Mates from the Murrumbidgee is a 1911 Australian silent movie. It is considered a lost film and was arguably the first Australian war film, being set during the Boer War.[4][5]
| Mates from the Murrumbidgee | |
|---|---|
 Sunday Times 10 Sept 1911 | |
| Directed by | Alfred Rolfe |
| Starring | Charles Villiers |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 3,000 feet[3] |
| Country | Australia |
| Languages | Silent film English intertitles |
The movie was considered a financial success at the time.[6]
Plot
editJohn, James and Mary are school friends, who grow up near the Murrumbidgee River. As they grow up both John and James fall for Mary, but Mary loves John. John and James work as drovers then join the Australian Lighthorse during the Second Boer War, both fighting for the New South Wales Lancers. While fighting with the Boers, John is seriously wounded.[7] James comes back to Australia, says that John is dead, and marries Mary.[8]
Mary ends up poisoning herself and one of the friends shoots the other.[9]
The film includes a charge at Majuba Hill (even though that took place during the First Boer War). This was done "for the sake of the picturesque".[10]
Cast
editRelease and reception
editThe film was released on a double bill with Fighting Blood, an American Western.[12] It was accompanied by a lecturer who would explain the plot; for many screenings, this was the noted comedian Charles Woods.[3][13]
The Sun wrote, "The ingenuity displayed in the revelation of this story is remarkable. From a homestead on tho Murrumbldge one is carried to South Africa through some thrilling episodes of tho Boer War, and back again to Sydney."[14] The Colac Herald described the film as "a gem of its kind".[15] Punch said it "met with a tremendous reception, and showed that the locally produced films arc in no way inferior to the imported article. "[16] The Daily Telegraph said it "proved exceedingly popular."[17]
A 1923 article referred to the film being popular.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Victoria Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 9 September 1911. p. 13.
- ^ "Advertising". The Daily Telegraph. No. 10075. New South Wales, Australia. 11 September 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 30 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Advertising". The Sunday Times. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 10 September 1911. p. 2.
- ^ a b Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998. p. 23. ISBN 0195542134.
- ^ Vagg, S., & Reynaud, D. (2016). Alfred Rolfe: Forgotten pioneer Australian film director. Studies in Australasian Cinema, 10(2),184-198. doi:10.1080/17503175.2016.1170950.
- ^ "The Future of Australian Pictures AN INTERVIEW WITH ALEX. HELLMRICH.", Everyones., 4 (261 (4 March 1925)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 1920, nla.obj-559978517, retrieved 30 November 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Amusements". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 23 October 1911. p. 7 Edition: Daily.
- ^ "News in a Nutshell". The Blue Mountain Echo. Vol. III, no. 135. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Broadway Theatre". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 28 August 1911. p. 4.
- ^ "Dramatic Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 16 September 191. p. 41.
- ^ "ENGLISH AMUSEMENT COMPANY". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 21 October 1911. p. 5 Edition: Daily.
- ^ "Victoria Theatre". The Sunday Times. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 10 September 1911. p. 2.
- ^ "STRUTTER'S RAGE". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Vol. 14, no. 51. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "MAKING MOVING PICTURES". The Sun. No. 365. New South Wales, Australia. 30 August 1911. p. 5 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Notes and Events". The Colac Herald. National Library of Australia. 22 December 1911. p. 2.
- ^ "THE PLAYGOER". Punch. Vol. CXV, no. 2929. Victoria, Australia. 14 September 1911. p. 40. Retrieved 30 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE VICTORIA". The Daily Telegraph. No. 10081. New South Wales, Australia. 18 September 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "DRAGGING UP THE PAST". Smith's Weekly. Vol. IV, no. 48. New South Wales, Australia. 20 January 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 30 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.