''The Christian'' is a 1911 Australian

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

starring

Roy Redgrave George Ellsworthy "Roy" Redgrave (26 April 1873 – 25 May 1922) was an English stage and silent film actor. Redgrave is considered to be the first member of the Redgrave acting dynasty. Early life Born George Edward Redgrave in 122 Kenningt ...

and

Eugenie Duggan Eugenie Marian Duggan (1872 – 2 November 1936) was a popular Australian stage actress. She was the sister of the actors Edmund, P.J. and Kathleen Duggan. She began studying acting, won a number of elocution competitions and made her professio ...

. It was the first film directed by

Franklyn Barrett Walter Franklyn Barrett (1873 – 16 July 1964), better known as Franklyn Barrett, was an Australian film director and cinematographer. He worked for a number of years for West's Pictures. It was later written of the filmmaker that "Barrett's visu ...

. The film was based on

Hall Caine Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine (14 May 1853 – 31 August 1931), usually known as Hall Caine, was a British novelist, dramatist, short story writer, poet and critic of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Caine's popularity during ...

's play adapted from his novel ''The Christian'' which was published in 1897 and the first British novel to sell one million copies. It is considered a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy o ...

Plot

Clergyman John Storm is doing mission work in the slums of London when he meets Glory, a girl from the country, who has been persuaded by Lord Robert Ure to seek a career on the stage. Storm tries to persuade Glory not to do it but she refuses. He then asks Lord Ure, which so infuriates him he sends someone to burn down Storm's mission hall. Storm is unconscious inside but he is rescued at the last minute. He goes to see Glory, determined to save her soul, by killing her if need be. But he comes to his senses and the two of them are married.Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, ''Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production'', Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p28

Cast

as John Storm *Rutland Beckett as Lord Robert Ure *

as Glory Quayle * Olive Wilton as Polly Love *Marie D'Alton as Lady Robert Ure *Lily Bryer as Mrs James Callender *Alfred Harford as Lord Storm * Edmund Duggan as Father Enderby * Fred Kehoe as Parson Quayle *

Bert Bailey Albert Edward Bailey (11 June 1868 – 30 March 1953), better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born Australian playwright, theatrical manager and stage and screen actor best known for playing Dad Rudd, in both mediums, the character from ...

as Archdeacon Wealthy *George Kensington as Brother Paul *Max Clifton as Horatio Drake *Gus Franks as Mr Jupe *Mabs Howth as Liza

Production

The film is based on a popular play that had been recently been produced in Sydney by

William Anderson William Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * William Anderson (artist) (1757–1837), painter of marine and historical paintings * William Anderson (theatre) (1868–1940), Australian stage entrepreneur * William Anderson (1911–1986), ...

in September 1911.

had played the role of John Storm in England for two years prior to coming to Australia. Indoor scenes were shot at Wonderland in Bondi, which was owned by Anderson. Shooting also appears to have taken place at West's studios, which were on top of their headquarters in Pitt Street, Sydney. Roy Redgrave later claimed that he produced the picture:

I had a very strenuous time producing this picture, as I had also to play John Storm, the while I was telling the members who were acting in the scenes what to do. All the time I was doing this I thought that when ''The Christian'' was thrown upon the white screen John Storm would be mistaken for a ventriloquist. It turned out to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Redgrave would revive the role on stage throughout the rest of his career.

Later Versions

There were other film versions of the play in 1914 (from Hollywood), 1915 (from England) and 1923 (from Hollywood).

References

External links

*
Original story of ''The Christian'' by Hall Caine''The Christian''
at

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national co ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, The 1911 films Australian silent feature films Australian black-and-white films Lost Australian films 1911 drama films Films based on multiple works Films based on British novels Australian films based on plays Films set in England 1911 lost films Lost drama films Films directed by Franklyn Barrett Silent Australian drama films Films based on works by Hall Caine