The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang (1912 film)

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The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang
Life Story of John Lee.png
The Sun 12 Sept 1917
Directed byRobert Scott [1]
Written by Philip Lytton [2]
Based onplay The Man They Could Not Hang by Claude Murrell (or Frank Davenport)
Produced byPhilip Lytton
StarringMervyn Barrington
CinematographyHerbert Finlay [3] [4]
Distributed by Arthur W. Sterry and Frederick Haldane (1917 onwards)
Release date
Running time
four reels [2] or 3,500 feet [8]
CountryAustralia
Languages Silent film
English intertitles
Budget£300 [9] [1]
Box office£50,000 [10] [11] or £20,000 [9]

The Life Story of John Lee, or the Man They Could Not Hang is a 1912 Australian silent film based on a stage play about the true life story of John Babbacombe Lee.

Contents

Its original title was In the Shadow of the Scaffold, or The Man They Could Not Hang but is better known under the later title.

The film was the first of three (to date) on this story, and is considered a lost film.

It is one of the most profitable early Australian films ever made. According to one writer, "The man who produced it never made any money, but the person to whom he sold it did. He would not call it a good picture; the title drew the public. It was a self-advertised film by reason of the history attached to it." [1]

In 1920 The Bulletin called it "rather crude, but highly popular." [12]

Plot

John Lee returns home to Babbacombe after a number of years service in the navy. He becomes engaged to his childhood sweetheart Kate Merton but his rival, Fred Masterville, tries to frame him by depositing twenty pounds in his bed. However he is stopped when Lee's friend Dicky Dood sees this and takes the money for his own use.

Masterville breaks into Miss Cleveden's house with an accomplice, Jim Wells, intending to commit robbery. He is spotted by Miss Cleveden and kills her, putting the bloodstained knife in Lee's room. Wells accidentally sets fire to the room. Lee is arrested, tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Three times he is taken to the scaffold but three times it fails.

Lee is given a life sentence. Masterville presses his claim but Kate remains true. Twenty two years later Masterville and Wells are caught attempting to rob Kate's house. Wells turns in Masterville, Lee is released and marries his old sweetheart. [13]

Cast

Original Release: In the Shadow of the Scaffold

Newcastle Herald 11 November 1912 Shadow of Scaffold.png
Newcastle Herald 11 November 1912

The film was reportedly based on a popular four-act play, The Man They Could Not Hang , which was adapted from Lee's true life story. (Another account says Lytton based the script on a book. A book of the story was extensively serialised in Australian newspapers in 1910.) [2]

Frank Davenport, an Australian actor based in New Zealand said he read a copy of the book in New Zealand and decided to adapt it into a play. He fictionalised details - Davenport claimed it was he who added the love interest, a fight and the ending where the government compensated Lee. Davenport toured the play through New Zealand and Australia. [16]

The play was performed through Australia in 1911 by the Curran, Devonport, and Armitago Dramatic Company. [17] They appeared to produce it until around March 1912. [18] According to one actor who appeared in the touring production of the stage play, "the weird horror drew the backblocks better than Hamlet." [19]

Davenport says he told rights in the play in Sydney to Philip Lytton for "a very satisfactory figure" but said "the mistake I made was to let the film rights slip through my fingers." [16] Lytton's company performed it from 1912 onwards. At one stage Lytton wanted to bring Lee to Australia on a lecture tour but Lee was too ill. [20] Davenport says Lytton sold the rights to the play himself for thousands of pounds. [16]

Film Version

Lytton occasionally made films and produced a movie version of the play. It is likey the cast would have been drawn from the stage production. The director was Robert Scott, who played Dicky Dood in the stage version. [21] Scott later gave evidence at the 1927 Royal Commission into Film. Scott said "He would not call it a good picture; the title drew the public. It was a self-advertised film by reason of the history attached to it." [1]

The film appears to have been first screened at the Alhambra Theatre in Sydney in late October 1912 under the title In the Shadow of the Scaffold, or The Man They Could Not Hang and it was 3,000 feet long. [22] [23] [24]

Mr Barrington, who played the title role, lectured. [8] [25] This movie toured through Australia in 1913. [26] [27]

During this time Lytton continued to tour the play as well. [28] (Peter Savieri's company toured with a version of the story in 1914. [29] )

