The Guyra Ghost Mystery

Plot

In Guyra, New South Wales, the Bowen family are visited by ghosts. Sherlock Doyle, an expert in ghosts, goes to the town to investigate.

Cast

John Cosgrove as Sherlock Doyle

Production

In April 1921, the family of William Bowen in Guyra reported knocking on the walls and stones being thrown on their roof. This continued even when police and volunteers guarded the house. One of the children later confessed to throwing some stones and it is through that practical jokers were behind it, but the mystery was never completely solved.

The story became a media sensation in 1921 and several film projects based on it were announced but this was the only one made. It was partly funded by a Guyra exhibitor and shot on location in the town. The Bowen family themselves appear in the cast. The character of Sherlock Doyle was a spoof of Mr Moors, a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shooting only took three days.

Reception

The movie performed poorly at the box office. It was the only director credit for actor John Cosgrove, although he wrote the scripts of several other movies.