The Sentimental Bloke - 1919

Country: Australia
Language: English
Director: Raymond Longford
Writers: C.J. Dennis (poem); Raymond Longford (writer); Lottie Lyell (writer)
Cast: Arthur Tauchert ...The Bloke; Lottie Lyell...Doreen; Gilbert Emery...Ginger Mick; Stanley Robinson...The Bloke's Friend; Harry Young...The Stror 'at Coot; Margaret Reid..Mother; Charles Keegan...Parson; William Coulter...Uncle Jim; Helen Fergus...Nurse; C.J. Dennis...Himself
Filming Locations: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (shots of sunsets & sunrises for the intertitles); Bondi, New South Wales, Australia (interiors) (open air sets); Hornsby Valley, New South Wales, Australia (orchard scenes) (near Sydney); Manly Beach, Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; New South Wales, Australia; Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (as Royal Botanical Gardens); South Australia, Australia (shots of sunsets & sunrises for the intertitles); Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Wonderland City, Bondi, New South Wales, Australia (interiors) (open air sets); Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Production Co: Southern Cross Feature Film Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, the writers/directors/stars were the most successful film partnership in Australia at the time. This film broke all existing box office records after debuting on October 4 1919 at Melbourne Town Hall in Victoria.
In 1915 C.J.Dennis published a collection of poems telling the story of "The Sentimental Bloke". The poems are spoken by the Bloke himself, telling of his meeting with the girl who wins his heart, his courtship and marriage.
This black and white movie of the silent era captures the spirit of the poetry exactly. Near the beginning are the memorable words- 'The World 'as got me snouted, jist a treat! Cruel Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul, And all them Joys o' Life I 'eld so sweet Is up tha pole!
We soon have our Hero proclaiming-'Er name's Doreen! Well, spare me bloomin' days! You could've knocked me down wiv 'alf a brick