Sterry and Haldane release

Dungog Chronicle 21 Nov 1916 Man they could not hang.png
Dungog Chronicle 21 Nov 1916
Sydney Sun 9 Sept 1917 Man Could Not Hang 1917.png
Sydney Sun 9 Sept 1917

According to Alex Hellmrich, once the film was completed, Lytton turned down an offer of £900 for the film. Then "some months later he made it a present to Messrs. [Frederick] Haldane and [Arthur] Sterry, who had been in his employ for some considerable time for their past good services." [11]

Lytton was apparenty unenthusiastic about the film's commercial prospects. [30] [31] Sterry and Haldane, distributed the film themselves throughout Australia, New Zealand and England, often giving a lecture to accompany screenings. [2]

In April 1919 a contributor to The Bulletin wrote, "The much-cursed picture, The Man They Could Not Hang, was made in Sydney years and years ago... It was a scream. Lately some showman bought the old negative, set to work and re-took a lot on the story, joining it on to the old film. The original heavy lady being dead, a “double” was procured. She was only a couple of stone lighter." [4]

Hellmrich says the film was "first released at one of Mr. Herbert’s shows at Newcastle... and the business was so great that it went back to that city four times within the next three months. It was afterwards screened throughout Australia with satisfactory results." [11]

The film debuted in Newcastle on 15 November 1916. [32] Sterry toured with the show. Occasionally Lee's son would appear with the film. [33]

In September 1917 the film screened in Sydney where audiences were turned away and its commercial reception was regarded as "something phenomenal." [2]

The Bulletin wrote "Theatres were packed by the atrocity and over £100 a week was often cleared on a percentage basis." [4]

Haldane toured with the film in Queensland in 1918. [34] Sterry toured with it in Western Australia that year. [35]

An advertisement in 1919 claimed the film had been seen by more than one million people in Australia. [36]

In April 1921 it was reported Sterry was back from New Zealand where the film had been "phenomenally successful, playing capacity everywhere." [37] A piece the following month said it had played in New Zealand for two years and been "a wonderful money spinner." [38] The film then continued to play country areas. [39]

In 1925 Hellmrich estimated the film would earn £50,000. [11] This means it could arguably be one of the most profitable Australian movies of all time. [10] (Another account puts the gross at £20,000. [9] )

Sterry and Haldane remade the movie in 1921.

A 1922 article said the play (or film) was dramatised by Edmund Cording who sold it to Sterry adding "Cording made practically nothing out of the deal, but it is a shame to think just what Sterry got from this feature which owes a good deal to the title." [40]

In 1926 Everyones reported the film was still playing in Britain for several years, although this may have been the 1921 version. A columnist said "I well remember Phillip Lytton being so disgusted with the picture that he gave it to his servitors, Sterry and Haldane, who, utilising publicity to some extent, made a fortune out of it." [41]

There was another version of the film in 1934, directed by Raymond Longford and starring Sterry, but this was not very successful commercially.

Critical reception

According to one review it was "a lecture picture" where Sterry prepared "the audience at the outset for the story" and "speaks in an enlightening manner throughout the screening of the film and the most telling of all he simulates in voice the characters in the picture who from time to time speak through him." [2]

The Bulletin said "It was a scream". [4]

