Directing

Lee Robinson

Born February 22, 1923 · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died September 22, 2003 · aged 80

Lee Robinson OAM (22 February 1923 – 22 September 2003) was an Australian producer, director and screenwriter who was Australia's most prolific filmmaker of the 1950s and part of the creative team that produced the late 1960s international hit television series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.

Known For

Attack Force ZAttack Force Z · 1982
Attack Force Z
5.91982
MovieWarAction
Sent to rescue survivors from the site of a plane crash in the South Pacific during WWII, Captain Kelly and his elite squad of Australian commandos must keep tabs on a defecting Japanese official who could hold the secret to peace.
Antarctic PioneersAntarctic Pioneers · 1963
Antarctic Pioneers
1963
MovieDocumentaryAdventure
This documentary chronicles Australia's early scientific expeditions to Antarctica between 1911 and 1954. It features rare historical footage captured by legendary explorer Frank Hurley during the 1911 Aurora voyage. The film highlights the massive challenges faced by pioneers establishing the continent's first permanent research stations.
The Highest HonourThe Highest Honour · 1982
The Highest Honour
6.61982
MovieDramaWar
After a highly successful raid on Singapore Harbour, soldiers of Z Special Unit lead a new expedition in Singapore, with disastrous results.
The StowawayThe Stowaway · 1958
The Stowaway
4.01958
Movie
A group of adventurers compete with one another to find the missing heir Rene Marechal, thought to be near Tahiti.
The Karri ForestThe Karri Forest · 1962
The Karri Forest
1962
MovieDocumentary
Pemberton Forest, a karri forest in the southwest region of Western Australia, is the site of a youth camp for school children. In this film, forest officers explain various aspects of forestry and associated industries to the children.
The Phantom StockmanThe Phantom Stockman · 1953
The Phantom Stockman
4.91953
MovieWestern
Kim Marsden inherits a cattle station near Alice Springs after the death of her father. Kim becomes convinced her father was murdered. She sends for a legendary local bushman called the Sundowner, who was one of her father's best friends.
The Siege of PinchgutThe Siege of Pinchgut · 1959
The Siege of Pinchgut
6.31959
MovieActionCrime
An escaped prisoner is trying to clear his name.
King of the Coral SeaKing of the Coral Sea · 1954
King of the Coral Sea
7.31954
MovieCrimeAdventure
A body is found floating in the Torres Strait and pearler Ted King is asked to investigate. He discovers the murder is connected to a people smuggling ring and involves one of his men, Yusep. He is helped by Peter Merriman, the playboy owner of King's company who romances King's daughter Rusty. Yusep kidnaps Rusty but Merriman and King rescue her.

