| For the Term of His Natural Life | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Charles MacMahon |
| Produced by | Charles MacMahon E.J. Carroll |
| Based on | a stage adaptation of the novel by Marcus Clarke |
| Starring | Martyn Keith |
| Cinematography | Byers Coates |
| Release date(s) | 8 August 1908 |
| Running time | 2,000 feet (45 - 60 mins)[1]. |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
| Budget | £7,000[2] |
For the Term of His Natural Life is a 1908 Australian silent film based on the novel by Marcus Clarke. This was the first screen adaptation of the novel, which was later filmed in 1911, 1927 and 1983.
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The film's plot was a collection of highlights from the novel, such as "The Convict Mutiny in the 'Malabar'," "The Burning of the 'Hydaspes'," "The Murder on Hampstead Heath," "The Solitary of Grummet Island," and "The Life and Death Struggle Between Gabbett and his Famished Escapees". The movie kept the tragic ending of the novel, with Rufus Dawes and Sylvia perishing in a storm after Reverend North had helped Dawes escape.[3].
The MacMahon brothers had enjoyed success producing a version of the novel on stage, and allocated a considerable budget for the movie, including a shooting schedule of several months and location work in Port Arthur. The scene involving the burning of a sailing ship was staged with a model ship in a tank.[4]
Based on a popular stage adaptation of the novel, the movie was a big success at the box office, running in cinemas on and off until World War I[5][6]. Screenings were usually accompanied by an actor, who would provide descriptive commentary to what was on screen.[7]
Today it is considered a lost film.
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