<P> According to Geoff Burrowes, the idea to make the film came at a dinner party when someone suggested the poem would make a good movie . Burrowes developed a treatment with George Miller then hired John Dixon to write a screenplay . All three men had worked together in television; another former TV colleague, Simon Wincer, became involved as executive producer with Michael Edgley and succeeded in raising the budget . </P> <P> The screenplay contains numerous references to Banjo Paterson, aside from using his poem "The Man from Snowy River" as the source material and his inclusion as a character in the film . For example, the numerous references to the late Matilda are likely a reference to the song "Waltzing Matilda", which was written by Paterson . In addition, the melody for "Waltzing Matilda" can be heard near the end of the film . A Bible Passage from Genesis 30: 27, which talks about cattle, goats, and sheep is read aloud in a scene in the middle of the film . </P> <P> The film was not shot in the actual Snowy Mountains but in the Victorian High Country near Mansfield, Victoria, where Burrowes' wife's family had lived for several generations, which was logistically easier. Burt Lancaster and Robert Mitchum were considered for the dual role of Harrison and Spur before Kirk Douglas was cast in the roles . </P> <P> Tom Burlinson has confirmed that it was definitely him who rode the horse down the side of the mountain for the "terrible descent" during the dangerous ride--commenting that he had been asked about this numerous times, and that he became known as "The Man from Snowy River" because of his ride . Burlinson had ridden a horse only a few times before being cast in the film . He was taught to ride by mountain cattleman Charlie Lovick, who owned the buckskin horse Burlinson rode in the film . Gerald Egan doubled for Burlinson for several riding shots in the film, including the jump into the "terrible descent". Other moments in the film such as when Jim is thrown over the fence into the path of the brumbies were performed by professional stunt men . Nevertheless, Burlinson did much more of the action riding in the film than an actor normally would, including all the profile shots of the downhill ride . </P>

Where was a man from snowy river filmed