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Moonlite

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Moonlite
Sydney Sportsman 28 December 1910
Directed byJohn Gavin
Written byH. A. Forsyth[1] or Agnes Gavin[2]
Based onthe play Captain Moonlight by W. J. Lincoln[3]
Produced byH. A. Forsyth
StarringJohn Gavin
Agnes Gavin
CinematographyA. J. Moulton[4]
Production
company
Southern Cross Film Enterprise[5]
Release date
  • 31 December 1910 (1910-12-31) (Sydney)[6][5]
Running time
4,000 feet[7]
CountryAustralia
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles
Budget£1,000[8][9]

Moonlite is a 1910 Australian bushranger film about Captain Moonlite, played by John Gavin, who also directed for producer H.A. Forsyth. It was also known as Captain Moonlite and is considered a lost film.

It followed on the success of an earlier bushranger biopic, Thunderbolt (1910), also made by Gavin and Forsyth, and like that it co-starred Ruby Butler and was shot by A.J. Moulton.[10][2]

The movie was part of the Australian "bushranger film" cycle from 1910-1912.[11][12]

Synopsis

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In the early 1870s, a New Zealand army officer, Captain George Scott, is caught cheating at cards and brutally beats a fellow officer. Disgraced and discharged, he joins the clergy and falls in love with the beautiful Ruth Clarke, whose brother has embezzled a large amount of money and is going to be arrested. For her sake he robs the Edgerton Bank, and arranges to leave by boat to England. The police arrive as he gets on the boat the Lady Isabelle and although he attempts to swim away he is wounded and arrested. Constables Ryan and Mae have their first case.

Scott later escapes from gaol by strangling a warden and releasing another prisoner. He becomes a bushranger under the name of "Moonlite", forming a gang which includes Ruth's brother. He saves an aboriginal "gin" called Bunda Bunda from drowning, then goes on to rob the gold escort, distributing some of this money to the poor.

Moonlite and his gang go on to stick up a country pub and the police send Inspector Carroll and his men after him. Moonlite's gang hold up Wantabadgery Station, and Carroll gives chase but they are fought off and Bunda Bunda saves Moonlite's life.[13]

Ryan and Mac make a capture, and Bunda Bunda shoots the tracker after Moonlite. Eventually Moonlite is captured at McCreedy's farm after a shootout by Inspector Carroll in which Bunda Bunda is killed. He is taken away to gaol for the last time to be executed. All Ruth is left with is his cross.[14][15]

The chapter headings were as follows:[16]

  1. The Great Military Scene
  2. Scott as a Minister
  3. Scott Robs the Egerton Bank
  4. Ryan and Mac's First Case
  5. Scott's Great Escape from the Boat Lady Isabel
  6. Scott's Swim: Arrest and Escape from Gaol
  7. The Forming of the Gang
  8. To the Bush; Scott Saves Bunda Bunda; Bunda Bunda's Swim
  9. Gold Escort Robbery
  10. Scott's Kindness to the Poor
  11. Sticking Up the Roadside Pub
  12. Troopers Drilling Under Inspector Carrol
  13. Sticking Up Wantabadgery Station
  14. Great Police Chase
  15. Scott's Strategy and Defeat of Inspector Carrol
  16. Ryan and Mac Make a Capture
  17. Ryan and Mac Drilling for Duty
  18. Young Clarke, the Bushranging bareback Rider
  19. Bunda Bunda Shoots the Tracker
  20. The Great Fight at McCready's Farm
  21. Moonlite's last Journey to Gaol
  22. The Cross is All that is Left to Ruth.

Cast

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Production

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Lithgow Mercury 11 Jan 1911
Production still from film

The movie was announced in early December 1910, shortly after the release of Thunderbolt.[18]

The plot appears to have been heavily influenced by the classic novel Robbery Under Arms.[19] Gavin later said the film was the first script written by his wife Agnes, although advertising attributed the story to Forsyth.[2]

The film was shot at Victoria Barracks in Sydney and in the bush around Lithgow in December 1910, with a budget of over £1,000.[20] Lithgow filming was finished by 14 December.[21] Over 200 people were reportedly involved in the film.[1][22][23]

