Hammers Over the Anvil (1994): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1994, Hammers Over the Anvil is a drama and romance film directed by Ann Turner, running about 97 minutes. “An aristocratic Englishwoman, an Australian horseman and a young boy on a journey towards the exciting but forbidden world of adults.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Set in the summer of 1910 in Australia the film follows the story of 14 year old Alan Marshall (Alexander Outhread) as he stumbles out of childhood towards the exciting yet forbidding world of adulthood. For Alan, despite the effects of polio, there is only one passion in life - to become a great horseman just like his hero, the reclusive horse trainer East Driscoll (Russell Crowe). Alan is one of East's few friends and also one of the few who knows about the affair between East and the aristocratic English woman Grace McAlister (Charlotte Rampling). Things inevitably take a turn towards the tragic when East becomes determined to force Grace to leave her husband and run away with him. Hammers Over The Anvil is an evocative coming of age film from Australian director Ann Turner.

Who’s in it. Hammers Over the Anvil stars Russell Crowe as East Driscoll, Charlotte Rampling as Grace McAlister, Alexander Outhread as Alan Marshall and Frankie J. Holden as Bushman Marshall, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.5/10, Hammers Over the Anvil has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. In AU you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Hammers Over the Anvil page.

If you liked it. Fans of Hammers Over the Anvil tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.