| Remorse, a Story of the Red Plague | |
| Director: | J. E. Mathews |
| Starring: | Cyril Mackay |
| Cinematography: | Harry Krischok |
| Studio: | Mathews Photoplay Producing Company |
| Distributor: | Co-Operative Film Exchange (NSW) |
| Runtime: | 4 reels |
| Language: | Silent film English intertitles |
| Country: | Australia |
Remorse, a Story of the Red Plague is a 1917 Australian silent film about a naive country boy who visits the big city and contracts syphilis. The movie is now considered a lost film.[1]
Jack Rundle (Cyril Mackay) works on a station and falls in love with his father's ward, Nellie Fallon (Mabel Dyson). When he goes to the city on business he falls into bad company, contracts syphilis and returns home to find himself an outcast. Years later he finds his brother Ted has married Nellie. He then kills himself.
The film was shot in Adelaide, using pupils from Mathews' acting school.[2]
There was some doubt over whether the movie would be released. But the South Australian censor passed it because they regarded it as having a moral message, although children under sixteen were not admitted.[3] Public response was very strong.[4] [5]
The film was originally banned in New South Wales by the censor but this was overturned on appeal.[1]