Murphy of Anzac explained

Murphy of Anzac
Director:	J. E. Mathews^[1]
Starring:	Martyn Keith
Studio:	Fraser Film Release and Photographic Company
Runtime:	4,000 feet^[2] or four reels^[3]
Language:	Silent film English intertitles
Country:	Australia

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.^[4] It is considered a lost film.^[5]

Plot

John Simpson Kirkpatrick, aka "Murphy", an English emigrant to Queensland, enlists in the army in World War I and is attached to the ambulance corps. On the voyage over he discovers a traitor (Martyn Keith) giving information to the enemy by wireless and overcomes him. The Australian troops land at Gallipoli and Murphy brings the wounded back from the trenches on his donkey. He is killed by a Turkish shell while rescuing his 104th man.^{[6] [7]}

A highlight of the film was the German spy being thrown off a cliff 50 foot into the water.^[8]

Cast

• Martyn Keith as spy^[9]

Production

The film was announced in March 1916.^[10] It was financed by Fraser Films, leading distributors at the time who occasionally invested in productions.^[11]

The cast was largely returned servicemen.^{[12] [13]} The technical adviser was Gallipoli veteran Corporal Robson, who had known Simpson, and who also appeared in the film.^{[5] [14] [15]}

Reception

An article from April 1915 said the film was "drawing crowded houses" in Sydney.^[16]

The film ran for six weeks in Sydney and nine weeks in Melbourne.^[17] It was screening in cinemas as late as 1920.

The Adelaide Mail wrote "The transport scenes are particulariy exciting, especially when a German spy is hurled into the water, a distance of 50 ft."^[18] The Sun said it "was well handled by those responsible for its production."^[19]

Historical accuracy

The film was criticised at the time by Gallipoli veterans for a number of historical errors including showing:

• Murphy being allotted to the AMC when he was with the Ninth Division;
• Murphy's mother in Australia, when she never left England;
• Murphy killed by a shell when he was really killed by machine gun fire;^[20]
• Murphy receiving a white feather, when no such thing happened.^{[21] [22]}

Trivia

In 1919 a returned serviceman called Bailey was found murdered. He was thought to be a owner of a physical copy of the film.^[23]

External links

• • Murphy of Anzac at National Film and Sound Archive

Notes and References

1. News: PRODUCTION OF MOVING PICTURES-- IN AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA. . . XCVIII . 2555 . New South Wales, Australia . 18 December 1918 . 21 November 2023 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: TRIUMPH PICTURES. . . NSW . 8 August 1916 . 14 June 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Burlington Pictures. . . New South Wales, Australia . 13 May 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC. . . Qld. . 30 January 1919 . 14 June 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
5. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 62
6. News: AMUSEMENTS. . . Adelaide . 3 May 1916 . 14 June 2012 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: ENTERTAINMENTS. . . 10 December 1917 . 14 June 2012 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC. . . Adelaide . 22 April 1916 . 14 June 2012 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: Notes from the Picture Sitows . The Sun . 704 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 September 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC . The Sun . 675 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 March 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 22 (SUNDAY EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
11. News: DARDANELLES FILMS . The Sun . 676 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 March 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 22 (SUNDAY EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
12. News: "Murphy, of Anzac.". . . Adelaide . 29 April 1916 . 14 June 2012 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
13. News: BUSINESS IS BUSINESS . The Sun . 677 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 March 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
14. News: Foyle's Empress Pavilion. . . Vic. . 17 June 1916 . 14 June 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
15. News: ALFORD'S PICTURES. . . Tas. . 1 March 1917 . 14 June 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
16. News: STAR PROGRAMMES AT WADDINGON'S . . 24,434 . New South Wales, Australia . 29 April 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
17. News: AMUSEMENTS. . . Hobart, Tas. . 19 February 1917 . 14 June 2012 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
18. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC. . . 3 . 206 . South Australia . 22 April 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
19. News: What The Press Agents Say . The Sun . 686 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 May 1916 . 18 July 2024 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
20. Web site: Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick . 2024-06-26 . www.awm.gov.au . en.
21. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC. . . Qld. . 17 February 1920 . 14 June 2012 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
22. News: "MURPHY, OF ANZAC" . . New South Wales, Australia . 26 April 1920 . 18 July 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
23. News: MURPHY OF ANZAC. . The Daily Telegraph . 12602 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 October 1919 . 14 July 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.