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Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988) is a 47-minute documentary film about the introduction of Cane Toads to Australia. Cane Toads were introduced to Australia with the aim of controlling a sugar cane pest, the cane beetle, but they over-multiplied and became a serious problem in the Australian ecosystem. It is often humorous, and is used in high schools and colleges as a complement to curricula in biology, ecology, environmental science, anthropology, geography, and communication. It was filmed in Cairns and Gordonvale in Queensland.
The film was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Short Film. It is distributed in the United States by Radio Pictures.
Unusual for a film considered a cult classic, Cane Toads performed very well during its theatrical release. For almost 20 years Cane Toads: An Unnatural History held the title of top grossing non-IMAX documentary for the Australian box office. It remains easily in the top ten today even with the IMAX films included. Released in March 1988, it is recorded as bringing in $613,910 Australian dollars (not adjusted for inflation).
Original Release
06/09/1988
US Release
09/30/1988
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Tip Byrne | Himself / Self - Cane Farmer from Tully |
| H.W. Kerr | Himself / Self - Director of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, 1933-1943 |
| Glen Ingram | Himself / Self - Senior Curator Amphibia and Birds, Queensland Museum |
| Bill Freeland | Self - Wildlife Research Officer, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory |
| E.S. Edgerton | Self - Former Member Cane Pest Board |
| Pat White | Self - Cane Farmer from Gordonvale |
| John Oakes | Self - Resident of Cairns |
| Patrick Cook | Self - Social Commentator |
| David Sondergard | Self - Resident of Gordonvale |
| Rob Floyd | Self - Animal Ecologist |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Tip Byrne | Himself / Self - Cane Farmer from Tully |
| H.W. Kerr | Himself / Self - Director of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, 1933-1943 |
| Glen Ingram | Himself / Self - Senior Curator Amphibia and Birds, Queensland Museum |
| Bill Freeland | Self - Wildlife Research Officer, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory |
| E.S. Edgerton | Self - Former Member Cane Pest Board |
| Pat White | Self - Cane Farmer from Gordonvale |
| John Oakes | Self - Resident of Cairns |
| Patrick Cook | Self - Social Commentator |
| David Sondergard | Self - Resident of Gordonvale |
| Rob Floyd | Self - Animal Ecologist |
| Elvie Grieg | Self - Resident of Redcliffe |
| Max Ackland | Self - Mulgrave Shire Council |
| Brian Hawke | Self - Binding Conservator, National Library |
| Bob Endean | Self - Associate Professor of Zoology, Queensland University |
| Mike Archer | Self - Associate Professor of Zoology, University of N.S.W. |
| Edgar | Self - Resident of Brisbane |
| Anonymous | Self - Cane Toad Drug Abuser, Resident of Mullumbimby |
| Bill Lane | Self - Lecturer in Law, Queensland University |
| Syd Churchill | Self - Cairns Police |
| Paul De Vine | Self - President North Queensland Aquarium Society |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Tristram Miall | Executive Producer |
