The Tide of Death

The Tide of Death is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford. It was based on an original story by Longford.^[2]. It is considered a lost film.

Synopsis

The film opens with a young mining contractor, Philip Maxwell (Augustus Neville), blowing up a rock at a mining site, then going to the bank to get wages for his crew. "The Lizard", a camp loafer, learns about this and informs Black Dan Bryce (Frank Harcourt), who decides to rob Philip with his gang. This is overheard by Dan's step daughter Sylvia (Lottie Lyell) who rides for help. Philip, finding he is pursued, conceals the money just before he is captured by Dan and refuses to say where it is. Dan tries to get him to talk by tying Philip to a stake in the middle of a rising tidal creek, but Sylvia manages to alert Philip's mining crew, who come to the rescue.

Two years later Philip and Sylvia are married and have a baby, Edna. Their house is burgled by Dan and his old gang, who recognise Sylvia and kidnap her. Unable to find any trace of his wife, Philip thinks she has left him, so sells his property and goes abroad with Edna (Little Annie Gentile). Black Dan's gang argue amongst themselves enabling Sylvia to escape. When she finds Philip has gone she enters a convent and becomes a teacher. Three years later Philip and Edna return to Australia and are reunited with Sylvia through the chance discovery of a lost bangle of Edna's.^[3][4]

Reception

The film was well received by critics and the public.^[5]

Cast

• Lottie Lyell as Sylvia Grey
• Augustus Neville as Philip Maxwell
• Frank Harcourt as Black Dan
• Bert Harvey as Dan gang member
• DL Dalziel as Dan gang member
• D Sweeney as Dan gang member
• G Flinn as bushman
• Fred Twitcham as bushman
• Arthur Steel as bushman
• Joe Hamilton as Mat Davis
• Lois Cumming as Jenny
• Little Annie Gentile as Little Edna

References

External links

• The Tide of Death at the Internet Movie Database
• The Tide of Death at National Film and Sound Archive