Forty Thousand Horsemen

Forty Thousand Horsemen
Forty Thousand Horsemen
Directed by	Charles Chauvel
Written by	Charles Chauvel; Elsa Chauvel; E. V. Timms;
Produced by	Charles Chauvel
Starring	Grant Taylor; Chips Rafferty; Pat Twohill;
Cinematography	George Heath; Frank Hurley; John Heyer; Tasman Higgins;
Edited by	William Shepherd
Music by	Lindley Evans; Alfred Hill; Willy Redstone;
Production; company	Famous Feature Films
Distributed by	Universal Pictures (Australia); Goodwill Pictures Corporation; Monogram Pictures (US);
Release dates	26 December 1940 (Australia); 22 August 1941 (UK); 14 August 1941 (US);
Running time	100 minutes (Aust); 89 mins (UK);
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	£30,000
Box office	£130,000

Forty Thousand Horsemen (aka 40,000 Horsemen) is a 1940 Australian war film directed by Charles Chauvel. The film tells the story of the Australian Light Horse (mounted rifleman as distinct from cavalry) which operated in the desert at the Sinai and Palestine campaign during World War I. It follows the adventures of three rowdy heroes in fighting and romance. The film culminates in the charge of the Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba. The film was clearly a propaganda weapon, to aid in recruitment and lift the pride of Australians at home during World War II. It was one of the most successful Australian movies of its day.