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Reportedly based on real events that occurred in America, the story sees hunchbacked musician Peter Wallace marry blind singer Helen Raymond. When Helen regains her sight following the birth of her child she realises that Peter has a physical disability, and leaves him. Fearing that their child will inherit his difference, she abandons the baby at a convent with nothing else but a violin. The child is raised by the nuns, who call her 'just Peggy' and grows into a beautiful young woman. Having inherited her father's musical ability, and not his physical difference, her talent is developed through training paid for by impresario Frank Leighton. Meanwhile her mother has become a well-known opera singer.
When Peter is brought in to conduct an orchestra supporting Helen, she recognises him and faints. Upon awakening Helen, reconciles with Peter and the pair decide to search for their child. In an accident of fortune, Peggy is engaged as a violinist with the orchestra and Peter recognises her violin. The family is re-united and Peggy in turn marries Frank.
[Source: PIke and Cooper. Australian Film 1900 - 1977, (1980), pp.106-107]
Notes
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Distribution of the film was handled by Quality Features, a company owned by J. A. Lipman.
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The incidents in the film's story were reportedly brought to J. A. Lipman's attenion by Austraian cartoonist Harry Julius while both men were in America. Upon his return to Australia Lipman devloped the screenplay especially for Irish actress Sarah Allgood, who was then touring the country.
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For the production Lipman co-founded the company, Mia Films (Mia being an acronym for 'made in Australia') and built a small outdoor studio at Seaforth on Sydney's north shore. Additional scenes were shot on location at nearby Palm Beach and Manly. Although the film became popular with both audiences and critics, and in fact made a solid profit, Lipman somewhat surprisingly decided not to continue making films but rather turned his attention to other areas of the film industry.
Production Details
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Writing Disability in Australia
Type of disability Blindness (temporary); kyphosis (curvature of the spine). Type of character Primary. Point of view Third person.
