The Dish - 2000 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PaulM · 13th Jun 2017, 12:39 pm

Going through some DVDs last night I came across what has to be one of my favourite films ever - 'The Dish'. Having watched it again I'm still impressed and I came to the forum to see what other folk think about it. To my great surprise, there's no entries other than a reference in a forum member's tag line.

The rather uninspiring IMDB entry is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/

It's about the Australian Parkes Observatory involvement in the 1969 moon landing. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkes_Observatory OK, it stretches 'true story' to the limit, but it's a riot of working HP spec ans, nixie tubes and it all looks so plausible. I worked in ground station comms for a while in the late 1970s and I know that thrill of first acquisition which is brilliantly portrayed. It's also wickedly funny with Oz humour to the fore and some great period music. It completely captures the magic of 1969 and really underlines how boring things like that are now.

I'm always amazed that so few tech/eng/sci friends have seen it and I don't think it's ever been on TV here?

Anybody else seen it and have an opinion?

Best regards,

Paul M

Andrew2 · 13th Jun 2017, 12:56 pm

It's a bit of a hidden gem IMO. It very rarely gets a mention these days and is only shown once in a blue moon. Sam Neill is excellent, I like the way he plays his part quietly and with reserve.

camtechman · 13th Jun 2017, 2:43 pm

One of my top 50 films. I haven't watched it for about 3 years but you've nudged me enough to watch it this weekend.

I also love the comic touch, typical Oz humour.

joebog1 · 14th Jun 2017, 12:39 am

I actually worked for the CSIRO -Division of Radio Physics in Epping in Sydney. LOTS of fantastic people there. LOTS of fantastic gadgets there.

The people in Epping were responsible for most of the dish enhancements, specifically feedhorns. The Chaparral feedhorn. What is amazing to me is that a Dribble search pulls up no references to the development, of which I was a part.

Joe

Terry_VK5TM · 14th Jun 2017, 3:01 am

It is also a long way from 'the truth'.

https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Ast...1-Moon-landing

Notwithstanding that, yes, it was a very good movie.

Terry

G4YVM David · 14th Jun 2017, 6:54 pm

Ha, great film. I like aussie fillums, they do a proper job.

Brigham · 16th Jun 2017, 8:47 am

Aussie TV was also good, before it became heavily 'Americanized'.
At 15p (+£1.26 p&p), I've decided to give 'The Dish' a go!

Craig Sawyers · 16th Jun 2017, 9:05 am

"Halt, who goes there?"

"I'm not sure..."

Baaa

Argus25 · 16th Jun 2017, 10:10 am

Excellent Australian
movie, one of my top 10. Also of note, the CSIRO invented WiFi.

Argus25 · 16th Jun 2017, 10:15 am

Excellent Australisn movie, one of my top 10. Also of note, the CSIRO invented WiFi.

Nickthedentist · 16th Jun 2017, 10:45 am

Where are you, Guy?

13th Jun 2017, 12:39 pm	#1
PaulM Hexode Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Lincoln, UK. Posts: 483	The Dish - 2000 Going through some DVDs last night I came across what has to be one of my favourite films ever - 'The Dish'. Having watched it again I'm still impressed and I came to the forum to see what other folk think about it. To my great surprise, there's no entries other than a reference in a forum member's tag line. The rather uninspiring IMDB entry is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/ It's about the Australian Parkes Observatory involvement in the 1969 moon landing. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkes_Observatory OK, it stretches 'true story' to the limit, but it's a riot of working HP spec ans, nixie tubes and it all looks so plausible. I worked in ground station comms for a while in the late 1970s and I know that thrill of first acquisition which is brilliantly portrayed. It's also wickedly funny with Oz humour to the fore and some great period music. It completely captures the magic of 1969 and really underlines how boring things like that are now. I'm always amazed that so few tech/eng/sci friends have seen it and I don't think it's ever been on TV here? Anybody else seen it and have an opinion? Best regards, Paul M

13th Jun 2017, 12:56 pm	#2
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: The Dish - 2000 It's a bit of a hidden gem IMO. It very rarely gets a mention these days and is only shown once in a blue moon. Sam Neill is excellent, I like the way he plays his part quietly and with reserve. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

13th Jun 2017, 2:43 pm	#3
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: The Dish - 2000 One of my top 50 films. I haven't watched it for about 3 years but you've nudged me enough to watch it this weekend. I also love the comic touch, typical Oz humour. __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!

14th Jun 2017, 12:39 am	#4
joebog1 Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,704	Re: The Dish - 2000 I actually worked for the CSIRO -Division of Radio Physics in Epping in Sydney. LOTS of fantastic people there. LOTS of fantastic gadgets there. The people in Epping were responsible for most of the dish enhancements, specifically feedhorns. The Chaparral feedhorn. What is amazing to me is that a Dribble search pulls up no references to the development, of which I was a part. Joe

14th Jun 2017, 3:01 am	#5
Terry_VK5TM Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia Posts: 2,339	Re: The Dish - 2000 It is also a long way from 'the truth'. https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Ast...1-Moon-landing Notwithstanding that, yes, it was a very good movie. Terry

14th Jun 2017, 6:54 pm	#6
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: The Dish - 2000 Ha, great film. I like aussie fillums, they do a proper job.

16th Jun 2017, 8:47 am	#7
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,116	Re: The Dish - 2000 Aussie TV was also good, before it became heavily 'Americanized'. At 15p (+£1.26 p&p), I've decided to give 'The Dish' a go!

16th Jun 2017, 9:05 am	#8
Craig Sawyers Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 4,980	Re: The Dish - 2000 "Halt, who goes there?" "I'm not sure..." Baaa

16th Jun 2017, 10:10 am	#9
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: The Dish - 2000 Excellent Australian movie, one of my top 10. Also of note, the CSIRO invented WiFi.

16th Jun 2017, 10:15 am	#10
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: The Dish - 2000 Excellent Australisn movie, one of my top 10. Also of note, the CSIRO invented WiFi.

16th Jun 2017, 10:45 am	#11
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: The Dish - 2000 Where are you, Guy?