The Man from Snowy River | |
---|---|
Directed by | Beaumont Smith John K Wells |
Written by | Beaumont Smith |
Based on | poem by Banjo Paterson |
Produced by | Beaumont Smith |
Starring | Cyril Mackay Stella Southern Tal Ordell Hedda Barr John Cosgrove |
Cinematography | Lacey Percival Al Burne |
Production company | Beaumont Smith's Productions |
Release date | |
Running time | 5,500 feet |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
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. [3] It is considered a lost film.
A country boy, Jim Conroy, is living a dissolute life in the city, running around with vamp Helen Ross. When his father cuts him off, he is dumped by Helen and returns to the bush.
Jim works for a corrupt squatter, Stingey Smith, and falls in love with Kitty Carewe, daughter of John Carewe, the squatter next door. John is impressed with Jim's skill with a horse and invites him to train his finest horse, "Swagman", hoping to win enough prize money to save his farm.
A jealous farm hand plots with Smith to fix the race so that the latter can take over the Carewe farm, letting "Swagman" go and run with the brumbies. However Jim rescues the horse and rides it to victory.
Smith frames Jim for theft but he is proved innocent and Jim marries Kitty.
Beaumont Smith bought the film rights to all the works of Banjo Paterson and spent two years writing a script. The copyright was held by Angus Robertson in entirety but they passed some of the money on to Paterson. [5]
Smith incorporated characters from various Paterson works, including squatter's daughter, Kitty Carewe, and swagman, Saltbush Bill. The character of Helen Ross, however, was Smith's original invention. [6]
Smith later claimed the price of the film rights was the highest ever that had been paid in Australian cinema, with the exception of The Sentimental Bloke (1919). [7]
In January 1919 Snowy Baker announced he would star in the film based on Smith's script. It was reported that "a start has already been made with the picture on Mr. Erie McKellar's station, where every facility is offered for the aiming of such thrills as the great ride from "Rio Grande," the bushranging scenes from "Conroy's Gap," and the tight from "Salt Bush Bill". Smith said the film would incorporate matters he had learned in America and would be released via E.J. Carroll. [8] [9]
However Baker wound up not appearing in the film. In November 1919 Smith announced he would make the movie in Hollywood, as an attempt to break into the US market. [10]
He left in November 1919 but returned to Sydney within six months, bringing back with him a documentary about Hollywood, A Journey through Filmland , which he released in Sydney in February 1921. [11]
In March 1920 he announced he would make the film in Australia. [12] In May 1920 it was reported fIlming was delayed by the unavailability of film stock. [13]
Smith used American talent available in Australia, including John K. Wells, who was assisting Wilfred Lucas on the Snowy Baker movies, and visiting actress Hedda Barr. (At one stage it was announced Snowy Baker would star but this did not eventuate. [14] )
Cyril Mackay was a stage actor who had retired after suffering a nervous breakdown. He came out of retirement to play the role. [15]
The movie marks the film debut of movie star Stella Southern, who was working as a shop girl when discovered by Smith; he gave her the name for this film. [16]
Heda Barr was an American touring the country. [17]
"I believe it to be absolutely real", said Smith, "honest Australian, without any artificiality, burlesque, or exaggeration of types. There are no bushrangers, there are only true Australian people, and the film is as clear as the air of Kosciusko itself, and I believe the public will like it be cause of this". [18]
Shooting began in June 1920 on location at Mulgoa, Wallacia and Luddenham in the Blue Mountains. [19] [20] [21]
In order to obtain footage for the climactic race, Smith held a race day and invited horsemen from the local area to participate in four races at Luddenham. [22]
Smith's Weekly praised the movie saying it had:
Charming scenery, helped by clever photography and lighting. The story i» wholesomely exciting, with touches of kindly humour. The acting is excellent, though no great demands are ' made on those concerned...Mr. Smith is wise to show bush folk in an attractive light, whilst sacrificing nothing of the Australian atmosphere. Here, at last, is a picture, not only for local consumption, but one that will be welcomed overseas. [23]
Everyone's called the film:
A top-notch Australian production that revives one’s hopes for the establishment of a great movie industry in the Commonwealth. Beaumont Smith shows... what can be done with Australian scenery for backgrounds, and an Australian poem as the pivot for an interesting plot characterised by quick action. The personalities of Paterson’s verses are skillfully interwoven with a story into which the woman interest "is cleverly introduced... City and country alike will hail The Man from Snowy River scenically, and in both photographic and acting senses as the best Australian movie yet. [24]
In 1922 Smith took a re-edited version to England. [25] The film received a poor review in the trade papers and struggled to find distribution. [26]
When Smith finished the film he announced plans for a sequel Clancy of the Overflow. but this was never made. [27]
"Waltzing Matilda" is a song developed in the Australian style of poetry and folk music called a bush ballad. It has been described as the country's "unofficial national anthem".
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author, widely considered one of the greatest writers of Australia's colonial period.
"The Man from Snowy River" is a poem by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. It was first published in The Bulletin, an Australian news magazine, on 26 April 1890, and was published by Angus & Robertson in October 1895, with other poems by Paterson, in The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses.
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a popular musical theatre production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002. Kevin Jacobsen and David Atkins were the executive producers for the show. David Atkins and Ignatius Jones were co-directors and co-writers. Extra dialogue was written for the show by Jonathan Biggins and Phillip Scott.
The Man from Snowy River is a 1982 Australian Western drama film based on the Banjo Paterson poem "The Man from Snowy River". The film had a cast including Kirk Douglas in a dual role as the brothers Harrison and Spur, Jack Thompson as Clancy, Tom Burlinson as Jim Craig, Sigrid Thornton as Harrison's daughter Jessica, Terence Donovan as Jim's father Henry Craig, and Chris Haywood as Curly. Both Burlinson and Thornton later reprised their roles in the 1988 sequel, The Man from Snowy River II. The 1988 sequel film was later released in the United States by Walt Disney Pictures under the title Return to Snowy River and in the United Kingdom under the title The Untamed.
Bernice Vere was an English-born stage, playwright, director, and film actress. She emigrated to Australia when she turned 12. She started performing on stage in Australia until the movie-producing team of E.J. Carroll and Snowy Baker discovered her. They cast her in the silent feature The Shadow of Lightning Ridge, where she acted alongside American actress Agnes Vernon.
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.
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 1927 Australian silent film co-directed by Raymond Longford, who took over during filming.
The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role.
The Lure of the Bush is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It is considered a lost film.
The Man from Kangaroo is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was the first of several films he made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood by E. J. Carroll.
The Jackeroo of Coolabong is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was the last of three films he made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood.
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Tall Timber is a 1926 Australian silent film about a rich man who flees the city and works in a timber mill. It is considered a lost film.
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The Haunted Barn is a short 1931 Australian comedy film produced by F.W. Thring directed by Gregan McMahon. It was one of the first productions by Thring's Efftee Studios. The film was produced to support of the feature Diggers (1931) and shown on the same bill.
Cyril Mackay was an Australian-English actor. He was well known for his theatre appearances, and for playing the lead in The Man from Snowy River. While in Australia he worked for every major theatre management in the country. He was one of the most acclaimed actors of his day.