David Stratton, the esteemed Australian film critic and beloved co-host of television programmes The Movie Show and At The Movies with Margaret Pomeranz, has died aged 85. Stratton died in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains, his family confirmed in a statement to the ABC.
Born in the English town of Trowbridge in 1939, Stratton was sent to live with his grandmother during the second world war, who took him to the cinema almost every day. He moved to Australia in 1963 and became director of the Sydney film festival from 1966 until 1983, later becoming an Australian citizen in the 1980s. Stratton wrote reviews for The Australian and Variety, and joined SBS in 1980 as a film consultant, where he met Margaret Pomeranz.
Together they presented The Movie Show from 1986 to 2004, then moved to ABC with At The Movies, which ended in 2014. The pair were known for their contrasting tastes — Pomeranz favouring Hollywood blockbusters while Stratton admired more obscure European cinema. In 1992, Stratton refused to rate Romper Stomper, leading its director to throw wine in his face.
“David’s passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives,” his family said, encouraging the public to celebrate his life by watching his favourite film, Singin’ in the Rain. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, noting Stratton’s “dry humour and sharp insight”. Sydney film festival said the culture of cinema in Australia “would not exist as it does today” without him. SBS described his legacy as enduring “in every thoughtful review and every inspired viewer.”
