Captain Midnight, the Bush King
Encyclopedia
Captain Midnight, the Bush King is a 1911 Australian silent film about the fictitious bushranger
Captain Midnight which was the directorial debut of actor Alfred Rolfe
.
Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with squatter's daughter Thelma Warren, who he romances under the name of Captain Fenton. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape.
Edgar marries Thelma as "Fenton" but is revealed as a criminal. however Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. He is united with Thelma, leaving Elsa alone.
(Rolfe's father in law). Lottie Lyell
and Raymond Longford
made their feature film debuts as second leads.
Charles Cozens Spencer
hired Englishman Alan J. Williamson to oversee production. Williamson later said that the script only came to half a dozen pages and was carefully written to not have any interior scenes as there were no studio facilities at the time. Shooting took place in the Sydney suburbs of Narrabeen and Frenchs Forest, with an average of five or six scenes being filmed a day. Williamson claimed occasionally reshoots were needed but the actors were unavailable because of theatrical commitments, so they would just write a title to cover it. The budget was originally ₤300 but went up to ₤800.
later made two other literary adaptations set in colonial Australia, Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road
(1911) and The Life of Rufus Dawes
(1911) and Spencer would later finance the directorial debut of Raymond Longford
, The Fatal Wedding
(1911), as well as a number of his subsequent films.
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
Captain Midnight which was the directorial debut of actor Alfred Rolfe
Alfred Rolfe (director)
Alfred Rolfe was an Australian film director and actor. He was the son-in-law of Alfred Dampier and husband to Lily Dampier...
.
Synopsis
Edgar Dalimore (Alfred Rolfe) is the son of wealthy station owner Cecil Dalimore, who is persuaded to disinherit his son on false ground by villainous nephew Vincent Lennox. Lennox and an associate, John Stirling, rob a safe belonging to the senior Dallimore, resulting in the latter's death. Edgar is wrongfully accused of the murder and is given a life sentence. He escapes and becomes a bushranger under the name of 'Captain Midnight', helped by Ned Harling, a bushman who worked for his father, and Ned's daughter Elsa, who loves Edgar.Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with squatter's daughter Thelma Warren, who he romances under the name of Captain Fenton. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape.
Edgar marries Thelma as "Fenton" but is revealed as a criminal. however Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. He is united with Thelma, leaving Elsa alone.
Production
The film was adapted from The Bush King by W.J. Lincoln, a stage play which had been produced by Alfred DampierAlfred Dampier
Alfred Dampier was an English-born actor-managerand playwright, active in Australia. Dampier was born in Horsham, Sussex, England, the son of John Dampier, builder, and his wife Mary, née Daly.. Dampier had a stage career in Manchester before moving to Melbourne, Australia in 1873. Dampier soon...
(Rolfe's father in law). Lottie Lyell
Lottie Lyell
Lottie Lyell was an Australian actress, screenwriter, editor and filmmaker born in Balmain, Sydney in 1890. She is regarded as Australia’s first film star, and also contributed to the local industry during the silent era with her collaborations with Raymond Longford.-Career:Charlotte Cox pursued...
and Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
made their feature film debuts as second leads.
Charles Cozens Spencer
Charles Cozens Spencer
Charles Cozens Spencer was a British-born film exhibitor and producer, who was a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry.-Biography:...
hired Englishman Alan J. Williamson to oversee production. Williamson later said that the script only came to half a dozen pages and was carefully written to not have any interior scenes as there were no studio facilities at the time. Shooting took place in the Sydney suburbs of Narrabeen and Frenchs Forest, with an average of five or six scenes being filmed a day. Williamson claimed occasionally reshoots were needed but the actors were unavailable because of theatrical commitments, so they would just write a title to cover it. The budget was originally ₤300 but went up to ₤800.
Release
It was a popular success - Williamson claimed the film recouped it's budget from one cinema alone. Alfred Rolfe and Charles Cozens SpencerCharles Cozens Spencer
Charles Cozens Spencer was a British-born film exhibitor and producer, who was a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry.-Biography:...
later made two other literary adaptations set in colonial Australia, Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road
Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road
Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road is a 1911 Australian silent film about the bushranger Captain Starlight. It was based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the novel Robbery Under Arms.-Stage Adaptation:...
(1911) and The Life of Rufus Dawes
The Life of Rufus Dawes
The Life of Rufus Dawes is a 1911 Australian silent film based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the novel For the Term of His Natural Life.-Synopsis:The film was divided into sections:...
(1911) and Spencer would later finance the directorial debut of Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
, The Fatal Wedding
The Fatal Wedding
The Fatal Wedding is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford based on a popular American stage melodrama which he and Lottie Lyell had toured around Australia.-Synopsis:...
(1911), as well as a number of his subsequent films.
Cast
- Alfred RolfeAlfred Rolfe (director)Alfred Rolfe was an Australian film director and actor. He was the son-in-law of Alfred Dampier and husband to Lily Dampier...
as Edgar Dalimore/Captain Midnight - Lily DampierLily DampierLily Dampier was an Australian actor of stage and screen. She was the daughter of Alfred Dampier and married to Alfred Rolfe. An earlier marriage had ended in divorce.-Select Filmography:*Captain Midnight, the Bush King...
as Elsa - Raymond LongfordRaymond LongfordRaymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
- Lottie LyellLottie LyellLottie Lyell was an Australian actress, screenwriter, editor and filmmaker born in Balmain, Sydney in 1890. She is regarded as Australia’s first film star, and also contributed to the local industry during the silent era with her collaborations with Raymond Longford.-Career:Charlotte Cox pursued...
External links
- Captain Midnight at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...