
The Pearlers
Beautifully filmed in black and white, this classic short film looks at pearling in the late 1940s. It goes on board the boats that work off the coast of Broome, Western Australia, from March to December each year. Crewed mainly by Aboriginal, Malay and Chinese men, they work six days a week from sun up to sun down—replenished occasionally by supply boats that also take away their hauls of pearl shell. The film captures the atmosphere, the detail and the danger involved in the search for shell as the divers in huge metal helmets and layers of clothing under their suits dive two at a time, each with one person tending their airhose and another their lifeline.
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- English
Behind the camera
Director
Produced in
Australia
Videos
Release dates
AustraliaAU
- Theatrical12 Aug 1949
Frequently asked questions
The Pearlers was released on 12 August 1949.
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