Gavin was almost attacked by a shark while shooting an escape sequence near Glebe Island – producer H.A. Forsyth had to throw a dog overboard to distract the shark and save Gavin.[24] According to The Sun:

The general public will hardly realise that quite a fortnight was token in the rehearsing and perfecting and ileal action of the numerous scenes In this long drama, that over 50 actors, 20 horses, a motor car, and a train had to be enlisted to take, part, and that the proprietors of - the picture were forced to obtain the aid of ships' captains, liotcl-kcepers, police authorities, magistrates, farmers, land-owners, and others to bring the picture to a successful issue.[22]

According to some reports the film went for 11,000 feet (over 80 minutes).[25] However most reports put the length of the film at 4,000 feet.

Release

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The movie was previewed on 30 December 1910 in Sydney. The Sun said it was "remarkable for clearness of detail".[26]

Screenings of the film were usually accompanied by a lecturer. Many advertisements for the film would mention Forysth but not Gavin.[27]

The first public screening was a sellout.[28] A contemporary account said it and Thunderbolt "have been exhibited in every picture show of note in Australia.[29] According to Gavin, the film was a massive success at the box office.[30][2] However, Gavin then ended his association with H. A. Forsyth and instead was commissioned to make several films for Stanley Crick and Herbert Finlay, starting with Ben Hall and his Gang (1910).[8][31]

Reception

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According to the The Truth "the film is remarkable for its clearness, and is sure to become a great success throughout Australia".[32]

The Sunday Times said "Apart from the question whether any good purpose Is served by glorifying the deeds of the outlaw 'Moonlite' challenges praise from the stand point of realistic photography. All the films are clear and sharp, and the 'chase' effects while the police are in pursuit of Captain Moonlite and his gang are wonderfully well done. In, addition to the 'Moonlite' pictures a number of excel lent cinematograph views of the Sydney Harbor, Darling Harbor, Lane Cove River, and Parramatta River are shown."[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Moonlite in picture". The Evening News. Sydney. 31 December 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d "When the Australian-Produced Picture Made Big Money.", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 9 May 1923, nla.obj-562121240, retrieved 1 July 2024 – via Trove
  3. ^ Mary Bateman, 'W. J. Lincoln', Cinema Papers, June–July 1980 p 173
  4. ^ ""Captain Moonlite."". Queensland Times (DAILY ed.). Ipswich, Queensland. 20 March 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "Southern Cross Motion Pictures". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 December 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "SOUTHERN CROSS PICTURES". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 January 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 24 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 12.
  9. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. 4 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Theatrical Gossip". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Sydney. 17 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Vagg, Stephen (24 July 2019). "50 Meat Pie Westerns". Filmink. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  12. ^ Routt, William D. (18 October 2020). "More Australian than Aristotelian: The Australian Bushranger Film, 1904-1914". Senses of Cinema.
  13. ^ "Entertainments". The Brisbane Courier. 13 March 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 January 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. 11 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Advertising". The Evening News. Sydney. 4 January 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Who's Who in the Movies". Table Talk. Melbourne. 18 October 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 13 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Advertising". The Sunday Sun. No. 401. New South Wales, Australia. 4 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Moonlite". The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. NSW. 4 February 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. 4 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "General gossip". Referee. No. 1258. New South Wales, Australia. 14 December 1910. p. 15. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ a b "Making a thriller". The Sun. No. 162. New South Wales, Australia. 5 January 1911. p. 8 (Latest edition). Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Cycling chatter". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. X, no. 601. New South Wales, Australia. 28 December 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "The Perils of a Blograph Artist". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Sydney. 3 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Theatrical Notes". Queensland Figaro. Brisbane. 16 March 1911. p. 17. Retrieved 4 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ ""Moonlite" private view". The Sun. No. 158. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 5 (Final Sporting). Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Advertising". The Evening News. Sydney. 31 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Southern Cross Pictures". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 January 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 30 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "A Great Australian". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Vol. 15, no. 8. New South Wales, Australia. 4 November 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Film Theatres and Players". The Sydney Mail. 16 May 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 31 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Advertising". The Referee. Sydney. 4 January 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 3 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Southern Cross Motion Pictures". The Truth. Sydney. 1 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 30 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Southern Cross Pictures". Sunday Times. No. 1302. New South Wales, Australia. 1 January 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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