Moonlite

Moonlite

Production still from making film
Directed by John Gavin
Produced by H. A. Forsyth
Written by H. A. Forsyth[1]
Based on the play Captain Moonlight by W. J. Lincoln[2]
Starring John Gavin
Agnes Gavin
Cinematography A.J. Moulton[3]
Production
company
Southern Cross Film Enterprise[4]
Release date
 31 December 1910 (Sydney)[5][6]
Running time
 4,000 feet[7]
Country Australia
Language Silent
Budget ₤1,000[8][9]

Moonlite is a 1910 bushranger film about Captain Moonlite, played by John Gavin, who also directed. It was also known as Captain Moonlite and is considered a lost film.

It followed on the success of Thunderbolt (1910), also made by Gavin and Forsyth.[10]

Synopsis

In the early 1870s, a New Zealand army officer, Captain George Scott, is caught cheating at cards and brutally beats a fellow officer. Disgraced and discharged, he joins the clergy and falls in love with the beautiful Ruth Clarke, whose brother has embezzled a large amount of money and is going to be arrested. For her sake he robs the Edgerton Bank, and arranges to leave by boat to England. The police arrive as he gets on the boat the Lady Isabelle and although he attempts to swim away he is wounded and arrested. Constables Ryan and Mae have their first case.

Scott later escapes from gaol by strangling a warden and releasing another prisoner. He becomes a bushranger under the name of "Moonlite", forming a gang which includes Ruth's brother. He saves an aboriginal "gin" called Bunda Bunda from downing, then goes on to rob the gold escort, distributing some of this money to the poor.

Moonlite and his gang go on to stick up a country pub and the police send Inspector Carroll and his men after him. Moonlite's gang hold up Wantabadgery Station, and Carroll gives chase but they are fought off and Bunda Bunda saves Moonlite's life.[11]

Ryan and Mac make a capture, and Bunda Bunda shoots the tracker after Moonlite. Eventually Moonlite is captured at McCreedy's farm after a shootout by Inspector Carroll in which Bunda Bunda is killed. He is taken away to gaol for the last time to be executed. All Ruth is left with is his cross.[12][13]

The chapter headings were as follows:[14]

  1. The Great Military Scene
  2. Scott as a Minister
  3. Scott Robs the Egerton Bank
  4. Ryan and Mac's First Case
  5. Scott's Great Escape from the Boat Lady Isabel
  6. Scott's Swim: Arrest and Escape from Gaol
  7. The Forming of the Gang
  8. To the Bush ; Scott Saves Bunda Bunda; Bunda Bunda's Swim
  9. Gold Escort Robbery
  10. Scott's Kindness to the Poor
  11. Sticking Up the Roadside Pub
  12. Troopers Drilling Under Inspector Carrol
  13. Sticking Up Wantabadgery Station
  14. Great Police Chase
  15. Scott's Strategy and Defeat of Inspector Carrol
  16. Ryan and Mac Make a Capture
  17. Ryan and Mac Drilling for Duty
  18. Young Clarke, the Bushranging bareback Rider
  19. Bunda Bunda Shoots the Tracker
  20. The Great Fight at McCready's Farm
  21. Moonlite's last Journey to Gaol
  22. The Cross is All that is Left to Ruth.

Cast

Production

The plot appears to have been heavily influenced by the classic novel Robbery Under Arms.[16]

The film was shot at Victoria Barracks in Sydney and in the bush around Lithgow, with a budget of over ₤1,000.[17] over 200 people were reportedly involved in the film.[18]

Gavin was almost attacked by a shark while shooting an escape sequence near Glebe Island – producer H.A. Forsyth had to throw a dog overboard to distract the shark and save Gavin.[19]

Release

Screenings of the film were usually accompanied by a lecturer.

Many advertisements for the film would mention Forysth but not Gavin.[20]

The first public screening was a sellout.[21] According to Gavin, the film was a massive success at the box office.[22]

However, he then ended his association with H. A. Forsyth and instead was commissioned to make several films for Stanley Crick and Herbert Finlay, starting with Ben Hall and his Gang (1910).[8][23]

According to some reports the film went for 11,000 feet (over 80 minutes).[24] However most reports put the length of the film at 4,000 feet.

According to the Truth "the film is remarkable for its clearness, and is sure to become a great success throughout Australia."[25]

References

  1. ↑ "MOONLITE IN PICTURE.". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Mary Bateman, 'W. J. Lincoln', Cinema Papers, June–July 1980 p 173
  3. ↑ ""CAPTAIN MOONLITE.".". Queensland Times. Ipswich, Queensland: National Library of Australia. 20 March 1911. p. 4 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "SOUTHERN CROSS MOTION PICTURES.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "SOUTHERN CROSS MOTION PICTURES.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "SOUTHERN CROSS PICTURES.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 January 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  8. 1 2 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 12.
  9. ↑ "Advertising.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 4 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Theatrical Gossip.". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "ENTERTAINMENTS.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 13 March 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 January 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Advertising.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 11 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  14. ↑ "Advertising.". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 4 January 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Who's Who in the Movies.". Table Talk. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 18 October 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Moonlite.". The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. NSW: National Library of Australia. 4 February 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  17. ↑ "Advertising.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 4 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "MOONLITE IN PICTURE.". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "The Perils of a Blograph Artist.". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 3 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  20. ↑ "Advertising.". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "SOUTHERN CROSS PICTURES.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 January 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Film Theatres and Players.". The Sydney Mail. National Library of Australia. 16 May 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Advertising.". The Referee. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 4 January 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  24. ↑ "Theatrical Notes.". Queensland Figaro. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 16 March 1911. p. 17. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  25. ↑ "SOUTHERN CROSS MOTION PICTURES.". The Truth. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 1 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
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