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''The Romance of Runnibede'' is a 1928 Australian
A company was formed to make the film, Phillips Films Productions Ltd, with capital of £100,000. The prime mover behind it was American businessman Frederick Phillips, who succeeded raising the money when the industry was excited about the success of '' For the Term of His Natural Life'' (1927). Investors in the company included Steele Rudd and William Reed, Eva Novak's husband.
Several people were imported from America, including the director, Scott Dunlap, and star, Eva Novak. Dunlap's arrival was delayed so initial work was directed by William Reed. He received advice from Wallace Worsley, an American director visiting Australia at the time.
The movie was shot on location at an aboriginal reserve near Murgon in Queensland and in a studio at Rushcutters Bay.
''The Romance of Runnibede''
at
Full text of original novel
at
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 ...
based on an incident in a book by Steele Rudd. Unlike many Australian silent movies, a copy of it exists today.
Synopsis
Dorothy Winchester finishes four years of school and returns home to North Queensland where her father has a large station. She is kidnapped by a tribe of local aboriginals who believe she is the reincarnation of a queen. She is pursued by two men who love her: Tom Linton, a stockman on her father's property, and Sub-Inspector Dale, a mounted policeman. One of the men gives his life to save Dorothy.Cast
* Eva Novak as Dorothy Winchester *Gordon Collingridge
Gordon Collingridge was an Australian actor during the silent film era. He played many matinee idol type roles, most notably for director Beaumont Smith and opposite Louise Lovely in ''Jewelled Nights'' (1925). Lovely called him "the male screen ...
as Tom Linton
*Claude Sauders as Sub-Inspector Dale
*Roland Conway
Roland James Conway (born James Edward Wayland; 1882 – 16 June 1960) was an Australian actor and producer best known for his work in silent films of the era. In the 1930s, he was president of the Actors' Federation of Australasia.
In 1927, he ...
as Arthur Winchester
*Dunstan Webb
Dunstan Webb was an Australian actor and director, who was a particular favourite of Australasian Films.
Filmography
*''In the Last Stride'' (1916) – actor
*''The Breaking of the Drought'' (1920) – actor
*''The Man from Snowy River (1920 film ...
as Goondai
*Marion Marcus Clarke as Miss Frazer
*Virginia Ainworth as Mrs Conley
Production
A company was formed to make the film, Phillips Films Productions Ltd, with capital of £100,000. The prime mover behind it was American businessman Frederick Phillips, who succeeded raising the money when the industry was excited about the success of '' For the Term of His Natural Life'' (1927). Investors in the company included Steele Rudd and William Reed, Eva Novak's husband.
Several people were imported from America, including the director, Scott Dunlap, and star, Eva Novak. Dunlap's arrival was delayed so initial work was directed by William Reed. He received advice from Wallace Worsley, an American director visiting Australia at the time.
The movie was shot on location at an aboriginal reserve near Murgon in Queensland and in a studio at Rushcutters Bay.
Reception
Phillips announced plans to map more films with Dunlap and gave evidence at theRoyal Commission on the Moving Picture Industry in Australia
The Royal Commission on the Moving Picture Industry in Australia was held from 1926–1928. It explored a series of issues to do with the Australian film industry, with evidence given by a number of leading figures at the time including Franklyn ...
that Australian industry did not require subsidy. The film was previewed in Sydney in September 1927, seen by members of the Royal Commission, and was acclaimed by the critic from the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' who said it "deserves unqualified praise".
However ''Romance'' proved to be a major disappointment at the box office and by May 1928 the company was in liquidation. Steele Rudd lost most of the money he invested and Eva Novak left Australia still owed £3,000 in salary.
The movie did obtain release in the UK in 1928.
References
External links
*''The Romance of Runnibede''
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 ...
Full text of original novel
at
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg (PG) is a Virtual volunteering, volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, as well as to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks."
It was founded in 1971 by American writer Michael S. Hart and is the ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Romance of Runnibede, The
1928 films
Australian silent feature films
Australian black-and-white films
1928 drama films
Silent Australian drama films