AustLit

This cinematic adaptation is based on the stage play On Our Selection by Albert Edmunds (aka Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan), which was itself based on the stories of Steele Rudd. Set in south-west Queensland, it tells of the Rudd family, which has been all but ruined by the drought and is in debt to their villainous neighbour Old Carey. While Carey seizes the Rudds' cattle in an attempt to leverage a hold on their land, his son Jim attempts to get his hands on the eldest daughter Kate. Her long-suffering suitor Sandy Graham warns her. However, Jim is no better than his father. In order to relieve financial pressure on the family, Kate moves to the city, but when the rains eventually come she returns to help the family rebuild their stock. When Sandy finds out that Jim has tried to force his sweetheart into marriage (by threatening to sully her reputation), he knocks him down. Unfortunately, Jim dies, and Sandy is charged with murder. While Kate frets over Sandy's future, eldest son Dave marries his sweetheart Lily White. Dad Rudd's woes continue to escalate when he is forced to repeatedly rebuff Billy Bearup's attempts to woo his other daughter Sarah, while youngest son Joe continues to upset one and all by his mischief. Sandy is eventually cleared of the murder charge when another character, Cranky Jack, admits his part in the death, leaving Sandy and Kate free to finally marry (much to the delight/relief of the Rudd family).

[Source: Australian Screen]