissing’

These German lobby cards show the story of the film, displayed in cinemas to entice moviegoers. The official subtitle of the film Crocodile Dundee: Ein Krokodil zum Küssen in Germany translates as ‘A crocodile for kissing’.

Collection highlight: Crocodile Dundee German lobby cards

Paul Hogan as Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee
Paul Hogan as Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee.
Crocodile bite scar
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) showing off his crocodile bite scar to Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski).
Mick and his buddy
Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee (Paul Hogan) and friend.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 4
The one that got away: Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) and crocodile.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 5
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) saves Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) from a huge crocodile.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 6
Bush tucker: Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) and Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski).
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 7
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) and Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) falling in love.
Doing the laundry outback style
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) bringing some of his country ways to the Big Apple.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 9
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) makes friends wherever he goes in Manhattan.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 10
Serious newspaper business with Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) and her editor beau Richard Mason (Mark Blum, left).
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 11
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) charming the locals in New York.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 12
Mick Dundee and New York prostitutes Karla (Nancy Mette) and Simone (Caitlin Clarke).
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 13
Mick Dundee's (Paul Hogan's) bush skills coming in handy.
Crocodile Dundee German lobby card 14
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) stands out like a sore thumb in New York city.
Love in the outback
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) and Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski).

Above: German lobby cards for Crocodile Dundee: Ein Krokodil zum Küssen, 1986. Images provided courtesy of Rimfire Films Limited.

An a-peeling soundtrack

Banana shaped vinyl record of the song 'Live it Up' by Mental As Anything

The wistful and yet danceable song ‘Live it Up’ by Australian band Mental As Anything provides the soundtrack for a very 80s party scene in New York in the film.

Propelled by the popularity of the film, ‘Live it Up’ was Mental as Anything’s most successful song, reaching number two on the charts in Australia. It was also a Top 10 hit in Ireland, the UK, Norway, Germany and New Zealand.

This limited edition banana-shaped vinyl picture disc (left) for the song was released in the UK by Epic Records. The b-side ‘Good Friday’ has a calypso feel to it which may account for the playful banana-shape.

Production stills

The gallery below features a selection of production stills from the film. Some of these are taken from the film’s 1986 press kit and include the original captions. Pre-dating the wide usage of email, the internet and digital photography, the press kit was a physical package that was sent out by the production company to film journalists and critics to help market the film.

Collection highlight: Crocodile Dundee production stills

A shot taken on-set of Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski.
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) in the tub of his New York hotel room.
Romance in the Never Never: Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) and Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan).
Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) making some new friends in New York.
Sue meets Wally: Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) and Wally Reilly (John Meillon).
Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski).

Above: production stills for Crocodile Dundee, 1986. Images provided courtesy of Rimfire Films Limited.

See Part One: Crocodile Dundee – A Celebration for rushes from the film, a financial prospectus, sound equipment and more.

More by Beth

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