The Burgomeister Explained

The Burgomeister
Director:Harry Southwell
Producer:Harry Southwell
Based On:the play The Bells adapted by Leopold Lewis
from the play Le Juif Polonais by Erckmann-Chatrian
Starring:Janet Ramsey Johnson
Music:Isador Goodman
Cinematography:George Heath
Editing:William Shepherd
Studio:Film Players Corporation
Distributor:Scott Films
Runtime:56 minutes
Language:English
Country:Australia
Budget:£10,000[1]

The Burgomeister is a 1935 Australian film directed by Harry Southwell based on the 1867 play Le juif polonais (aka The Bells) by Erckmann-Chatrian, adapted into English in 1871 by Leopold Lewis, previously filmed a number of times. The Burgomeister is considered a 'substantially lost' film, with only one sequence surviving.[2] [3]

Southwell had performed the play in Europe, and had previously filmed it in Belgium (1925) as Le juif polonais (The Bells).[4] This silent film version was shown in Australia in 1928.[5] [6]

Cast

Production

Southwell wanted to make the 1935 remake for less than £4,000.[8] He formed a production company in April 1935 called Film Players Corporation. Among its directors were Sir John Butters, a director of Associated Newspapers, and W.J. Bradley, K.C. and society figure George Rayner.[1] [9]

Production began in June 1935 at Cinesound's Bondi studios.[10] [11] It ended in July with a cost of £10,000.[12]

The original music score was by Isador Goodman, and costumes by Barbara Robison.[13] Rupert Kathner worked as art director.

The final scenes of the film were shot in the snow on Mount Kosciuszko. Cameraman George Heath worked under difficult conditions including freezing cold and a blizzard.[14]

Release

During pre-production, RKO signed to distribute the movie in Australia and Britain.[15] The film was refused registration under the quality clause of the New South Wales Film Quota Act.[16]

It was previewed on 29 September 1935[17] but was not screened commercially. This caused the investors to lose their money, an event which was blamed for scaring Australian investors away from putting their money into local films.[18]

A re-edited version of the film called Hypnotized screened in some country areas. In 1937 the move was released in the UK as Flames of Conscience.[1]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 171.
  2. Web site: NFSA's Most Wanted. National Film and Sound Archive. 1 September 2021.
  3. Web site: The Burgomeister. lost-films.eu. Andreas. Huber. 6 February 2013. 1 September 2021.
  4. Web site: The Bells. australiancinema.info. 1 September 2021.
  5. News: "The Bells" Film. The Daily News. Perth. 20 June 1928. 1 September 2021. 8 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: "The Bells". The West Australian. Perth. 27 June 1928. 1 September 2021. 16. National Library of Australia.
  7. News: First Australian Feature. The Australian Women's Weekly. 13 July 1935. 1 September 2021. 24. National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Local Film Production. The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 November 1932. 1 September 2021. 9. National Library of Australia.
  9. News: "The Burgomeister". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 May 1935. 1 September 2021. 12. National Library of Australia.
  10. News: In the Studio. The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 June 1935. 1 September 2021. 15. National Library of Australia.
  11. News: Talkie Production. The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 July 1935. 1 September 2021. 12. National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Studio Party. . 29 July 1935. 1 September 2021. 4. National Library of Australia.
  13. Web site: 'The Burgomeister.'. The Sydney Morning Herald. 5. 13 June 1935. 1 September 2021.
  14. Web site: The Burgomeister: Scenes at Kosciusko. The Sydney Morning Herald . 5 August 1935. 6. 1 September 2021.
  15. News: "The Burgomeister". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 1935. 1 September 2021. 10. National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Film Quota. The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 December 1936. 1 September 2021. 7. National Library of Australia.
  17. News: "The Burgomeister". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 September 1935. 1 September 2021. 8. National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Quota Films. Conference Urged.. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 1937. 1 September 2021. 10. National Library of Australia.

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