Red Sky at Morning is a 1944 Australian melodrama set during the 19th century based on a play by Dymphna Cusack.
It features an early screen performance by Peter Finch, who plays a convict who falls in love with the wife of a sea captain.
The film was based on the play of the same name by Dymphna Cusack which had been given amateur performances on stage but had been produced several times professionally on radio, as well as published in 1942.
The general manager was Hartney Arthur who announced in early 1943 the company planned to make six films, starting with Red Sky at Morning.
"[4] Arthur elaborated that “Austral-Americans think this film, dealing as it does with the early Australian background, will give the American people an understanding of this country.
[13] The company intended to follow Red Sky at Morning with another film, Eureka Stockade, but this was never made.
Smith's Weekly reported that Wharton said the film "is ha'ving certain minor alterations and is expected to be ready for a private screening of syndicate members any day.
Kinematograph Weekly called the movie: Heavy and vague in plot, badly acted, crudely dialogued and staged with touching economy, it fails utterly to justify its lengthy journey from 'Down Under.'
The story is weak, the settings are extremely monotonous, being almost entirely restricted to the interior of a house, and all the sound effects come from "off stage".
Rushmer arranged for several changes to be made by Sydney filmmaker James Pearson, including a new opening and ending.