Growing up in Australia—or even just being a fan of classic Westerns—meant you couldn't escape the shadow of the Man from Snowy River. It’s basically folklore at this point. But honestly? The 1988 sequel, The Man from Snowy River II, gets a weirdly bad rap or, worse, just gets forgotten. It shouldn't. Released in the States as Return to Snowy River, this flick isn't just a cash grab. It’s a high-octane, visually stunning expansion of A.B. "Banjo" Paterson's poetry that actually dares to give us a real ending.
Jim Craig is back. Tom Burlinson still has that lean, weathered look that makes you believe he actually spends twelve hours a day in a saddle. When he rides back into the high country after years of herding cattle on the lowlands to earn his "stake," you feel the weight of that time. He isn't the wide-eyed boy who took the "terrible descent" in the first movie. He’s a man with a plan and a chest full of gold coins. But, as usually happens in these sprawling frontier epics, the girl he left behind hasn't just been sitting on a porch waiting. Jessica Harrison, played by Sigrid Thornton with a lot more fire this time around, is caught between her father’s stubbornness and a new suitor who is, frankly, a piece of work.
The Problem With Replacing Kirk Douglas
Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately. In the original 1982 film, Kirk Douglas played the dual roles of Harrison and Spur. It was iconic. It was also a bit distracting to have a massive Hollywood legend chewing the scenery in the Australian bush. For The Man from Snowy River II, the producers brought in Brian Dennehy to take over the role of Harrison.
It’s different.
Dennehy doesn’t try to do a Kirk Douglas impression. Thank God. He plays Harrison with a quiet, simmering menace that feels more grounded in the reality of a wealthy land baron. While some fans missed the twin-brother gimmick from the first film, Dennehy’s presence makes the stakes feel higher. He isn't just a grumpy dad; he's a structural barrier to Jim's entire future.
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Why the Cinematography Wins
If you’re watching this for the plot, you’re kinda missing the point. You watch The Man from Snowy River II for the horses. Specifically, the chase sequences. Director Geoff Burrowes, who produced the first one, took the helm here and decided to crank the intensity up to eleven.
The Victorian Alps are the real star.
The way the camera captures the mist rolling off the peaks at dinner-time or the way the dust kicks up during the final muster is just... chef's kiss. They used helicopters in ways that felt revolutionary for a mid-80s budget. You see the sheer verticality of the terrain. When Jim Craig takes his horse, Denny, down a slope that looks like a 90-degree drop, your stomach actually flips. It isn’t CGI. It isn't a green screen. It's real stunt riders doing terrifying things on real mountains.
Most modern movies feel small because they're shot on soundstages in Atlanta. This feels massive. It feels like the world is actually as big as Jim’s ambitions.
The Villain Nobody Talks About
Nicholas Eadie plays Alistair Patton, the guy Harrison wants Jessica to marry. He’s the son of a banker. He’s polished. He’s also a total snake. What makes him a great foil for Jim is that he represents the "New Australia"—the one built on credit, ledgers, and city influence—whereas Jim represents the old, rugged meritocracy of the mountains.
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The conflict isn't just about who gets the girl. It’s about two different worlds colliding.
Alistair isn't a physical match for Jim, so he uses the law and his father's money to try and crush him. There’s a scene where they try to "break" Jim’s spirit by going after his horses, and it’s genuinely heartbreaking. Seeing those beautiful brumbies caught in the crossfire of a rich man's ego makes the eventual payoff so much sweeter.
Breaking Down the Music
Bruce Rowland returned to compose the score, and honestly, the man deserves a statue. He took the original theme—which is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of cinema music in the Southern Hemisphere—and made it more orchestral, more sweeping.
It’s the kind of music that makes you want to go out and buy a Stetson and a whip.
The "Jessica’s Theme" variations in the sequel are particularly beautiful. They add a layer of melancholy that the first movie lacked. It acknowledges that time has passed and things have changed. You can't just go home again and expect everything to be the same. The music tells that story better than the dialogue does sometimes.
The "Big Ride" vs. The First Movie
Everyone remembers the cliff jump from the first movie. It’s the "Man from Snowy River" moment. But the sequel has the pursuit of the stallion. It’s longer, more technical, and far more dangerous-looking.
There's a specific sequence involving a wire fence and a high-speed gallop that still holds up today. Jim has to prove he’s still the "Man" of legend. The movie understands that the audience is there for the adrenaline. It delivers. The choreography of the horses—how they move as a single, chaotic unit—is a masterclass in animal coordination.
Common Misconceptions
People often think this was a flop. It wasn't. While it didn't quite capture the lightning-in-a-bottle cultural phenomenon status of the original in the United States, it was a massive hit in Australia. It solidified the "Snowy River" brand.
Another weird myth? That the horses were mistreated. Actually, the production was incredibly tight on safety. They had vets on site constantly. The "falls" you see are often trained horses doing a specific "lay down" cue on soft-tilled earth hidden by brush. It looks brutal, but it’s movie magic at its most professional.
Is it a "Western"?
Technically, it's a "Bush Western" or a "Meatpie Western." It follows the tropes:
- The loner returns to town.
- The wealthy cattle king blocks his path.
- The corrupt rival tries to cheat.
- The final showdown isn't with guns, but with grit and horsemanship.
But it feels distinct because of the Australian identity. It’s not about manifest destiny; it’s about the harshness of the high country and the respect you have to earn from the land itself. You don't "conquer" the Snowy River mountains. You just survive them.
Real Insights for Rewatching
If you're going back to watch The Man from Snowy River II anytime soon, keep an eye on the background actors. Many of them were actual local mountain riders from the Mansfield area in Victoria. Their riding style is totally different from the "Hollywood" style. They sit deeper in the saddle, their hands are lower. It’s the real deal.
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Also, pay attention to the color palette. The sequel uses much cooler tones—lots of blues and deep greens—compared to the sepia-toned warmth of the first film. It reflects Jim’s maturity. Life isn't a golden-hued dream anymore; it’s cold, hard work.
How to Experience the Legacy Today
If the movie makes you want to ditch the office and head for the hills, you actually can. The "Craig’s Hut" set used in the films was originally built just for the movies, but it became such a tourist icon that it’s been rebuilt multiple times after bushfires.
- Visit Mount Stirling: This is where the bulk of the high-country scenes were filmed. You can go on horse-riding tours that take you to the actual filming locations.
- The Soundtrack: Find the 2020s remastered versions of Bruce Rowland's work. The percussion hits way harder on a modern sound system.
- The Poem: Read Banjo Paterson’s original 1890 poem again. You’ll see where the film took liberties and where it stayed true to the "clatter and the spurt" of the mountain descent.
The film ends with a sense of finality that sequels rarely achieve these days. Jim Craig doesn't just ride off into the sunset; he rides into his own future, having finally proven that he belongs to the mountains as much as the wild brumbies do. It’s a satisfying, muscular piece of filmmaking that deserves to be viewed as a standalone achievement in the Western genre.
Actionable Steps for Fans
To truly appreciate the craft behind this sequel, start by watching the "Making Of" documentaries often found on the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray releases. They detail the logistical nightmare of moving film gear up those ridges. Next, compare the riding styles of Tom Burlinson and his stunt doubles; Burlinson did a surprising amount of his own riding, which adds an authenticity you can't fake. Finally, if you're a collector, look for the original Australian theatrical posters—the artwork by Drew Struzan (who did Star Wars and Indiana Jones) is significantly better than the standard DVD covers you see on streaming services.