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The Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's Wedding

The Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's Wedding is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely. The plot concerns the shipwreck of the Dunbar, one of Australia's worst maritime disasters. It is considered a lost film.

The Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's Wedding
The Sun 9 June 1912
Directed byGaston Mervale
Written byP.W. Marony[1]
StarringLouise Lovely
Production
company
Universal Films Ltd
Release date
  • 1912 (1912)
Running time
3,500 feet[2]
CountryAustralia
Languages

Plot

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Jack Glenster, son of Farmer Glenster, is in love with Dorothy, daughter of the squire. She rejects a marriage proposal from her cousin, Ralph, and decids to elope with Jack.

The two leave England and are married by a friendly blacksmith. Dorothy's father finds out and disineheits her. Jack's father falls behind on his rent.

Jack leaves Dorothy with his parents and travels to Australia on a ship also carrying Ralph. Ralph, heavily in debt, had tried to steal from the squire, been caught in the act, and ordered to leave.

In Australia, Jack makes his fortune. His wife and parents sail out to Sydney on the Dunbar. Jack travels to Sydney to meet them. He is held up by bushrangers, who include Ralph, who is killed by Winnie, the squatter's daughter.

The Dunbar crashes on the rocks outside Sydney and only one survivor lives. Jack rescues the sole survivor and finds out he is the squire's old servant, who brings a message of forgiveness. Jack discovers his wife and parents did not sail on the Dunbar after all and returns home to be reunited with them. [3][4]

A contemporary advertisement claimed the film featured the following scenes:

  • the Old English home;
  • the Love Intense;
  • the terrific struggle, man to man;
  • two thrilling Australian Scenes;
  • the terrible gap;
  • the doomed ship;
  • the wreck of the Dunbar in all its awful realism;
  • the rescue of the sole survivor;
  • the daring feat performed on the actual spot.[5]

"The Yeoman's Wedding" was "the romance surrounding the wreck".[6]

Cast

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Referee 29 May 1912
  • Louise Lovely
  • Martin Keith[7]

Production

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The film was the sole feature produced by Universal Films Ltd, a company formed in Sydney in May 1912 (which had no connection to the Hollywood Studio of the same name). It took over the assets of American Australasian Film Service and Australian Life Biograph Company with the intention of producing and importing movies, and J.S. McCullough to be manager and Sir Albert Gould chairman of directors.[8][9]

Reception

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The film appears to have been successful, running for three weeks in Sydney.[10]

The Sun said the film "is admirable in every way."[1]

The Evening News said "It is an excellent production, and for over an hour It kept many persons interested... Repeatedly there was applause but the scene at the South Head Gap came In for special recognition."[11]

A few years after the film was released the sole survivor of the Dunbar died.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "FILM FACTS and FANCIES". Sun. 16 June 1912 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 16 October 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ^ ""THE WRECK OF THE DUNBAR,"". The Daily News. Vol. XXXI, no. 11, 646. Western Australia. 16 October 1912. p. 4 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Wreck of the Dunbar". Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail. No. 1533. South Australia. 10 August 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 7 June 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Wreck of the Dunbar". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 28 August 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "ROMANCE OF THE SURF". The Newcastle Sun. No. 4732. New South Wales, Australia. 8 February 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "UNIVERSAL FILMS, LTD". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 23 March 1912. p. 23. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  9. ^ "PLAYS PLAYERS VAUDEVILLE & MOTION PICTURES". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 18 May 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  10. ^ "ENTERTAINMENTS". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 16 October 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  11. ^ "WRECK OF THE DUNBAR". Evening News. No. 14, 038. New South Wales, Australia. 5 June 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "The Dunbar's Sole Survivor". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 15 April 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
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