Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Riddle of the Stinson

  • TV Movie
  • 1988
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
155
YOUR RATING
The Riddle of the Stinson (1988)
Drama

In 1937, a routine passenger and mail flight crashes during bad weather on a flight between Brisbane and Sydney. A local bushman begins a search, and finds the wreckage and two survivors ten... Read allIn 1937, a routine passenger and mail flight crashes during bad weather on a flight between Brisbane and Sydney. A local bushman begins a search, and finds the wreckage and two survivors ten days after the crash.In 1937, a routine passenger and mail flight crashes during bad weather on a flight between Brisbane and Sydney. A local bushman begins a search, and finds the wreckage and two survivors ten days after the crash.

  • Director
    • Chris Noonan
  • Writer
    • Tony Morphett
  • Stars
    • Jack Thompson
    • Helen O'Connor
    • Mary Haire
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    155
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Noonan
    • Writer
      • Tony Morphett
    • Stars
      • Jack Thompson
      • Helen O'Connor
      • Mary Haire
    • 9User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast47

    Edit
    Jack Thompson
    Jack Thompson
    • Bernard O'Reilly
    Helen O'Connor
    • Viona O'Reilly
    Mary Haire
    • Rose O'Reilly
    Kendall Monaghan
    • Rhelma O'Reilly
    • (as Kendall Monahan)
    Norman Kaye
    Norman Kaye
    • Binstead
    Richard Roxburgh
    Richard Roxburgh
    • Proud
    Huw Williams
    • Westray
    Russell Newman
    Russell Newman
    • Rolly Graham
    Len Kaserman
    • Bill Fountain
    Dennis Miller
    Dennis Miller
    • Rex Boyden
    Mark Lee
    Mark Lee
    • Bert Shepherd
    Susan Lyons
    • Jean Batten
    Igor Sas
    • Batten's Co-Pilot
    John Allen
    • Smyth
    Barry Hill
    • Johnson
    Frank Wilson
    Frank Wilson
    • Robinson
    Louise Pajo
    Louise Pajo
    • Smyth's Secretary
    Helen Mutkins
    • Hazel
    • Director
      • Chris Noonan
    • Writer
      • Tony Morphett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews9

    6.9155
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7richardpickren

    Above average TV Movie

    Nicely done Aussie TV movie highlighted by good cinematography, acting and directing. The film is based on a true story.

    Sadly, the film is marred by an ill conceived music score. The ever present solo bluesy harmonica is annoying and anachronistic.
    9rob-976-221970

    Cracking Aussie film

    I love this film. I caught it by chance one night on TV many many years ago and have tried to locate a copy ever since. Now that I have found one and have been able to watch it again I can see why it made such an impression.

    True stories always intrigue me and with the added bonus of old planes and great scenery it's a must. Great acting too and a heart warming human story, with a real 'Aussie' feel about it. The period feel is beautifully captured.

    Hopefully one of the many Sky movie channels will eventually show it again as it's long overdue. Look out for it.
    8bennobi1

    Excellent film

    I found this depiction surrounding a true life event of a tragic incident in 1932 of the Stinson plane crash to be brilliantly shot, directed and character portrayed. Also very well done on what was obviously a tightly budgeted project was the overall execution of story bringing a cliffhanger edge almost the entire time.

    Jack Thomson played Bernard O'Reilly quite convincingly as did all the other actors being flawless in their parts.

    I in all honesty can't recommend this film more highly and sincerely hope that it won a least a few deserving awards.

    I also feel very blessed to have found it freely available on YouTube in it's entirety seeing as how the original DVD is extremely difficult to find and even a counterfeit copy proves very expensive to purchase (so beware).
    8davidjparris

    The Beauty and the Terror.

    This is is an amazing tale of disaster and rescue told in a straight forward but entertaining style.It was a treat to see a youngish Jack Thompson cast as the bushman/rescuer of this tale. I had almost forgotten what a great screen presence he was.The beauty and the terror of the Great Dividing Range is also a character.I can highly recommend this movie.
    edwarl

    Search for copy.

    Hulo all. I would like to see this movie but I cannot obtain a copy. Can anyone help. I have tried various searches for this Kennedy/Miller production with no success. It may be that it has been deliberately pulled "out of circulation" here for legal reasons. The star is Jack Thompson who has made some very good films in his time. We recently saw a TV documentary update on the Stinson crash which provoked much interest in the subject.I am trying to view a number of Australian aircraft disasters and this one stands out. I was recently "on the spot" of a RAAF/citizen deaths disaster of 1955 on the "Main Range" mountains of south east Queensland not too far from the Stinson crash much earlier. ( Now in June 2005 we have just seen the passing of Graham Kennedy, a truly wonderful personality of Australian TV and films and was a co-producer of this film and many others.) Thanks. Laurie.

    More like this

    Vietnam
    7.6
    Vietnam
    The Cowra Breakout
    7.3
    The Cowra Breakout
    Stepping Out
    Stepping Out
    The Dismissal
    8.1
    The Dismissal
    Cass
    6.3
    Cass
    Police State
    7.4
    Police State
    Flirting
    7.1
    Flirting
    Bangkok Hilton
    7.8
    Bangkok Hilton
    Dead Calm
    6.8
    Dead Calm
    Three Thousand Years of Longing
    6.7
    Three Thousand Years of Longing
    Mad Max: The Wasteland
    Mad Max: The Wasteland
    Mad Max: Fury Road
    8.1
    Mad Max: Fury Road

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Louise Pajo .

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 25, 1988 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El enigma del Stinson
    • Filming locations
      • New South Wales, Australia(Farm scenes and wreck site)
    • Production company
      • Kennedy Miller Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.