The Life of Rufus Dawes

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The Life of Rufus Dawes
Directed by Alfred Rolfe
Written by Alfred Rolfe
Based onThomas Somers' (aka Thomas Walke) (play adaptation)
For the Term of His Natural Life (novel) by Marcus Clarke
Produced by Cosens Spencer
Starring Alfred Rolfe
Lily Dampier
Cinematography Ernest Higgins [1]
Edited by Ernest Higgins
Production
company
Spencer's Pictures
Distributed bySawyer (US) [2]
Release dates
  • 19 June 1911 (1911-06-19)(Sydney) [3] [4] [5]
  • 27 November 1911 (1911-11-27)(Melbourne)
Running time
4,000 feet [6]
CountryAustralia
Languages Silent film
English intertitles

The Life of Rufus Dawes is a 1911 Australian silent film based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the 1874 novel For the Term of His Natural Life produced by Cosens Spencer. [5] [7]

Contents

It was also known as The Story of Rufus Dawes, or the Term of His Natural Life [8] [9] or The Convict Hero. [10]

The film was the third produced by Cosens Spencer, based on a popular stage adaptation by Thomas Somers, produced by Alfred Dampier. It starred Alfred Rolfe, his wife Lily Dampier and Raymond Longford. The others were Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911) and Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road (1911). Rolfe then left Spencer to work for the Australian Photo-Play Company under Stanley Crick.

It is considered a lost film. [11]

Synopsis

The film was divided into sections:

Unlike the original novel and 1908 film version, this had a happy ending. This was in line with Spencer's version of Robbery Under Arms which had a happier ending than the original novel.

Cast

Original play

The film was based on a stage play adaptation of the novel which Dampier had performed in.

Production

It is likely the film was retitled to avoid confusion with another movie version of the novel that had been released in 1908. [16]

Raymond Longford worked on the movie and later claimed to have been the actual director. [17]

It appears from contemporary reviews that there was some filming at Port Arthur. [18]

Scenes involving Raymond Longford, who played Gabbett, were shot at La Perouse, Sydney. According to a later article in Everyone's:

Longford, stripped to the waist, tattered and blood bespattered, was at the head of a cliff many yards away from the camera and the rest of the company, who were preparing to scale the cliff to attempt his capture. Longford forgot that he would be visible to those on the other side of the cliff, and was startled to hear a piercing shriek and turned in time to see a woman on the beach below, running as though for her life. He signalled to the others to stop the action, which they did, thinking that something had gone wrong. Longford then turned around to see it he could appease the woman’s alarm. She was not to be seen, but creeping towards him in single file he saw some fishermen and stragglers, armed with sticks, oars and any handy weapon. The position looked ugly, and he reckoned he was in for a bad time, so rising to his feet, he gave a hail, intending to reassure the attackers that all was well. As soon as they caught sight of him and his accoutrements they dropped their weapons and incontinently fled. After that scouts were posted around the locations to warn sightseers what they might expect to see. [14]

Release

The film was released in Sydney on 19 June 1911 at the Broadway Theatre. [19] It was released in Melbourne on 27 November 1911 at the Olympic Theatre. [13] It debuted in Launceston on 22 January 1912. [20] (During the Launceston season, the film caught fire one night and the theatre had to be evacuated. [21] [22] )

Distribution of the film was blocked from legal action by Marcus Clarke's daughter, Marion Clarke. [23]

Critical reception

The Sydney Truth called it "a striking production". [4] It was described by The Argus as "an entirely original pictorial adaptation". [4] [24] The Kalgoorlie Miner wrote "the subject is treated magnificently, and every detail is perfectly carried out." [25]

US release

It was bought for release in the US by Sawyers Pictures, who retitled the movie The Convict Hero. [26] [27]

Related Research Articles

<i>For the Term of His Natural Life</i> 1870–1872 novel by Marcus Clarke

For the Term of His Natural Life is a story written by Marcus Clarke and published in The Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872. It was published as a novel in 1874 and is the best known novelisation of life as a convict in early Australian history. At times relying on seemingly implausible coincidences, the story follows the fortunes of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported for a murder that he did not commit. The book clearly conveys the harsh and inhumane treatment meted out to the convicts, some of whom were transported for relatively minor crimes, and graphically describes the conditions the convicts experienced. The novel was based on research by the author as well as a visit to the penal settlement of Port Arthur, Tasmania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lottie Lyell</span> Australian actress and film director

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For the Term of His Natural Life is a 1927 Australian film based on the 1874 novel by Marcus Clarke, directed, produced and co-written by Norman Dawn. It was the most expensive Australian silent film ever made and remains one of the most famous Australian films of the silent era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Longford</span> Australian filmmaker and actor (1878–1959)

Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer, and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell. His contributions to Australian cinema with his ongoing collaborations with Lyell, including The Sentimental Bloke (1919) and The Blue Mountains Mystery (1921), prompted the Australian Film Institute's AFI Raymond Longford Award, inaugurated in 1968, to be named in his honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Dampier</span> Australian actor (circa 1843-1908)

Alfred Dampier was an English-born actor-manager and playwright, active in Australia.