The Newcastle Northern Times said "the producer has succeeded in keeping every character accurately drawn." [42]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 ""Everyones" at the Film Enquiry. North Queensland Exhibs. Favor 6 Months Contract. Royal Commission in Bundaberg and Mackay. "Man They Could Not Hang" Cost £3000. Back in Sydney July 15.", Everyones, 6 (384), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 13 July 1927, retrieved 1 March 2024– via Trove
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Items of Interest". The North Western Courier . Vol. 5, no. 152. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 18 August 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Quota Favored". The Sun . No. 5259. New South Wales, Australia. 15 September 1927. p. 14 (Final Extra). Retrieved 2 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Moet & Chandon Dry Imperial Champagne Poverty Point", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 10 April 1919, retrieved 11 July 2024– via Trove
  5. ↑ "Film Facts and Fancies". The Sun. No. 500. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Advertising". The Sun. No. 500. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Advertising". Evening News. No. 14, 161. New South Wales, Australia. 26 October 1912. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  8. 1 2 "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate . No. 11, 890. New South Wales, Australia. 11 December 1912. p. 12. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  9. 1 2 3 "£100,000 Spent". The Advocate (Australia) . Tasmania, Australia. 5 January 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
  10. 1 2 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 37.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "The Future of Australian Pictures – An Interview With Alex Hellmrich.", Everyones., 4 (261), Sydney, 4 March 1925, retrieved 30 November 2023– via Trove
  12. ↑ "Sundry Shows.", The Bulletin, 41 (2094), Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1 April 1920, retrieved 29 February 2024– via Trove
  13. ↑ ""The Man They Could Not Hang."". Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) . NSW: National Library of Australia. 2 September 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Victoria – Week Ending March 7th.", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 12 March 1924, retrieved 11 July 2024– via Trove
  15. ↑ "Personal". Leader. New South Wales, Australia. 12 January 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  16. 1 2 3 "DRAMATIC TOUCHES". Auckland Star. 1 September 1928. p. 5 (Supplement).
  17. ↑ "Amusements. The Man They Could Not Hang". The Tamworth Daily Observer . Vol. 1, no. 230. New South Wales, Australia. 26 September 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "The Riverine Herald". The Riverine Herald . No. 11, 876. Victoria, Australia. 8 March 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Poverty Point", The Bulletin, 43 (2198), Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 30 March 1922, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  20. ↑ "Phillip Lytton Dramatic Co". Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail (SA : 1898 - 1918) . SA: National Library of Australia. 25 January 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "PHILIP LYTTON DRAMATIC CO". The Horsham Times . No. 5416. Victoria, Australia. 7 January 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ "FILM FACTS and FANCIES". The Sun. No. 500. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ "ALHAMERA THEATRE". Truth. No. 1109. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "Advertising". The Sun . No. 500. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ "Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954) - 27 Dec 1912 - p5". Lithgow Mercury . New South Wales, Australia. 27 December 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 28 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "Skating Rink Pictures". The Muswellbrook Chronicle . Vol. 30, no. 14. New South Wales, Australia. 12 April 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  27. ↑ "Amusements". The Tamworth Daily Observer . Vol. III, no. 95. New South Wales, Australia. 25 April 1913. p. 2 (Edition 2). Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "Advertising". Lithgow Mercury . New South Wales, Australia. 27 December 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  29. ↑ "Advertising". Glengarry, Toongabbie And Cowwarr Journal And Central Gippsland Reporter . No. 3792. Victoria, Australia. 18 December 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  30. ↑ Robert Sterry, 'Arthur Sterry' Sterry Worldwide
  31. ↑ "Gave Fortune Away". Smith's Weekly . Vol. V, no. 20. New South Wales, Australia. 7 July 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 19 August 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  32. ↑ "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate . No. 13, 113. New South Wales, Australia. 13 November 1916. p. 8. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  33. ↑ "Advertising". The Tamworth Daily Observer . Vol. VI, no. 254. New South Wales, Australia. 30 November 1916. p. 5. Retrieved 11 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  34. ↑ "Advertising". Queensland Times . Vol. LVIII, no. 10, 002. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1918. p. 1 (Daily.). Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  35. ↑ "Advertising". The West Australian . Vol. XXXIV, no. 5, 016. Western Australia. 3 May 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  36. ↑ "Advertising". Melton Express . No. 731. Victoria, Australia. 22 November 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  37. ↑ "The Moving Picture World – A Page for Showmen. A Weekly Talk to Showmen.", Everyones, 2 (60), Sydney, 27 April 1921, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  38. ↑ "With the Exhibitors", Everyones., 2 (63), Sydney (published 1920), 18 May 1921, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  39. ↑ "'Man They Could Not Hang'", Everyones., 3 (114), Sydney (published 1920), 10 May 1922, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  40. ↑ "Picture Personalities.", Everyones., 3 (131), Sydney (published 1920), 6 September 1922, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  41. ↑ "Whisperings of William", Everyones., 5 (330), Sydney (published 1920), 30 June 1926, retrieved 1 December 2023– via Trove
  42. ↑ "HERBERT'S PICTURES". Northern Times. No. 356. New South Wales, Australia. 3 December 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
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