The Pearlers (1949)

The Pearlers (1949) poster

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.

Director: Lee Robinson
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 11 min
Release Date:
Music: Dulcie Holland
Editing: Jack Rogers
Production: Australian National Film Board
Country: Australia
Language: English
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Lee Robinson
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Pearlers about?
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.
Who directed The Pearlers?
The Pearlers was directed by Lee Robinson.
How long is The Pearlers?
The Pearlers has a runtime of 11m (11 minutes).
What genre is The Pearlers?
The Pearlers is a Documentary film.
Where was The Pearlers produced?
The Pearlers was produced in Australia.