<i>The Romantic Story of Margaret Catchpole</i> 1911 Australian film

The Romantic Story of Margaret Catchpole is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford and starring Lottie Lyell. It is based on the true story of Margaret Catchpole, an adventurer and convict. Only the first 24 minutes of the 50-minute runtime survives today.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Rolfe (director)</span> Australian stage and film director and actor

Alfred Rolfe, real name Alfred Roker, was an Australian stage and film director and actor, best known for being the son-in-law of the celebrated actor-manager Alfred Dampier, with whom he appeared frequently on stage, and for his prolific output as a director during Australia's silent era, including Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911), Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road (1911) and The Hero of the Dardanelles (1915). Only one of his films as director survives today.

<i>For the Term of His Natural Life</i> (1908 film) 1908 Australian film

For the Term of His Natural Life is a 1908 Australian silent film based on the 1874 novel by the same name by Marcus Clarke. The film is an adaptation of MacMahon's stage adaptation of the novel.

Spencer Cosens better known as Cosens Spencer or Charles Cozens Spencer, was a British-born Canadian film exhibitor and producer, a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry. His company Spencer's Pictures was an early backer of Raymond Longford before it was absorbed into the conglomerate which became known as "The Combine".

<i>Captain Midnight, the Bush King</i> 1911 film

Captain Midnight, the Bush King is a 1911 Australian silent Western film about the fictitious bushranger Captain Midnight. It was the directorial debut of actor Alfred Rolfe. The film is based on the play of same name by W. J. Lincoln and Alfred Dampier. Captain Midnight, the Bush King is now considered lost.

Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road is a 1911 Australian silent film about the bushranger Captain Starlight. It was based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the 1888 novel Robbery Under Arms. It is considered a lost film.

<i>The Lady Outlaw</i> 1911 film

The Lady Outlaw is a 1911 Australian silent film set in Van Diemen's Land during convict days.

The Cup Winner is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Alfred Rolfe. It is set against a backdrop of horseracing and the finale involves real footage from the 1911 Melbourne Cup.

<i>Dan Morgan</i> (film) 1911 film

Dan Morgan is a 1911 Australian film from Cosens Spencer about the bushranger Daniel Morgan. It was said to be starring "Alfred Rolfe and company". Rolfe directed three movies for Spencer, all starring himself and his wife Lily Dampier so there is a chance he may have directed this one and that it starred his wife. A prospectus for the Australian Photo Play Company said he directed it. It is considered a lost film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily Dampier</span> Australian actress

Katherine Annabel Lily Dampier, known as Lily Dampier, was an Australian actress of stage and screen. She was the daughter of Alfred Dampier and married to Alfred Rolfe.

The Australian Photo-Play Company was a short-lived but highly productive Australian film production company which operated from 1911 to 1912.

For the Term of His Natural Life is a 1983 Australian three-part, six-hour television miniseries based on the classic 1874 novel of the same name by Marcus Clarke. Each episode aired for two hours on Nine Network on 23 May, 30 May and 6 June 1983.

<i>Mates from the Murrumbidgee</i> 1911 Australian film

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.

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References

  1. ↑ "Production of Moving Pictures – In America and Australia". Australian Town and Country Journal . Vol. XCVIII, no. 2555. New South Wales, Australia. 18 December 1918. p. 20. Retrieved 21 November 2023– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Motion Picture News - Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library".
  3. ↑ "Raymond Longford", Cinema Papers, January 1974 p51
  4. 1 2 3 "Broadway Theatre". The Truth . Sydney. 18 June 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 20 February 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  5. 1 2 "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . 17 June 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Advertising". Great Southern Herald . Katanning, WA. 21 June 1913. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2014– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ 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
  8. ↑ "Advertising". The Referee . Sydney. 31 May 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Advertising". The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser . NSW. 20 October 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ The Convict Hero at IMDb
  11. ↑ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998,21
  12. ↑ "Advertising." The Examiner (Launceston), 23 January 1912: 1, retrieved 26 November 2011
  13. 1 2 "Advertising". The Argus . Melbourne. 27 November 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  14. 1 2 Everyones, Everyones Ltd, 1920
  15. ↑ "An Australian Film Pioneer.", Everyones., 4 (294 (21 October 1925)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-570545333, retrieved 29 February 2024– via Trove
  16. ↑ Fotheringham p58
  17. ↑ "Australian Films". The Daily News . Perth. 18 December 1931. p. 11. Retrieved 1 July 2014– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "Spencer Pictures". Table Talk . Melbourne. 30 November 1911. p. 21. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . 19 June 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "Princess Theatre". The Examiner . Launceston, Tasmania. 22 January 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "Fire at a Theatre". The Examiner . Launceston, Tasmania. 27 January 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ "Films On Fire". The Sydney Morning Herald . 29 January 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ "Moving Picture World - Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library".
  24. ↑ "Advertising". The Argus . Melbourne. 24 November 1911. p. 12. Retrieved 1 July 2014– via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ "Radio Pictures". Kalgoorlie Miner . 23 August 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 31 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "Moving Picture World - Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library".
  27. ↑ "Moving Picture World - Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library".

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