Movies

Attack Force ZAttack Force Z · 1982
Attack Force Z
5.91982
MovieWarAction
Sent to rescue survivors from the site of a plane crash in the South Pacific during WWII, Captain Kelly and his elite squad of Australian commandos must keep tabs on a defecting Japanese official who could hold the secret to peace.
Antarctic PioneersAntarctic Pioneers · 1963
Antarctic Pioneers
1963
MovieDocumentaryAdventure
This documentary chronicles Australia's early scientific expeditions to Antarctica between 1911 and 1954. It features rare historical footage captured by legendary explorer Frank Hurley during the 1911 Aurora voyage. The film highlights the massive challenges faced by pioneers establishing the continent's first permanent research stations.
The Highest HonourThe Highest Honour · 1982
The Highest Honour
6.61982
MovieDramaWar
After a highly successful raid on Singapore Harbour, soldiers of Z Special Unit lead a new expedition in Singapore, with disastrous results.
The StowawayThe Stowaway · 1958
The Stowaway
4.01958
Movie
A group of adventurers compete with one another to find the missing heir Rene Marechal, thought to be near Tahiti.
The Karri ForestThe Karri Forest · 1962
The Karri Forest
1962
MovieDocumentary
Pemberton Forest, a karri forest in the southwest region of Western Australia, is the site of a youth camp for school children. In this film, forest officers explain various aspects of forestry and associated industries to the children.
The Phantom StockmanThe Phantom Stockman · 1953
The Phantom Stockman
4.91953
MovieWestern
Kim Marsden inherits a cattle station near Alice Springs after the death of her father. Kim becomes convinced her father was murdered. She sends for a legendary local bushman called the Sundowner, who was one of her father's best friends.
The Siege of PinchgutThe Siege of Pinchgut · 1959
The Siege of Pinchgut
6.31959
MovieActionCrime
An escaped prisoner is trying to clear his name.
King of the Coral SeaKing of the Coral Sea · 1954
King of the Coral Sea
7.31954
MovieCrimeAdventure
A body is found floating in the Torres Strait and pearler Ted King is asked to investigate. He discovers the murder is connected to a people smuggling ring and involves one of his men, Yusep. He is helped by Peter Merriman, the playboy owner of King's company who romances King's daughter Rusty. Yusep kidnaps Rusty but Merriman and King rescue her.
The Ambitious OneThe Ambitious One · 1959
The Ambitious One
7.81959
MovieDrama
This Yves Allegret film is set in French Polynesia and stars Edmond O'Brien, Richard Basehart, Andrea Parisy, Nicole Berger and Reg Lye. Basehart is the black sheep of a wealthy family of mining financiers based in France. He dumps the family life style and heads to Tahiti to make it on his own. His wife, Andrea Parisy, is less than amused with Basehart's choice.
Dust in the SunDust in the Sun · 1958
Dust in the Sun
7.01958
MovieWesternMystery
A Northern Territory policeman, is given the job of taking an Aboriginal prisoner Emu Foot, to Alice Springs to be tried for a tribal killing. Bayard is wounded during a revenge attack by tribesmen, and Emu Foot helps him get to a remote cattle station. But there Bayard gets involved in a domestic crisis involving Julie Kirkbride, the neurotic, bored wife of the station owner, and is tempted by the head stockman's daughter Chris Palady.
Skippy and the IntrudersSkippy and the Intruders · 1969
Skippy and the Intruders
6.31969
MovieFamily
Skippy and the Intruders (also known as The Intruders) is a 1969 Australian film directed by Lee Robinson, and is a spin-off of the popular Skippy the Bush Kangaroo TV series. A gang of criminals led by Meredith is looking for sunken treasure off Mallacoota, pretending to be diving for abalone. Sonny, son of Matt Hammond, the Chief Ranger of Waratah National Park, investigates with their family friend, Clancy. Sonny and Clancy are kidnapped. Skippy comes to the rescue. After a speedboat chase and a fight in the sand dunes, Meredith is captured.
Namatjira the PainterNamatjira the Painter · 1974
Namatjira the Painter
1974
MovieDocumentary
Traces the life and artistic development of the Aboriginal painter, the late Albert Namatjira. His environment, his introduction to painting, his subsequent success with beautifully original landscapes and his influence on fellow Aborigines are recorded.
Rock 'n' RollRock 'n' Roll · 1959
Rock 'n' Roll
1959
Movie
Showcasing the cream of Australian rock'n'roll performers of the era, the film features Johnny O'Keefe, Col Joye, Johnny Devlin, The Delltones, Johnny Rebb, Lonnie Lee, The Graduates, The Crescents and Warren Williams performing at the iconic Sydney Stadium for one of Gordon's 1959 'Big Shows', in front of thousands of fans.
Double TroubleDouble Trouble · 1951
Double Trouble
1951
MovieDocumentary
