The Fire in the Stone (1984) Online

The Fire in the Stone (1984) Online

When his precious cache of opals is stolen, 14-year-old Ernie, who lives with his alcoholic father in the harsh and lawless opal fields of inland Australia, sets out with a friend determined to find the thief.

First feature filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele story that was made for television.

This tele-movie was made and first released about eleven years after its source Colin Thiele novel of the same name had been first published in 1973.

Third feature length filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele novel. The first was Storm Boy (1976) and the second was Blue Fin (1978).

First feature length filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele novel not to star or feature then young South Australian actor Greg Rowe who had previously starred in both feature filmed adaptations of Colin Thiele novels: Storm Boy (1976) and Blue Fin (1978).

Third filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele novel produced and/or financed by the South Australian Film Corporation. The first was Storm Boy (1976), the second was Blue Fin (1978), the third was The Fire in the Stone (1984), the fourth was Sun on the Stubble (1996), and the fifth was 'Storm Boy' (2019).

This production and 'Matthew and Son' (1984), both debuting in the year of 1984, were the first tele-movies directed by director Gary Conway, who had previously directed episodes of various television series and mini-series.

Though made for television, this tele-movie had its World Premiere in Coober Pedy in outback South Australia on 18th September 1984.

One of four feature films that shot in Coober Pedy in outback South Australia around 1983-1984 that debuted around the years of 1984-1985. The films are the tele-feature 'The Fire in the Stone' (1984) from Colin Thiele's source novel, and the theatrical feature films, the documentary feature 'World Safari II: The Final Adventure' (1984), Werner Herzog's 'Where the Green Ants Dream' (1984), and 'Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome' (1985).

Director Gary Conway, directing this television feature tele-movie for the South Australian Film Corporation [SAFC], had previously directed episodes of the mini-series 'Sara Dane' (1982) for the SAFC.

First feature filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele novel that did not have a two word title as with the two previous feature productions of Storm Boy (1976) and Blue Fin (1978).

This production was produced by the South Australian Film Corporation in association with the Australian Children's Television Foundation.

Production Coordinator Barbara Ring previously had worked as a production secretary on an earlier filmed adaptation of another Colin Thiele novel: 'Storm Boy' (1976).

Second assistant director Christopher Williams previously had worked as a third assistant director on an earlier filmed adaptation of another Colin Thiele novel: 'Blue Fin' (1978).

Best Boy on the crew, Keith Johnson, previously had worked as an electrician on an earlier filmed adaptation of another Colin Thiele novel: 'Storm Boy' (1976).

Second unit photographer and camera operator David Foreman previously had worked on two earlier filmed adaptations of other Colin Thiele novels, as a clapper loader on the feature 'Blue Fin' (1978), and as a camera operator / cinematographer on the short 'Cigarettes and Matches: From the Chapter in Colin Thiele's 'Sun on the Stubble' (1979).

According to the 'Australian Film & Television Companion' (1994) book by Tony Harrison, this production was "a program for younger viewers" and "was criticised at the time for the strong contents of some scenes."

This feature was made for television in Australia but the tele-movie garnered a theatrical release in some foreign overseas territories.

Assistant Editor Denise Haratzis was later the editor of another filmed adaptation of a Colin Thiele novel, 'Storm Boy' (2019), which is the remake of the original 'Storm Boy' (1976).

According to the book 'Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995: The Complete Guide to Tele-Features and Mini-Series' (1996) by Scott Murray, this production was a "tele-feature with overseas theatrical and local [Australian] video release."

The stone of this tele-feature's "The Fire in the Stone" title refers to the mineraloid gemstone of "opal" which is mined in the environs of the outback South Australian country town of Coober Pedy where this movie is set. This tele-movie debuted in the same 1984 year as the Hollywood production 'Romancing the Stone' (1984) but in that movie the stone of that film's title referred to an "emerald".