Initial release 1911 | Director Alfred Rolfe | |
Starring Alfred RolfeLily Dampier Similar The Romantic Story of M, Red Sky at Morning, Transported, Journey Among Women, For the Term of his Natural Life |
The Life of Rufus Dawes is a 1911 Australian silent film based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the novel For the Term of His Natural Life produced by Charles Cozens Spencer.
Contents
- Synopsis
- Cast
- Original Play
- First Version of Play
- Rival Versions
- Second Version of Play
- Production
- Release
- Critical Reception
- US Release
- References
It was also known as The Story of Rufus Dawes, or the Term of His Natural Life or The Convict Hero.
The film was the third produced by Charles Cozens Spencer, based on a popular stage adaptation by Alfred Dampier and starring Alfred Rolfe, his wife Lily Dampier and Raymond Longford. ItThe others were Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911) and Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road (1911). Rolfe then left Spencer to work for the Australian Photo-Play Company under Stanley Crick.
It is considered a lost film.
Synopsis
The film was divided into sections:
Unlike the original novel and 1908 film version, this had a happy ending. This was in line with Spencer's version of Robbery Under Arms which had a happier ending than the original novel.
Cast
Original Play
The film was based on a stage play adaptation of the novel which Dampier had performed in.
First Version of Play
Dampier originally did a version of the play in the 1880s where he played Reverend North. The play was adapted by Thomas Walker using the name "Thomas Somers". (Walker later became a speaker for the West Australian Parliament.)
The structure of the play was as follows:
Then the rest of the play set in Van Dieman's Land 1830-37:
It originally ran for only a week at the Alexandra Theatre in Melbourne, and had an unsuccessful revival there in 1890 and in Sydney in 1893.
Rival Versions
Dampier's production of the novel was not the only one available to audiences at the time. In 1886 there was a production adapted by George Leitch In 1887 there was another production in Sydney based on an adaptation by "T. South". Walter Baker also did an adaptation. However Dampier's was allegedly the only production which paid a royalty to Clarke's widow.
Second Version of Play
Dampier later worked on another version with Thomas Walker which had a more successful run in Sydney in 1895, with Rolfe playing Rufus Dawes, Alfred Dampier as Reverend North, and Lily Dampier as Sylvia Vickers. The play structured the story to emphasise the role of Reverend North.
The critic from the Sydney Morning Herald described it as:
Inferior to Robbery Under Arms [another novel adapted by Dampier] as regards dialogue and construction, the characters are for the most part the merest puppets of melodrama, and the dramatic situations are far from convincing. Against all this, on the other hand, the play has to its credit the advantage of an intricate plot clearly set out, of rapid action of a sensational kind and two of three beautiful tableaux – elements of good which caused it to be welcomed on Saturday with the most extravagant expressions of delight.
This play was often revived over the next few years. Alfred Dampier's last performance on stage was as Reverend North in a production of the play on 10 November 1905.
The play was still being revived in 1912 and 1913.
Production
It is likely the film was retitled to avoid confusion with another movie version of the novel that had been released in 1908.
Raymond Longford worked on the movie and later claimed to have been the actual director.
It appears from contemporary reviews that there was some filming at Port Arthur.
Release
The film was released in Sydney on 19 June 1911 at the Broadway Theatre. It was released in Melbourne on 27 November 1911 at the Olympic Theatre. It debuted in Launceston on 22 January 1912. (During the Launceston season, the film caught fire one night and the theatre had to be evacuated.)
Distribution of the film was blocked from legal action by Marcus Clarke's daughter, Marion Clarke.
Critical Reception
The Sydney Truth called it "a striking production". It was described by The Argus as "an entirely original pictorial adaptation". The Kalgoorlie Miner wrote "the subject is treated magnificently, and every detail is perfectly carried out."
US Release
It was bought for release in the USA by Sawyers Pictures, who retitled the movie The Convict Hero.