It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since one of the nation’s most popular films, Muriel’s Wedding, was shown in screens across Australia and the world. To celebrate the landmark anniversary the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is featuring an online exhibition, with exclusive footage and never-seen-before photos and documents.
Titled Muriel’s Wedding: Renewing Our Vows, the exhibition presents a deleted scene in which Muriel’s (Toni Collette) new-found fame and lack of culinary skills generates a strong reaction from her husband (Daniel Lapaine).
Other highlights include detailed views of the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses from the film, behind-the-scenes footage taken on the set by cinematographer Martin McGrath, an oral history interview with Jeanie Drynan, who played Muriel’s mother Betty and a gallery of international posters.
Released in 1994, Muriel’s Wedding is the story of an outcast (Toni Collette) who spends her days listening to ABBA and fantasising about being popular and becoming a bride. Muriel eventually realises that dreams aren’t what they seem.
Written and directed by PJ Hogan, Muriel’s Wedding had a strong impact on Australian popular culture. Who hasn’t heard the film’s catchphrase ‘You’re terrible, Muriel’ in everyday situations?
The film became an international box office hit, making $15.76m in Australia (unadjusted for inflation) and U$57.5m worldwide. It was the third most profitable film in the world in 1995, after The Brothers McMullen andPulp Fiction, earning approximately 19.2 times its budget. Muriel’s Wedding won four AFI Awards, and was also nominated at the Golden Globes and BAFTAS.
Muriel’s Wedding: Renewing Our Vows is the second online exhibition produced by the NFSA, following the launch of Priscilla: 20 Years Young in July 2014. Further exhibitions celebrating key Australian titles and performers are planned for 2015.
Muriel’s Wedding: Renewing Our Vows is available on the NFSA website.
To check out the original film trailer, click here
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