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

Robbery Under Arms - 1920

Country: Australia
Director: Kenneth Brampton
Writers: Rolf Boldrewood (novel), Kenneth Brampton
Stars: Jackie Anderson, Vera Archer and Kenneth Brampton
Release Date: 2 October 1920 (Australia)
Production Co: Pacific Photo Plays
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Continuity: When Warrigal sees the troopers arriving to thwart the stage robbery, only three are seen riding up. However, five troopers arrive at the stage coach. Three troopers are seen riding to the gold fields to look for the Marsdens. The shot of these troopers is just a continuation of the shot used for the three troopers arriving at the stagecoach hold-up. When the troopers arrive at the tent, the number of troopers has dropped to two, one of whom is now an officer (white pants).
Plot Keywords: Remake | Based On Novel
Genres: Drama
Kenneth Brampton was one of many Australian film-makers who appeared and disappeared quickly on the silent film scene in Australia. Film distribution was controlled largely by the American studios, and Australian films had real trouble getting a look-in. As a result many great talents were wasted. Kenneth Brampton seems to be one of these - because this film is really very good.
It's a bush-ranging yarn, very popular at the time, about Captain Starlight, played well by Brampton himself, and his co-horts the Marsden family. Dick Marsden is especially well played by Roland Conway, who is the quintessential Aussie bloke.
But it is the excellent cinematography, lovingly filming the Australian bush, that really shines here - and Brampton's strong sense of narrative, perhaps from his stage background, keeps the story moving at a great pace. You'll really feel for the characters - and there is some fabulous surreal stuff toward the end. This is a gem of an Australian silent film

For The Term of His Natural Life - 1927

Country: Australia
Filming Locations: Berrima, New South Wales, Australia
Director: Norman Dawn
Writers: Marcus Clarke (novel), Norman Dawn (adaptation)
Stars: George Fisher, Eva Novak and Dunstan Webb
Switch me back to the normal player

This is the greatest of all Australian Silent films. Made just before the advent of synchronised sound, this film had a limited period of commercial viabilty before it dissapeared from sight. Based on the serialised novel by Marcus Clarke, this was the most expensive film produced in Australia at the time. It costed 50,000 pounds when the average Australian film was made for around 1000 pounds.
Based on the Australian classic by Marcus Clarke, the story of convict Rufus Dawe was based on fact and reflects that of many convicts of Australia's early days. Rufus Dawe has been wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, and sent to the harsh penal colony of Van Diemen's Land, Australia - for the term of his natural life. In his attempts to escape the colony forever, he falls in love with a warden's daughter, Sylvia, confronts his sinister lookalike John Rex, and the evil convict Gabbet. American director Norman Dawn's movie adaptation strays from the original book but retains a strong visual style, especially in climactic crowd scenes. It is notorious as the movie that was meant to launch Australia into the world movie market, but instead cost investors thousands after the coming of sound stymied its potential for overseas success.