4.6 /10 1 Votes
Directed by Mrs E. I. Cole Distributed by Pathe Freres Running time 2,500 feet Directors E. I. Cole, E. J. Cole Adapted from A Bushranger's Ransom | 4.6/10 IMDb Based on play by E. I. Cole Release date 28 March 1911 Initial release 28 March 1911 (Australia) Story by E. I. Cole | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Starring E. I. Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company
Mungo Freddie
William Keightley Cast E.J. Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company Similar The Shadow of Lightning, Captain Starlight - or Gentlema, Trooper O'Brien, Captain Midnight - the Bush, When the Kellys Rode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bushranger's Ransom, or A Ride for Life is an Australian film starring the Bohemia Dramatic Company of E. I. Cole. It is adapted from a stage play about a real-life raid by bushranger Ben Hall on the Keightley household near Bathurst in 1863.
Contents
It reportedly features the first Australian aboriginal actor in a film.
It is considered a lost film.
Plot
In 1863 Ben Hall and his men, Johnny Gilbert, John O'Meally, John Vane and Rick Burke hide out at their camp at the Black Stump, close to Rockley, over looking the Bathurst-road. Their guard is the aboriginal Mulga Fred.
After a successful raid upon Bathurst, Hall discovers that the gold commissioner at Dunn's Plains, near Rockley (about 30 miles from Bathurst), had determined to break up the gang.
Hall led a raid on Keightley's house. Warned by his son, Cyril, of the bushrangers' approach, Mr. Keightley accompanied by his wife and a friend, Dr. Pechey, barricaded themselves in the house, where they resisted for six hours.
The bushrangers drew straws to see who should blow the lock of the door open. The loser was Mick Bourke who was accidentally shot by a comrade. In his pain he asked to be put out of his mesery and Ben Hall did so.
Eventually the defenders surrender, their ammunition having run out. John Vane wanted to shoot Keightley in revenge for Bourke but Hall refuses to do so. Hall and his men spend the night at the homestead.
Hall offers to spare Mr Keightley's life if he can raise £500 and gives his wife eight hours to ride 62 miles to Bathurst to collect the money from her father at the bank. She manages to accomplish this just before the bushrangers are about to shoot Keightley, and Hall leaves the homestead with the Keightleys alive.
Characters
Cast
Original play
The Bohemian Dramatic Company produced a play based on the Keightley raid called Ransom in 1907. It was revived in 1908 and many times afterwards.
The play had been performed throughout Australia by Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company.
Production
According to contemporary advertisements, "all the pictures were taken on the spot, and are an exact representation of the actual occurrences."
Mulga Freddie, who appeared in the film, was an aboriginal buckjumper of the time who frequently appeared in touring shows. The movie also starred William Keightley, son of the real life Keightley.
A contemporary newspaper report said the film was "arranged by Mrs E. I. Cole" implying that it was E. I. Cole's wife who directed it.
Reception
The Advertiser called the film "a .capital representation of the play, which portrays a striking and thrilling episode in the career of Ben Hall."