Can't find what you are looking for? All you have to do is ask. Such advice is not so straightforward when you can't speak the language. By 1951, Australian postwar migration programmes were geared to receiving large numbers of non-British migrants. Considerable efforts were made to overcome prejudice on the part of the predominantly British-derived community towards the newcomers. Double Trouble was an attempt to make the point with humour. Bob and Stan, two Aussie blokes, are magically transported to the streets of a foreign country, where their inability to communicate gets them into a tight spot. They discover that it's not easy being a foreigner in a strange land. The central message in this film is that Australia needs migrants so Australians should make them feel welcome and offer assistance, not complaints.
School in the MailboxSchool in the Mailbox · 1947
School in the Mailbox
6.51947
MovieDocumentary
In Australia, children live in the Outback, too far from others to travel to any school. The Australian government has a school with no student only teachers that correspond with their pupils and teach those children at their own pace.
Crocodile HuntersCrocodile Hunters · 1949
Crocodile Hunters
1949
MovieDocumentary
In the estuaries and lagoons of the Northern Territory, freshwater and saltwater crocodile are hunted for their hides by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous hunters. This film shows Aboriginal people using age-old hunting techniques to land crocs either for food or for skins. The methods employed by the professional hunters, who earn as much as 3000 pounds during the season, are also depicted, followed by a brief look at how the hides are skinned and prepared before being transported to the leather factories of Sydney and Melbourne.
Bring Out a BritonBring Out a Briton · 1957
Bring Out a Briton
1957
MovieDocumentary
‘Bring Out a Briton’ was a short appeal for Australians to help the Immigration Department in its plan to form and assist a ‘Bring Out a Briton’ Committee in each district. It featured popular Australian actor Chips Rafferty as the spokesman for the campaign. Aimed at the Australian public rather than the prospective immigrants it was designed to allay a perceived anxiety amongst the public about non-British European migration.
Walk Into ParadiseWalk Into Paradise · 1957
Walk Into Paradise
6.71957
MovieAdventure
Steve McAllister, an Australian official for The New Guinea Administration, gets orders to investigate an oil discovery by Ned 'Shark-Eye' Kelly in the interior. He selects his native policeman, Sergeant-Major Towalaka, to accompany him on his "walk into hell" and then finds that a French lady doctor, Louise Dumurcet, is to go with them part of the journey. They find the malaria-stricken Jeff Clayton in a deserted village and he joins the trek. They are captured by jungle-natives but are released after Dr. Dumurcet cures the fever-stricken children of the chief.
The PearlersThe Pearlers · 1949
The Pearlers
1949
MovieDocumentary
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.
Switch on BiggaSwitch on Bigga · 1953
Switch on Bigga
1953
MovieDocumentary
The introduction of electricity into the village of Bigga in New South Wales.
Darwin: Doorway to AustraliaDarwin: Doorway to Australia · 1946
Darwin: Doorway to Australia
1946
MovieDocumentary
Original archival synopsis: The Japanese bombed Darwin many times during World War II because it was strategically important target number one in their attack on the Australian mainland. Before the war, Darwin was little known except to the crews of pearling luggers and cattlemen. During the war it become an important air base which contributed much to the success of General MacArthur's island-hopping campaign against Japan. Today Darwin is an aerial port of call for all planes travelling either from Europe or the Far East to Australia. The Darwin touchdown is, in fact, for many travellers the first sight of the Australian continent. The film shows Darwin as it is today (1949), much ravaged by Japanese attack during World War II, but already showing signs of building activity and general recovery. The film indicates the general life of the town and also explains the plan which will make Darwin a model city of which Australia will be very proud.

TV Shows

Skippy the Bush KangarooSkippy the Bush Kangaroo · 1968
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
6.01968
SeriesFamily
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, and the various visitors to the fictional Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.
The Last WoodsmenThe Last Woodsmen · 2024
The Last Woodsmen
8.02024
Series
In the Pacific Northwest, Jared Douglas and his logging crew risk life and limb to harvest the planet’s remote and valuable trees, but getting these giants from the forest to market is deadly.
Barrier ReefBarrier Reef · 1971
Barrier Reef
1971
SeriesDrama
Barrier Reef was an Australian television series that was first screened in 1971. Barrier Reef centred around a group of marine biologists on board a ship called the New Endeavour, researching around the Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland, Australia. "It was the first series in the world to feature extensive colour underwater filming on location". It was also a unique location for a TV show. The Great Barrier Reef is "The only living organic collective visible from Earth's orbit."