''Assigned to his Wife'' is a 1911 Australian silent film from director

John Gavin John A. Gavin (born Juan Vincent Apablasa; April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American actor who was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (1971–73), and the United States Ambassador to Mexico (1981–86). Among the films he appeared ...

. It is a convict-era "military romantic melodrama".

Plot

The film is set in the early 1840s in England and

Van Diemen's Land Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration of Australia in the 19th century. A British settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land in 1803 before it became a sepa ...

and concerns Jack Throsbie (John Gavin), an English soldier who is falsely accused of a crime and sentenced to Australia, where he befriends an aboriginal boy. The chapter headings were: #Colonel McGregor's quarters at Aldershot. Capt. Danvers, the Colonel's secretary, proposes marriage to Miss Bess Wilmot and is refused. Bess confesses her love for Jack Throsbie to whom she is secretly married. #Husband and wife. #A dastardly reminder. Falsely accused. Court martial held. Condemned to death. A brother's remorse. #Transported to Van Diemen's Land. #Eight months later. Captain Danvers arrives in Hobart as relieving officer in charge of the settlement. Mrs. Throsbie follow her unhappy husband to Van Diemen's Land. Jack is assigned to his wife. #A wolf in sheep's clothing. Jack Throsbie's home. Dennie's happiness. #Captain Danvers shows his true colours. #A cry for help. Jack Throsbie defends his wife against Captain Danvers. In the Grip of the Law. A Wife's Despair. #The deserted hut. Yacka (A. Delaware) and the troopers. #To the Bush. The trooper's Discomfiture. The biter bitten. The bush camp. Yacka falls into the hands of the troopers. #Jack Throsbie to the rescue. A dying man's confession. The sensational swim across the river. The escape of the black boy Yacka. The Governor of the settlement (H. Benson) brings Tess news of Jack Throsbie's innocence. #Down the rapids. #Sensational dive by "the black boy" Yacka. #Bess Throsbie's home. Jacks brings news of Jack Throsbie's capture. Husband and wife meet again. Yacka is pardoned. #Death of Captain Danvers. #Good-bye Van Diemen's Land. England Once more. Honour to whom honour is due. Under the old flag. Yacka the black boy in England. #Happiness at last. The main situations in the film were advertised as being: *about to be shot for treachery; *the fight with the guards; *the blackboy's wonderful escape; *swimming the river on horseback; *the fight on the river; *the flogging.

Cast

as Jack Throsbie *

Agnes Gavin Agnes Gavin (1872–1947), was an Australian actor and screenwriter in the silent film era. She worked in collaboration with her husband John Gavin throughout her career. She wrote the majority of his films and was arguably the first specialist s ...

as Bess Wilmot *H Harding as Captain Denvers *Carr Austin as Colonel McGregor *W Power as Harry Wilmot *J Harris as Sandy McDougall *H Benson as Governor of the Settlement *F Henderson as Trooper McGuire *A. Delaware as Yacko, the Black Boy *Miss Daphne as Bertha McGregor

Production

The film was shot on location in bush near Sydney and at Gavin's improvised studio in Waverly. A highlight was a dive of 250 feet (76.2 m) by Yacka off a cliff into a river.

Reception

The film was reportedly successful at the box office. It was meant to be followed by another from Gavin ''The White Hope'' but it does not appear this was made.

References

External links

* {{John Gavin 1911 films Australian black-and-white films Australian silent feature films Films directed by John Gavin Melodrama films Australian romantic drama films 1911 romantic drama films Silent romantic drama films