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'Many of the scenes in the story are taken onboard the Australian flagship Australia, and under Its frowning 12in guns the hero lieutenant and his sweetheart, pledge their troth. There is another officer also in love with the girl, and his jealousy leads to a bitter revenge. The events whlch follow show an attempt to steal certain details of a new explosive, and an abduction. Dave Smith, the Australian champion pugilist, takes part in the picture, and he is seen in a rescue scene of exciting situations. The appearance of a strange cruiser, the firing of a submarine mine, and the speeding of the fastest craft in Australian waters, is a prelude to the Australia being seen in action, and the 12in guns In play, and the destruction of the mysterious war-ship. The final scene is a naval wedding on Garden Island.'
Source:
'Paradise Pictures', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 23 December 1913, p.6.
The production company released the following list of scenes in the film:
- the sailor and his lass.
- the shadow of the 12in. guns (H.M.A.S. Australia)
- the new explosive,
- the spy
- the stolen plan from chart room H.M.A.S. Australia
- attempted robbery
- a well-known Australian pugilist to the rescue
- kidnapped
- black treachery
- the submarine mine
- the fastest craft in Australian waters
- the chase
- H.M.A.S. Australia in action
- the 12-in. guns in play
- the destruction of the mysterious warship by the 12in guns of H.M.A.S. Australia
- the secret safe
- Australia's own
Source:
'An Up-to-Date Film', Barrier Miner, 24 November 1913, p.6.
Notes
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According to actor Eric Howell, reminiscing twenty years after the film's release, '"Sea Dogs of Australia" was being shown in Sydney in August 1914. It was withdrawn by order of the Minister for Defence. Some of the scenes had actually been photographed on H.M.A.S. Australia and it might have been dangerous to allow the detail of the ship to be seen.' ('Early Australian Films: Actor's Reminiscences', Sydney Morning Herald, 29 January 1934, p.6.)