AustLit

The first film to trace the Gallipoli experiences of John Kikpatrick Simpson.

From a contemporary newspaper:

'Among the numberless deeds of heroism performed by the Anzacs at Gallipoli one figure stands out in dramatic distinctness in the person of Private W. Simpson, a Queenslander, who was attached to the 3rd Field Ambulance of the A.l.F. It will be remembered that in the earlier newspaper reports that came through the Identity of the hero was not established, and he was spoken of as 'Murphy' and as 'the man with the donkey. One English nowspaper in speaking of this gallant ambulance man stated that it was while endeavouring to save his 101th man that Simpson met his death. The story opens with the home life of 'Murphy' prior to his enlistment. Then follows the donning of the uniform, his departure for Egypt. A dramatic incident occurs on the troop ship to Galljpoli, which results in an encounter between Murpny, and a German spy. Then comes the landing. There follows in rapid succession the battle scenes at Gallipoli, all interspersed with Murphy's heroic deeds as calmly, and with true Australian 'don't care a-damnedness,' he carries on his labour of love in saving his wounded comrades with the help of his donkey, culminating with his death at ihe moment of his greatest deed wherein he endeavours to save no less than three wounded men at the one time.'

Source:

'Murphy of Anzac', Illawarra Mercury, 11 July 1916, p.2.

Perhaps Raymond Longford's most obscure film, this was said to have been released in support of The Sunny South; or The Whirlwind of Fate; to date, no advertisements or other ancillary material supporting its release have been traced.

Advertised as 'A Humorous Boxing Burlesque [...] Ridiculing all the training operations, viz., Running, Skipping, etc., etc., concluding with a Rattling Two-round Fight between PETER FELIX v. PORKY KEARNS'.

Source:

Advertisement, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 22 February 1915, p.8)

Advertised as a 'sensational drama of Australian life on the goldfields in the early days'.

Source:

'Pictoria', The Maitland Daily Mercury, 3 May 1915, p.7.

A slapstick comedy designed to showcase the 'Australian Charlie Chaplin'.

Young clergyman Cyril Maitland, engaged to a respectable young woman, falls in love with and impregnates Alma Lee. When her father finds out about the pregnancy, he attacks Maitland and is killed in a fall down the stairs, for which accident Maitland allows his best friend, Dr Henry Everard, to take the blame. Twenty years later, when Everard is released from prison, he seeks revenge on the unfaithful clergyman, now Dean Cyril Maitland.

According to the Daily News (Perth), 'This is a big Australian production, four acts, and a sermon, and when shown in Sydney at the Criterion Theatre a few months ago created universal interest' (Sat. 24 Oct. 1914, p.6). The following month, the same newspaper notes, 'The photographic and histrionic qualities of this production are excellent, the producer having not only kept closely to the text of the novel, but carefully selected his artists with a view to preserving the facial characteristics of the dramatis personae' (Mon. 2 Nov. 1914, p.4).

An adaptation of the 1886 novel The Silence of Dean Maitland by English novelist Mary Gleed Tuttiett (11 Dec 1846 - 21 Sep 1923), who wrote under the pen-name Maxwell Gray. The novel, a popular best-seller, had been made into a successful stage play in the late nineteenth century as The Silence of Dean Maitland and would be subsequently filmed in 1915 in the United States by John Ince (as Sealed Lips) and in 1934 in Australia by Ken G. Hall (as The Silence of Dean Maitland).

Longford's film is one of Australia's lost films.

The story is told via the framing narrative of a swagman, who comes across a honey-mooning couple whose car has broken down, and tells them the story of how he came to be a swagman:

The Longs are prosperous settlers at Woodstock, and they have one daughter, Nell. She becomes enamoured with George Corti, a young man from the city, His mother writes to Nell's parents asking them to allow her to pay a visit to Rose Bay. They consent, and Nell makes the trip. She eventually marries George, and the wedding ceremonies are carried out on an elaborate scale. Mrs Long decides to pay her daughter a visit, and she arrives when the wedding festivities are in full swing. She explains to the footman that she wants to see her daughter, and he delivers the message, but Nell is ashamed of her mother, now that her social position has improved, and the old lady leaves the place broken-hearted. She does not get far before she Is knocked down by a motor car, and taken to St. Vincent's Hospital. Her husband is telegraphed for, and he arrives just In time to see her breathe her last. (Herbert's Pictures')

Sources:

'Herbert's Pictures', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 17 March 1916, p.6.

'Princess Court Theatre', Morning Bulletin, 13 November 1916, p.4.

Adapted from a patriotic poem by an English railway porter, Henry Chappell (sometimes known as the Porter Poet), was a propaganda film presenting German brutalities in Belgium.

According to Pike and Cooper, actor Johnson Weir, who adapted the play for the screen, would recite the poem during screenings.

See also:

Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p.52.

'The spendthrift son of an English peer is financially embarrassed and his father sends him to Australia to make good. Before leaving for the Antipodes, the young man says goodbye to Zara, a music hall artist, with whom he has become infatuated, and a stormy scene takes place between him and the girl, who is angry at being "robbed" of what she considered to be a "desirable" husband. Keith, the young man in question, arrives on an Australian station and soon falls in love with the pretty daughter of the owner. He, however, incurs the hatred of a jealous overseer, and the latter resolves to make things uncomfortable for Keith. Zara follows the young baronet to Australia, and, by scheming, secures a position on the station as companion to Keith's sweetheart. The overseer and the actress meet and a vile plot is concocted, by which Keith and his lover become enstranged [sic]. The hero has an accident while out riding, his sweetheart goes to his assistance and they are captured by hostile blacks. The trio (including a blackboy), however, escape, and the blacks set out to destroy the homestead which they burn. In the flames Zara and the overseer meet their deaths, and virtue is triumphant and vice discomfited.'

Source:

'Electro Pictures', The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, 10 September 1915, p.4.

According to contemporary newspapers, 'This picture illustrates splendidly the comical features of a now-comer arriving in the Commonwealth.'

Source:

'All Australian Night', Warwick Examiner and Times, 6 June 1914, p.5. (Via trove Australia)

A lost film, set in the timber industry around Gosford and advertised as 'A Thrilling Story of the Australian Bush' and 'A Sensational Story of Love, Jealousy, and Revenge'.