Botany Bay
“SAVAGE as the Great Continent They Invaded!”
Synopsis
Based on the story of the start of Australia's colonisation. An American medical student is falsely convicted of robbery, with his sentence involving the torturous voyage with other prisoners to the new penal colony at Botany Bay. Because of his attempt to escape, evil Captain Gilbert decides to return him to England on charges of mutiny.
Top Cast
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Alan Ladd
Hugh Tallant
James Mason
Capt. Paul Gilbert
Patricia Medina
Sally Munroe
Cedric Hardwicke
Gov. Phillip
Murray Matheson
Rev. Mortimer Thynne
Anita Sharp-Bolster
Moll Cudlip (as Anita Bolster)
Jonathan Harris
Tom Oakly
Hugh Pryse
Ned Inching
Dorothy Patten
Mrs. Nellie Garth
John Hardy
Nat Garth
Malcolm Lee Beggs
Nick Sabb
Alec Harford
Brig-keeper Jenkins
Noel Drayton
Second Mate Spencer
Brandon Toomey
Guard (as Brendan Toomey)
Ben Wright
Deck Officer Green
Patrick Whyte
Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 7, 1953
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Farrow
- Screenplay & Story
- Jonathan Latimer
- Original Score
- Franz Waxman
- Original Title
- Botany Bay
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Farrow
Jonathan Latimer, James Norman Hall, Charles Nordhoff
Franz Waxman
John F. Seitz
Alma Macrorie
Joseph Sistrom
Department Leadership Roster
John Farrow
Director
Jonathan Latimer
Screenplay
Joseph Sistrom
Producer
John F. Seitz
Director of Photography
Franz Waxman
Original Music Composer
Alma Macrorie
Editor
Yvonne Wood
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Botany Bay.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Botany Bay.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Botany Bay
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Botany Bay about?
Based on the story of the start of Australia's colonisation. An American medical student is falsely convicted of robbery, with his sentence involving the torturous voyage with other prisoners to the new penal colony at Botany Bay. Because of his attempt to escape, evil Captain Gilbert decides to return him to England on charges of mutiny.
Who directed Botany Bay?
Botany Bay was directed by John Farrow.
Who stars in Botany Bay?
The principal cast of Botany Bay includes Alan Ladd, James Mason, Patricia Medina, Cedric Hardwicke, Murray Matheson.
When was Botany Bay released and how long is it?
Botany Bay was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for Botany Bay?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Botany Bay was composed by Franz Waxman.
Is Botany Bay based on a book or true story?
Botany Bay is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "James Norman Hall", Novel: "Charles Nordhoff".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Botany Bay?
Botany Bay holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).