The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1911 film)

Last updated

The Mystery of the Hansom Cab
Directed by W. J. Lincoln
Written by W. J. Lincoln
Based onthe novel The Mystery of the Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume
Produced by William Gibson
Millard Johnson
John Tait
Nevin Tait
Starring"A selected metropolitan company" [1]
Walter Dalgeish [2]
Cinematography Orrie Perry
Production
company
Distributed bySawyer Pictures (USA)
Release dates
  • 4 March 1911 (1911-03-04)(Melbourne) [1] [3]
  • August 1914 (1914-08)(USA) [4]
Running time
4,000 feet (est. 80 minutes)
CountryAustralia
Languages Silent film
English intertitles
Budget£300-£400 [5]

The Mystery of the Hansom Cab is an Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln based on the popular novel, which had also been adapted into a play. [6] It was one of several films Lincoln made with the Tait family, who had produced The Story of the Kelly Gang . [7]

Contents

It was the first Australian feature film to have a predominantly urban setting. [8] It has been called the world's first suspense mystery film. [9]

Plot

A Melbourne playboy, Oliver White, is murdered as he is driven home one night in a hansom cab. Investigating the crime encompasses all aspects of Melbourne society. The scenes featured in the movie were:
GUNSLER'S CAFE, COLLINS STREET

  1. The meeting of Mark Frettleby and Rosanna Moore.
  2. Reems Street, East Melbourne. The Courtship.
  3. Frettleby's Station. Divided Lives. (Rosanna grows bored with station life and eventually leaves with their baby daughter.)
  4. Frettleby's New Love. Frettleby's Rooms.
  5. The News of Rosanna's Death. (Mark Frettleby receives a letter from England telling him this.)
  6. Room at Myrtle Orange. I love you.
  7. Twenty years later.
  8. Frettleby's Mansion, St Kilda. (Frettleby is a pillar of society, widowed with a daughter, Madge.)
  9. The Ghost of the East.
  10. Possum Villa. Grey Street. St Kilda.
  11. Two Men at War. (Two men wish to marry Madge, the dissolute Oliver Whyte and the squatter Brian Fitzgerald.)
  12. The Orient Hotel, Bourke Street.
  13. The Melbourne Club, Collins street.
  14. Brian receives a Message.
  15. The Cabstand. Scots Church.

DRIVE TO ST. KILDA.

  1. Austral Hotel, Bourke Street.
  2. Sal Rawlins shows the way.
  3. Mother Guttersnipe's, Bourke Street.
  4. Death of Rosanna Moore.
  5. The Fatal Drive.
  6. Collins street. Princes, Bridge.
  7. St. Kilda Road.

THE MURDER IN THE CAB – Opposite Church of England Grammar School.

  1. Who is the Man? Esplanade, St, Kilda.
  2. The Discovery of the Crime.
  3. Possum Villa. On the Track.
  4. The Arrest of Brian Fitzgerald.
  5. Carlton's Office, Chancery Lane.
  6. A Woman to the Rescue. The Melbourne Gaol.
  7. Brian Refuses to Streak. Calton's Office.
  8. The Reward for Sal. Rawlins. Mother Guttersnipe's, Bourke Street.
  9. No News. The Law Courts,
  10. Law Court. The Cabman's Story.
  11. Menzie's Hotel. Return of Sal. Rawlins.
  12. Acquittal of Brian Fitzgerald
  13. Mother Guttersnipe's. The Last Call.
  14. Mark Frettleby's Home. The Confession.
  15. On the Lawn. Who is the Man?
  16. Frettleby's Study. Blackmail.

You Killed Oliver Whyte – Death of Mark Frettleby – End of the Astounding Mystery [10] [11]

Production

The team of Millard Johnson and William Gibson, in conjuction with the Tait brothers, were theatre entrepreneurs. They had collaborated on The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) Robbery Under Arms and It Is Never Too Late to Mend in 1911. The latter led to Johnson, Gibson and the Taits to establish Amalgamated Pictures which would make films under the supervision of W.J. Lincoln, director of Never too Late to Mend. Amalgamated Pictures was formed on 4 March 1911 with capital of £100,000. [12] Contemporary newspaper reports announcing the launch said the company had:

The purpose of promoting the finest and best class of picture Entertainment yet seen in the Australian colonies. With the capital at command, no endeavour will be spared to present to their patrons a standard of show that will eclipse all similar enterprises within the province of our own hemisphere. One of the main endeavours of the amalgamation will be to procure only the very best picture subjects procurable on the world's market. A feature will likewise be made of special and original produced Australian dramas, similar to those that have already proved so hugely successful. The management, in making a public statement of their intentions, anticipate a large share of public support. [13]

