Cast
- Cyril Mackay as Edgar Ferguson
- Leslie Victor as Max Huitzell
- Frank Harvey as Carl Heine
- Norman Estey as Heinrich Henschell
- John Ralston as Andrew Ferguson
- Dorothy Cumming as Freda Henschell
- Raymond Lawrence
- Charles Morse
- Frank East
| Within Our Gates | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Frank Harvey |
| Written by | W. J. Lincoln Frank Harvey Monte Luke [1] |
| Based on | The Man Who Stayed at Home by J. E. Harold Terry and Lechmore Worrall |
| Starring | Cyril Mackay Frank Harvey |
| Cinematography | Monte Luke Maurice Bertel |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 3,000 feet [4] or 5,000 feel (75 mins) [5] |
| Country | Australia |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
Within Our Gates, also known as Deeds that Won Gallipoli, is a 1915 Australian silent film about Australia's fight with the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire during World War I, including the landing at Gaba Tepe during the Gallipoli campaign. The story was partly based on a play The Man Who Stayed at Home .
Max Huitzell (Leslie Victor), a German-American clerk in the War Office, is being blackmailed by a German spy (Norman Easty), transmitting information by wireless from his attic. The spy's adopted daughter Freda (Dorothy Cumming) falls in love with Edgar (Cyril Mackay), the son of the War Minister (John Ralston), and exposes her stepfather. Max and Edgar both enlist and meet in the Gallipoli campaign, where Max gives his life to save Edgar. [7] [8]
This was the first original feature film from the theatrical company J. C. Williamson Ltd. They had become concerned with reports of American films being made from plays which they were producing in Australia, and decided to move into film production themselves.
They bought the studios of Lincoln-Cass Films in Melbourne and hired two of its staff, Maurice Bertel and W. J. Lincoln. After making two play adaptations, Williamson then decided to produce original stories, starting with Within Our Gates. [9]
Although it was the third movie they made, it was the first of their movies to be released. [10] [5]
The cast were drawn from J. C. Williamson Ltd's theatrical stock company, many of whom appeared in a production of the play The Man Who Stayed at Home , on which the script was partly based. [11] [12] [13] The director was English actor Frank Harvey, who moved to Australia in 1914.
W. J. Lincoln later claimed making the film was his idea. [14]
The landing at Gaba Tepe was staged near Obelisk Bay near Sydney. Other location work was shot in Melbourne, and some interiors done at Melbourne's JCW Studio. [5] [9]
Reviews were very positive and the film was a popular success at the box office. [5] [15]
The Motion Picture News called it "a really good war story, which is exceptional... Frank Harvey... deserves all the credit that can be given him for making such an interesting picture." [16]
The Lone Hand said it "must be placed amongst the best Australian achievements" and Lincoln "succeeded in producing a strong story of German intrigue and cunning, of patriot-ism and valor all happening within our gates." [17]
The Bulletin called it "a laudable attempt to stimulate recruiting" where "the melodrama, devised by W. J. Lincoln, introduces a lot of military spectacle, and the storming of the Gallipoli cliffs tickled up the soldier section of the audience when the film was submitted to private view at Her Majesty’s (Melb.)." [18] Another review in the same magazine called it, "A trifle deliberate in the development of the story, perhaps, but a good, stirring sample of what Australia can do in this line." [19]
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.
The Man from Snowy River is a 1920 film made in Australia. The film was silent and filmed in black and white, and was based on the Banjo Paterson poem of the same name.
Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford is a 1916 Australian silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. The film was the first made by the film unit of theatrical firm J. C. Williamson, although it was one of the last to be released. It was Niblo's debut film as a director and is considered a lost film.
The Blue Mountains Mystery is a lost 1921 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford and co-directed by Lottie Lyell.
Frank Beaumont "Beau" Smith, was an Australian film director, producer and exhibitor, best known for making low-budget comedies.
The Hayseeds is a 1933 Australian musical comedy from Beaumont Smith. It centres on the rural family, the Hayseeds, about whom Smith had previously made six silent films, starting with Our Friends, the Hayseeds (1917). He retired from directing in 1925 but decided to revive the series in the wake of the box office success of On Our Selection (1932). It was the first starring role in a movie for stage actor Cecil Kellaway.
Sheepmates was a proposed Australian film from director F. W. Thring based on a 1931 novel by William Hatfield. It commenced filming in 1933 but was abandoned.
Our Friends, the Hayseeds is a 1917 Australian rural comedy from director Beaumont Smith. It centers on the rural family, the Hayseeds, and their rivalry with a neighbouring family, the Duggans.
Townies and Hayseeds is a 1923 Australian film comedy from director Beaumont Smith. It is the fifth in his series about the rural family the Hayseeds.
Sunrise is a 1926 Australian silent film co-directed by Raymond Longford, who took over during filming.
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Lincoln Cass Films was a short-lived Australian film production company.
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.
Within the Law is a 1916 Australian silent film based a play of the same name by Bayard Veiller. The leading role was played by American stage star Muriel Starr, reprising her stage performance. It is considered a lost film.
The Loyal Rebel is a 1915 Australian silent film directed by Alfred Rolfe set against the background of the Eureka Rebellion.
How We Fought the Emden is a 1915 Australian silent documentary film from cinematographer Charles Cusden about the Battle of Cocos during World War I, where the Australian ship Sydney sunk the Emden.
A Rough Passage is a 1922 Australian silent film directed by Franklyn Barrett based on the novel by Arthur Wright. It was Barrett's final feature and is considered a lost film.
The Sealed Room is a 1926 Australian silent film directed by and starring Arthur Shirley. It is considered a lost film.
Murphy of Anzac is a 1916 Australian silent film directed by J. E. Mathews. It tells the story of John Simpson Kirkpatrick during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. It is considered a lost film.
J. C. Williamson Film Company was a short-lived Australian film production company in the 1910s. It was part of the theatrical firm J. C. Williamson's, and produced a number of feature films during 1914-1918.