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The Tenth Straw

Summary

The Tenth Straw is a 1926 Australian silent film heavily inspired by the novel For the Term of His Natural Life. Little is known of the director and cast, but most of the film survives today.[4]

The Tenth Straw
Directed byRobert G. McAnderson
CinematographyClaud C. Carter
Production
companies
Broadway Theatres Limited[1]
Pacific Films[2]
Release date
27 March 1926[3]
Running time
six reels
CountryAustralia
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

Plot edit

Aristocrat Bruce Lowe is convicted for a crime he did not commit and is transported from England to Australia. An army officer, Matthew Marr, pretends to be a friend of Lowe's to gain access to his fortune and seduce his sister, Marie.

On board ship, Lowe stands up to a bully and gains a friend in Richard Groves. Lowe escapes from prison, and heads to the bush.

Some aboriginals discover a goldfield. Lowe proves his innocence, and Marr is arrested.[5][6]

Cast edit

  • Peggy Paul as Marie Lowe[7]
  • Ernest Lauri as Bruce Lowe
  • James Cornell as Matthew Marr
  • Jack Fisher as Richard Groves
  • Syd Everett as Bully Carey
  • Robert Ball as Tiddley Harris
  • Robert G. McAnderson as Major Orville

Production edit

Ernest Lauri was a Brisbane actor and singer.[8][9] Lauri would appear at cinemas showing the film and appear in a live prologue.[10]

The film was mostly shot on Sydney Harbour and in the National Park.[11] Prison scenes were shot at a Veterans' Home on Bear Island.[12]

Reception edit

Contemporary reviews noted the similarities of the story to For the Term of His Natural Life.[13]

The Daily Telegraph said the film "proves definitely that Australia can produce a motion picture that can hold Its own with the best produced in other parts of the world."[14]

The Brisbane Sunday Mail said "there is not one objectionable feature in the whole six reels. The predominating note is one of kindness and sympathy. True, it has its fighting reels, and real fights, too, while the love interest is ever present."[15]

Everyone's said "Evidently there has been no great expense incurred in its making, and the many crudities will not pass un-noticed, but it has the saving grace of interest ,and will be followed attentively from the first to the last reel."[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Another Australian Film Production", Everyones., 4 (290 (23 September 1925)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-570517896, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
  2. ^ "Advertising", Everyones., 5 (317 (31 March 1926)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-577676839, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
  3. ^ "EMPRESS THEATRE". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 27 March 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  4. ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 130.
  5. ^ "MAJESTIC THEATRE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 19 July 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b "SYNEY'S RECENT FILM RELEASES", Everyones., 5 (317 (31 March 1926)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-577676871, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
  7. ^ "THIS WEEK'S PICTURES". Evening News. No. 18333. New South Wales, Australia. 25 March 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "AUSTRALIAN MOVIES". The Telegraph. No. 16, 475. Queensland, Australia. 19 September 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ ""The Singing Anzac" In Brisbane After Nine Years' Absence". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 23 October 1937. p. 9 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "TIVOLI THEATRE". Queensland Times. Vol. LXIX, no. 13, 277. Queensland, Australia. 15 October 1928. p. 2 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "PERSONAL". The Daily Mail. No. 7351. Queensland, Australia. 19 September 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "ENTERTAINMENTS". Queensland Times. Vol. LXIX, no. 13, 276. Queensland, Australia. 13 October 1928. p. 14 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Tropical Theatre, Monday". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 26 September 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  14. ^ "EMPRESS THEATRE". The Daily Telegraph. No. 14, 446. New South Wales, Australia. 29 March 1926. p. 11. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "THE MAJESTIC". Sunday Mail. No. 216. Queensland, Australia. 17 July 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

External links edit