<P> Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller , produced by Byron Kennedy , and starring Mel Gibson as `` Mad '' Max Rockatansky , Joanne Samuel , Hugh Keays - Byrne , Steve Bisley , Tim Burns , and Roger Ward . James McCausland and Miller wrote the screenplay from a story by Miller and Kennedy . The film presents a tale of societal collapse , murder , and revenge set in a future Australia , in which an unhinged policeman becomes embroiled in a violent feud with a savage motorcycle gang . Principal photography took place in and around Melbourne , Australia , and lasted six weeks . </P>
when was the first mad max movie release
1979