AustLit

'The hero of the story, Jack Glenster, son of Farmer Glenster is in love with the squire's daughter, Dorothy. Her cousin, Ralph, proposes to her, but is rejected, and, apprehending trouble, Jack and she decide to elope. Once over the English border, the pair seek a friendly blacksmith, and a romantic marriage is celebrated by that important individual. Dorothy's father reaches the scene a few minutes too late, and In his rage he disinherits her. Bad seasons fall on the land, and Jack's father gets behind in his rent. Leaving his young wife with his parents, Jack ships to Australia, and in the same vessel meets his wife's cousin, Ralph. The latter, having been hard pressed by moneylenders, had attempted to steal money from the squire's safe, but had been caught In the act, and ordered to leave the house, hence his appearance in the ship. Once in Australia, Jack, to use an American phrase, 'makes good,' and is journeying to Sydney to meet his wife and his aged parents, who are to settle on the land, and who have written to say they are journeying in the Dunbar. During his journey he is 'stuck up' by bushrangers, one of whom is the worthless Ralph, and who in a subsequent fight is killed. Mistaking the Gap for the Sydney Heads, the Dunbar is dashed on the rocks, and only one survivor lives, to tell the tale. Arriving on the scene, Jack offers to perform the feat of descending the cliff to rescue the survivor. This he accomplishes after a great struggle, and finds that he is the squire's old servant, who brings a message of forgiveness. Jack at the same time learns that his people did not sail ln the Dunbar, and soon all are reunited in the old home.'

Source:

'The Wreck of the Dunbar', The Daily News, 16 October 1912, p.4.

'John, a newly released ticket-of-leave man, comes to the aid of Lady Norton, who has sustained a motor accident. In her sweet face he sees his ideal, but he also recognises the great gulf between them. Passing along he meets his two old accomplices, Yellow Rose, a pretty girl, and Milton. Yellow Rose is deeply in love with John and she persuades him to plan an attempt to rob the bank. That night, while Milton is on watch outside, the girl and the man enter the strong room. John is about to open the safe when his fingers touch the card given him by Lady Norton. Instantly he decides to go straight, and turning away refuses to carry out the crime. Yellow Rose commits the burglary and hides the bonds behind a loose board in a fence.

'The next morning, John and his friends are seated in a low thieves kitchen when the police raid the premises. The scene is instantly one of confusion, and in the melee the three escape. This, combined with other experiences, makes John more than ever determined to live a self-respecting life and ultimately succeeds in persuading the other two to do likewise. Yellow Rose becomes a servant, Milton a porter, while John joins an engineering firm and rapidly rises to eminence.

'Two years pass and John is passionately in love with Lady Norton, and his affection is reciprocated. Only one cloud mars the horizon—Detective Barley, believing the bank robbery to have been committed by John, still seeks to trace him. His suspicions rest upon 'Mr. Warming,' the eminent engineer, but the latter foils him at every point.

'Meanwhile, Yellow Rose, pining for John's love, is on her death-bed, and wishing to clear up the matter of the stolen bonds, she writes to John asking him to visit her. He does so but, dropping the letter, it is found by Lady Norton, who follows him.

'The detective is also on the look-out, and thinking he has cornered his prey, rushes to make the arrest. But Yellow Rose confesses that she stole the bonds and hid them. Both men make their way to the place indicated and there find the stolen notes. They return to Yellow Rose to find her soul has passed into the Great Unknown.'

Source: 'The Ticket of Leave Man', The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser, 22 July 1913, p.2.

An adaptation of Dion Boucicault's melodrama about the Fenians in Ireland.

'Two orphans, Jennie and Roy, leave the diggings after the death of their father. They tramp along the bush roads towards Sydney, intending to seek their relations. Roy, a delicate boy, becomcs exhausted, and Jennie conveys him to a digger's hut, where he dies. Jennie changes into his clothes, fearing to face the rough people of that wild district. The diggers, returning to their hut, are astonished to find it occupied, and console the bereaved boy (as they believe Jennie to be). They bury Roy, and afterwards prevail on Jennie to stay with them and be useful as their boy. Jennie soon finds herself in love with the kind Harold, who shows his store of gold, and promises to share it with the boy. Jennie keeps her sex a secret, and eventually the hut is robbed and Jennie kidnapped, and the diggers discovering the robbery, think the boy is the culprit, until they find other evidence; The after events come fast and exciting. The diggers chase the robbers and kill one, but Sleath, the chief villian [sic] escapes with Jennie, on whom he finds valuable papers. He takes her to Sydney, promising to restore her to her people, but in reality to blackmail them. How Jennie escapes helped by Tess and Toggles, Sydney children, and how, the love that rules the world brings two lives together, and supplies many humorous and tragic scenes, the picture graphically tells.'

Source:

'A Daughter of Australia', Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail, 29 June 1912, p.2.

'A drama teeming with thrilling situations, with the orthodox tale of love and hate skilfully interwoven in a network of crime and intrigue, it could not fail to attract. The escape, in an open boat, of the hero from the French penal settlement at New Caledonia, and his rescue in mid-ocean by a British man-of-war formed the incidents on which the story turned.'

Source:

'Lyric Pictures', The Advertiser, 10 February 1912, p.17.

'Briefly, the story is woven round James Hare, a young married man, who has the habit of gambling, and through this vice loses his position. He secures a ticket in Tatt's on the Adelaide Cup, and is lucky in drawing the favorite. He interviews Fallows, the owner of the favorite, and lays two-thirds of the sweep money with him. The horse wins, and after Hare secures the prize money, he goes to Fallows' house to celebrate the occasion. He there meets Mrs. Fallows, and Wynne, and friends of Fallows. Wine and cards are introduced, and Hare becomes intoxicated, and falls asleep on a couch in the room. Later a quarrel ensues between Fallows and Wynne, and Fallows, in the heat of passion, murders Wynne; realising what he had done, he places the knife all stained with blood in Hare's hand, and leaves the room. Hare, on awakening from his drunken stupor, finds Wynne lying dead on the floor, and on finding the knife in his hands, thinks he has committed the crime. Fallows enters the room, and accuses Hare of the deed, and suggests that Hare should write and tell his wife, and leave the district. Fallow starts to lead a double life, which gives his wife room for suspicion on his movements. She decides to follow him, and finding Fallow in another woman's company, accosts him. Fallow resents, and 'knocks her' down with a stick, and but for the occupants of an electric tram passing, would have killed her. Hare, away from home, has the one desire–to see his wife and child. He dreams of them nightly, and finally decides to go back and see them and risk all chances. He arrives home, but is arrested five minutes after arrival. Fallow's wife becomes seriously ill from the effects of the blow she received from Fallow, and believing herself near unto death, confesses that Hare was innocent and that her husband murdered Wynne. Fallow is tried and convicted, and pays the penalty, while Hare is restored once more to his wife and child.'

Source:

'Amusements. Lenard's Pictures', Barrier Miner, 30 September 1911, p.5.

Film adaptation of Dion Boucicault's popular stage melodrama.

A young Englishman is wrongfully convicted and transported to Norfolk Island, but the Englishwoman who loves him manages to secure his pardon and release.

Bushranger drama.