With the exception of one scene in the countryside, shooting for Hansom Cab took place in Melbourne, with extensive featuring of local landmarks such as the Melbourne Club, Scot's Church, Collins Street, the Orient Hotel, the Esplanade at St Kilda and Melbourne Gaol. [14] The murder sequence, although set at night time, was shot in the afternoon for better lighting. [15]

A newspaper report on 25 March 1911 said the film was to be "produced" in Sydney but this may be a reference to the release of the film. [16]

In 1924 "Nero" wrote to The Bulletin to say "the interiors... were taken in one day at a little back-yard studio in St. Kilda, and the exteriors at odd moments during the rest of the week. About a fortnight later the completed effort was shown at the Glaciarium, where it ran for three weeks." [5]

Reception

The Melbourne Argus wrote that:

Cab is almost as familiar to Australian readers as Robbery Under Arms or The Term of His Natural Life. Its thrilling incidents provide splendid material for a moving picture drama, and in obtaining the desired film the cinematograph experts have secured an excellent presentation of the features of the novel... The audience took over an hour to throw on the screen, but the keen interest of the audience was held throughout. [14]

The film was usually accompanied by a lecturer.

The movie was a popular success at the box office, particularly in Melbourne. In April 1911 The Bulletin reported:

West's, at Sydney Glaciarium, is booming with Fergus Hume's success, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab. Ever since the drama has been running across the screen, money has had to be turned from the doors. In addition to the Mystery there is the usual varied programme; but the items are changed so frequently these nights that it is hardly worth mentioning them. Anyhow, for the present they are completely eclipsed by the Cab story. [17]

In 1924 "Nero" of The Bulletin looked back on the film writing "The photography was only fair, and the acting might have been improved upon, but the local "bits", such as the Town Hall clock, the Orient Hotel, the Melbourne Club, the cab going over Prince's Bridge, the murder on St. Kilda-road and the old Esplanade Hotel at St. Kilda, were considered enthralling. I had rather a surfeit of the picture myself, because I not only played in it, but lectured on it, and it was rather trying to watch oneself doing the wrong thing night after night for three weeks." [5]

USA release

The film was released in the US in August 1914 by Sawyer Pictures. [4]

Later versions

According to W. J. Lincoln an overseas film adaptation soon followed. [18] There was also another version in 1925. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Kilda, Victoria</span> Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

St Kilda is an inner seaside suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south-east of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. St Kilda recorded a population of 19,490 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne</span> Building in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Esplanade Hotel, commonly known locally as "The Espy", is a hotel and music venue in the inner bayside suburb of St Kilda, in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built in 1878, it overlooks Port Phillip from the Upper Esplanade. It is famed for its long history of live music, and served as the filming location for the live music trivia program Rockwiz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W. J. Lincoln</span> Australian playwright, film director and screenwriter

William Joseph Lincoln was an Australian playwright, theatre manager, film director and screenwriter in the silent era. He produced, directed and/or wrote 23 films between 1911 and 1916.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godfrey Cass</span> Australian actor

Godfrey Cass was an Australian actor in the silent era. Between 1906 and 1935 he acted in nineteen film roles. He played Ned Kelly three times, and also had roles in a number of other bushranger movies including A Tale of the Australian Bush (1911) and Moondyne (1913).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee palace</span> Type of residential hotel

A coffee palace was an often large and elaborate residential hotel that did not serve alcohol, most of which were built in Australia in the late 19th century.

<i>The Mystery of a Hansom Cab</i> Australian mystery novel by Fergus Hum

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a mystery fiction novel by the Australian writer Fergus Hume. The book was first published in Australia in 1886. Set in Melbourne, the story focuses on the investigation of a homicide involving a body discovered in a hansom cab, as well as an exploration into the social class divide in the city. The book was successful in Australia, selling 100,000 copies in the first two print runs. It was then published in Britain and the United States, and went on to sell over half a million copies worldwide, outselling the first of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels, A Study in Scarlet (1887).

<i>A Melbourne Mystery</i> 1913 Australian film

A Melbourne Mystery is a 1913 Australian silent film starring John Gavin. Another title is The Unseen Hand.

<i>It Is Never Too Late to Mend</i> (1911 film) 1911 Australian film

It Is Never Too Late to Mend is a 1911 Australian feature-length silent film written and directed by W. J. Lincoln.

