Graham Kennedy discusses the film characters he's played, with critic Ivan Hutchinson in an interview to promote the release of The Odd Angry Shot (1979).

Graham mentions his first film role, as an extra in On The Beach (1959), and his cameos in They're a Weird Mob (1966) and the movie of The Box (1975) before his acting breakthrough came in Don's Party (1976).

The challenge of The Odd Angry Shot was playing a character totally unlike himself.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen

Graham Kennedy's short cameo in They're a Weird Mob (1966) is his first feature film appearance, although he was an uncredited extra in On the Beach (1959).

Nino Culotta (played by Walter Chiari) is an Italian migrant who has recently arrived in Australia and is looking for work. When Graham Kennedy (playing himself) pulls up in his car and asks for directions, Culotta is unable to help.

A nearby man from Sydney recognises Kennedy and speaks up. At first Kennedy is flattered at being recognised before being told in no uncertain terms that he’s not welcome in Sydney and should keep driving all the way to Cape York! 

Kennedy is a notable Melbourne celebrity and the clip entertainingly demonstrates the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, to Culotta's bewilderment. 

The filming of this scene cleverly keeps the three men – Kennedy, Culotta and the Sydney bystander – in separate frames, highlighting that they are distanced from each other because of their different places of origin.

It’s a delightful piece of scripting, cinematography and editing that captures an awkward, but humorous, three-way exchange. Filmed on a busy sidewalk, it reinforces the casual informality of the Australian lifestyle.

Kennedy's resignation at being dismissed so decisively also highlights the Australian disdain for celebrities. In just 50 seconds, this short clip conveys a lot about Australian identity.

They're a Weird Mob was directed by Michael Powell and based on the novel by John O'Grady, writing under the pseudonym ‘Nino Culotta’.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen and Adam Blackshaw

Graham Kennedy discusses his role in the 1984 British feature film The Killing Fields on The Don Lane Show. This episode was broadcast on the Nine Network on 27 October 1983.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen

Club president Ted Parker (Graham Kennedy) is under pressure to resign, following allegations that he beat up a stripper at a club function. In the committee room, ex-coach Jock Riley (Frank Wilson) and administrator Gerry Cooper (Alan Cassell) engineer his departure, watched by the coach (Jack Thompson). Summary by Paul Byrnes.

Graham Kennedy appears on The Mike Walsh Show to discuss his role in the film of The Club. He also jokes about some of the unattractive characters he's played on the big screen.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen

As the TV mentions the importance of Vince Gair and the DLP (the Democratic Labor Party) in the election, Labor 'insider’ Mal (Ray Barrett) talks politics with Macka (Graham Kennedy) and Don (John Hargreaves). Liberal voter Jody (Veronica Lang) stirs them deliberately with her prediction that Labor will lose. All three men eye her figure. Summary by Paul Byrnes.

Harry (Graham Kennedy) sets Bung (John Hargreaves) straight about the War: the 'commos’ will win and no-one at home in Australia will thank them for going. He tells Dawson (Graeme Blundell) that the rich don’t fight wars, but that poor Australians are always lining up to take part. Summary by Paul Byrnes.

Frank (Leo McKern) and his companion Frances (Julia Blake) open a bottle of French champagne to celebrate their arrival in Port Douglas. The isolation and privacy, says Frank, is the best part, just as their neighbour Freddie (Graham Kennedy) arrives to greet them. Frank is less than welcoming, but Frances offers him a drink. Freddie warns of the dangers of life in paradise – drinking, depression and death! Summary by Paul Byrnes.

A cinema advertisement for Sennitt’s Ice Cream with the popular Melbourne radio announcers Nicky (Clifford Nicholls Whitta) and Graham (Kennedy).

Graeme Blundell discusses acting with Graham Kennedy in the films Don's Party (1976) and The Odd Angry Shot (1979). He describes some of the antics Kennedy got up to on set and his attitude to film as being superior to television: 'he used to call film acting "travelling first class", compared to television, which he loathed'.

Blundell wrote the book King: The Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy in 2003. Margaret Leask interviewed Blundell in 2013 for the NFSA’s Oral History program.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen

Graham Kennedy features on a lobby card from the feature film The Box (1975), based on the popular TV series.

Bung (John Hargreaves), a soldier from another patrol, comes looking for his stolen pack. Harry (Graham Kennedy) extorts a beer payment for his help, but Bung announces he is to join their patrol, after the death of one of their comrades. Summary by Paul Byrnes.

Lobby card for Don's Party featuring Mack (Graham Kennedy) and Don (John Hargreaves).

One-sheet poster for US release of On The Beach. The menacing, red toxic cloud dwarfs all other design elements and is successful in visually representing the central plot of the film, which depicts the aftermath of nuclear war.

The NFSA’s digital restoration of The Odd Angry Shot premiered in Tasmania in August 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

Directed by Tom Jeffrey the 1979 film features an all-star cast including Graham Kennedy, Bryan Brown, John Jarratt and John Hargreaves.

The Odd Angry Shot follows a single tour of duty of an Australia Special Air Service Regiment reconnaissance team in Vietnam, and their daily life in camp.

Less about the politics of Australia’s involvement in the war, the film was more about the men, the conflict and their adjustment to life back home.

Writer-director Tom Jeffrey (2016): ‘The new digital print is fantastic and it has given [the movie] a new lease of life. [The film] remains the only Australian motion picture dealing with our participation in the Vietnam War, and is a tribute to the professionalism of our soldiers serving in extremely difficult circumstances.’ 

Still image from Don's Party showing Mack (Graham Kennedy) crouching with broomstick. Don (John Hargreaves), Mal (Ray Barrett) and Jody (Veronica Lang) stand in the background.

Graham Kennedy as Harry in a scene from The Odd Angry Shot.