Sentenced for Life (1911 film) explained

Sentenced for Life
Director:Edward Irham Cole
Based On:play Sentenced for Life
Starring:Bohemian Dramatic Company
Studio:Australian Biograph Company
Distributor:Pathes Freres[1]
Runtime:2,000 feet or 1,250 feet[2]
Language:Silent film
English intertitles
Country:Australia

Sentenced for Life is an Australian film directed by E. I. Cole. It was an adaptation of a play performed by Cole and his Bohemian Dramatic Company as early as 1904.[3] [4] [5]

It has been called, Sentenced for Life, or the ship owner's daughter.[6]

It is considered a lost film.[7]

Plot

A man is wrongly convicted and sentenced as a convict.[8] According to a contemporary report, "Vivid convict scenes are enacted, ending with a revolt by the prisoners. There is a happy ending of wedding bells."[9] It turns out the young man's rival was responsible and he is punished.[10]

It was set in Van Diemen's Land[11] although one report claims it was New South Wales[12]

The story starts in England, A shipowner's daughter is loved by two men, an artistocrat, Captain Hood, and a poorer man, Hayward. The aristocrtat frames Hayward for a crime he did not commit and is transported to Australia. The daughter proves the aristocrat a criminal and he is transposrted too. In Australia, prisoners revolt. Hayward is accused of leading the rebellion by the aristocrat and is whipped. However Hood on his deathbed confesses to his crimes. Hayward is restored to his girl and they get married.[13] [14] [15]

Chapter headings were:

Original play

Sentenced for Life
Director:Edward Irham Cole
Premiere:1904
Orig Lang:English
Subject:melodrama

The play debuted in 1904.[17]

One review said "The convict scenes in Australia were well mounted, and the entertainment as a whole most praiseworthy."[18]

The play was popular and was revive in 1906,[19] 1907,[20] 1908[21] and several other times.

The play was also known as A Convict's Sweetheart.[22]

Cast of theatre production

In 1911 the cast of a theatre production of the play in Geelong was listed as follows:

It is highly likely at least some of these actors repeated their performance in the film.

Reception

The Adelaide Register called it "a particularly fine film".[24]

Perth's Sunday Times said "This paper's recent remarks on the general awfulness of bushranging films has had a desired effect. More than one Westralian bio. firm has wired over to the East excerpts from our notice on some of the celluloid atrocities. Sentenced, for Life and Ben Hall are therefore gone to join the English Clarendon comic films that shocked this State a while back."[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Advertising. . The Referee. Sydney . 26 April 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Australasian Christian Endeavor Convention . . XXXVII . 2694 . South Australia . 22 June 1911 . 10 May 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14593811 "Bohemian Dramatic Comedy." The Sydney Morning Herald 18 Jan 1904: 3
  4. News: BOHEMIAN PICTURE PLAYS. . . 13,133 . Victoria, Australia . 15 February 1913 . 4 April 2024 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: SOUSA AND HIS BAND. . . 17,521 . Victoria, Australia . 13 May 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: LEITCH PICTURES. . . 8034 . Victoria, Australia . 11 May 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 21.
  8. News: Shaftesbury Picture Gardens . . Perth, WA . 8 June 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 2 Edition: 3rd . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Amusements . . Adelaide . 12 June 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Local and General Topics. . . Gawler, SA . 30 June 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: North's Concerts. . . XLX . 2586 . Victoria, Australia . 13 May 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  12. .News: Sentenced for Life. . . VIII . 417 . Queensland, Australia . 5 August 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Picture Entertainments. . . 17 . 137 . Western Australia . 6 July 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: VITOSCOPE PICTURES. . . XLVIII . 14,334 . South Australia . 12 June 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 1 (5 o'clock.) . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: AMUSEMENTS. . The Advertiser . LIII . 16,428 . South Australia . 12 June 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Advertising. . . 17 June 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Advertising . The Daily Telegraph . 7681 . New South Wales, Australia . 18 January 1904 . 5 April 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Bill of the Play . . 6 . 70 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 January 1904 . 5 April 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: Stage, Song and Show . . 5610 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 February 1906 . 5 April 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Advertising . . 16,377 . Victoria, Australia . 7 September 1907 . 5 April 2024 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Advertising . . 16596 . Victoria, Australia . 22 May 1908 . 5 April 2024 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: "A Convict's Sweetheart" . Daily Standard . 1761 . Queensland, Australia . 8 August 1918 . 5 April 2024 . 7 (second edition) . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: Advertising. . . 1 July 1911 . 4 December 2014 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: PATHE'S PICTURES. . . LXXVI . 20,176 . South Australia . 12 July 1911 . 9 May 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: The PRINTED WORD . . 703 . Western Australia . 25 June 1911 . 10 May 2024 . 17 . National Library of Australia.

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