The Lost Chord is a 1911 Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln based on the famous song The Lost Chord by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

<i>The Double Event</i> (1911 film) 1911 Australian film

The Double Event is a 1911 Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln based on the first novel by Nat Gould, which had been adapted several times for the stage, notably by Bland Holt.

Called Back is a 1911 Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln based on a popular play which was adapted from an 1883 novel by Hugh Conway. Although the movie was a popular success it is now considered a lost film.

The Luck of Roaring Camp is a 1911 Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln now considered a lost film. It was highly regarded in its day, in part because it was based on a play that was popular with audiences.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by and starring Arthur Shirley based on the popular novel which had already been filmed in 1911. It is considered a lost film.

Amalgamated Pictures Ltd was a film exchange company in Australia.

After Sundown is a 1911 Australian film directed by W. J. Lincoln set in the Australian bush.

West's Pictures was a short-lived Australian film production and exhibition company during the silent era. It was established by English theatrical entrepreneur Thomas James West (1885–1916) who helped turn the company into one of Australia's largest exhibitors. The company also produced a regular newsreel and several narrative films, some made by Franklyn Barrett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palais de Danse, St Kilda</span> Former dance hall in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

The Palais de Danse was a large dance hall located next to the Palais Theatre in the entertainment precinct of the foreshore of St Kilda, a beachside inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built in 1919, it featured a remarkable geometric interior created in 1920 by the renowned architects Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Griffin (1871–1961), and it was a popular entertainment venue throughout the early 20th century. The building was destroyed by fire in 1969.

"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab" is a 1961 Australian television drama play based on Barry Pree's 1961 play adaptation of the novel by Fergus Hume. It appeared as an episode of the anthology series The General Motors Hour. It aired on 6 August 1961 in Sydney and on 19 August 1961 in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Moritz Ice Rink</span> Former dance hall and then ice rink in St Kilda, Australia

The St. Moritz Ice Rink, built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1923 and then used as Efftee Studios from 1933, was an ice rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria, which operated between 1939–1981. Opened as St. Moritz Ice-skating Palais, as one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 40s and 50s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a 2012 Australian television movie about the events surrounding the murder of Oliver Whyte whose body is discovered in a hansom cab in 19th century Melbourne. The investigation is conducted under the leadership of Detective Samuel Gorby, who soon arrests Brian Fitzgerald who had hoped to marry Whyte's betrothed, rich wool merchant Mark Fittelby's daughter, Madge. Brian is defended by barrister Duncan Calton and Detective Kilsip, who eventually discovers secret blackmail against the Fittelbys which leads to the discovery of an illegitimate daughter, Sal Rawlins. It is an adaption of the 1886 novel of the same name, created by Fergus Hume, who wrote it as an examination into the evils of the 'Big City' and the corruption that can be found inside it.

References

  1. 1 2 "Advertising". The Argus . Melbourne. 4 March 1911. p. 23. Retrieved 20 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "He Pioneered Pictures". The West Australian . Perth. 29 August 1953. p. 17. Retrieved 29 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ Mary Bateman, 'W. J. Lincoln', Cinema Papers, June–July 1980 p 214
  4. 1 2 "Moving Picture World - Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library".
  5. 1 2 3 "Poverty Point". The Bulletin. 19 June 1924. p. 36.
  6. ↑ ""MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB."". Bendigo Advertiser . Vic. 19 May 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 18 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Endean, Lin (13 December 1933). "134 Years in the Industry: The Perrys' Record identifier". Everyones. p. 44.
  8. ↑ Graham Shirley and Brian Adams, Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years, Currency Press 1989 p 41
  9. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN MOVIE PIONEERS". The Bulletin. 1 February 1939. p. 38.
  10. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . 31 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "AMUSEMENTS. "MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB."". The Barrier Miner . Broken Hill, NSW. 10 July 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2012– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Share Market and Mining". The Register . Adelaide. 23 March 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 28 January 2012– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Advertising". The Argus . Melbourne. 4 March 1911. p. 23. Retrieved 20 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  14. 1 2 "PICTURE DRAMA". The Argus . Melbourne. 6 March 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 28 January 2012– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p14
  16. ↑ "Oven the Tea Cups". The Prahran Telegraph . Vic. 25 March 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 18 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "SUNDRY SHOWS". The Bulletin. 6 April 1911. p. 8.
  18. ↑ "PICTURE PROFILES IN THE OLDEN DAYS". Winner. Melbourne. 9 February 1916. p. 11. Retrieved 19 June 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ Graham Shirley and Brian Adams, Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years, Currency Press, 1989, p42
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.