David Stratton (1939-2025)
Dear moviegoers and fellow critics, it is with a heavy heart that I must convey the unfortunate news that has led us to this point. David Stratton, 85, a veteran film critic, writer, and lecturer known for his decades-long collaboration with Margaret Pomeranz on Australian television, has passed away. I never had the chance to meet him in person, but I wish I had because I would have loved to chat with him about his style of film critique.
David Stratton was born in England in 1939. He immigrated to Australia in 1963 as part of an initiative known as the 'Ten Pound Poms' migration scheme. His passion for film began in his youth and blossomed into a career that garnered acclaim from the industry's most renowned figures.
Between 1984 and 2004, he appeared alongside Margaret Pomeranz on SBS's "The Movie Show," using a format popularised by US film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Together, the duo became a fixture of Australian culture, regularly appearing on screen to offer their opinions even though many viewers had no intention of watching the films in question. In particular, the disagreements between Strattom and Pomeranz proved memorable – to the extent that viewers identified as either a "David person" or a "Margaret person."
In 2004, Stratton and Pomeranz began hosting "At the Movies" on ABC, a role they held for a decade before stepping down in 2014.
In 2015, Stratton earned the title Member of the Order of Australia. However, among his many achievements, arguably the one he was most proud of was his lifelong battle against movie censorship, which he fought long after ceasing to appear on the Australian screen.
After 30 years of hosting TV programmes, 35 years teaching world cinema at the University of Sydney, and 33 years writing reviews for The Weekend Australian, Stratton announced his retirement in 2023 due to poor health.
Here is a clip of his infamous review of "The Castle."
