The Life of Rufus Dawes is a 1911 Australian silent film based on Alfred Dampier

Alfred 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...

's stage adaptation of the novel For the Term of His Natural Life

For the Term of his Natural Life

For the Term of His Natural Life, written by Marcus Clarke, was published in the Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872 , appearing as a novel in 1874. It is the best known novelisation of life as a convict in early Australian history...

.

Synopsis

The film was divided into sections:

• ENGLAND - the murder of Sir Richard Devine by Rex for which Devine's son Dick is falsely accused. Parson North denounces Rex.
• VAN DIEMEN'S LAND - the convict settlement at Hell's Gate; life on the chain gang; Gabbet's escape and capture; Chaplain North gives the convicts tobacco; Major Vickers announces the move to Port Arthur; the attack and the depature.
• THE MUTINY - the Osprey overtaken by convicts, the mutineers maroon the survivors
• MAROONED - two weeks later Rufus Dawes saved by Sylvia Vickers. Three months later Major Vickers' search for the castaways and Mrs Vickers dies. Lt Frere accuses Rufus Dawes of the crime.
• PORT ARTHUR - Dawes escapes, Sylvia Vickers failrs to recognise him at first but then it comes back. Lady Devine arrives to see her son.
• THE END - convicts confess and Rufus Dawes gets a pardon.

Production

The film was the last of three movies 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...

 directed for 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:...

, all of them based on popular stage shows and starring Rolfe, his wife Lily Dampier

Lily Dampier

Lily 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...

 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...

. The others were Captain Midnight, the Bush King

Captain Midnight, the Bush King

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.-Synopsis:...

(1911) and 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). Rolfe then left Spencer to work for the Australian Photo-Play Company under Stanley Crick

Stanley Crick

Stanley Sadler Crick was an Australian film producer, distributor and politician. He managed Fox Film Corporation's Australian operation from 191 to 1938 and served as Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1940 to 1942.-External links:...

.

Cast

• 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...
  
   as Rufus Dawes
• Lily Dampier
  Lily Dampier
  Lily 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...
  
  
• 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...
  
   as Gabbett
• 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...