Now another unlisted Australian film makes an appearance. An ironic touch to this entry is that although If the Huns Came to Melbourne was made in that city, it was premiered at the Wondergraph, Adelaide [in May 1916]. When released in Melbourne it did not obtain a city theatre release, but was shown at the Port Theatre, Port Melbourne.
'Imagine, if you can,' directed the advertisement, 'the nameless horror perpetrated on the helpless Belgians in the name of German Kultur. Think for a moment, of a repetition of the dreadful nightmare in Melbourne. Picture those nearest and dearest to you, at the mercy of the Huns.'
Produced by Arthur Coates, it was left to photographer Arthur Higgins to supply details of this dramatic production. Interiors were filmed in an open air theatre in Albert Park. Enlarged photographic miniatures of important buildings were mutilated, to convey the impression of destruction by shell fire, and tobacco smoke was blown across the ruins to create the illusion of a smouldering aftermath. Then portions of old newsreels were superimposed, showing German soldiers marching, and Red Cross workers rescuing the wounded.
During the actual screening in Melbourne, the destruction of Young and Jackson's Hotel [opposite Flinders St Station] caused a bigger stir than the burning of the Federal Parliament House.
- Eric Reade, Australian Silent Films, Melbourne, 1970, p.92
See also:
Blog: Remnants of the band that didn't play on, 31 January 2025
Blog: Fed Square multicultural festival, 25 March 2017
Blog: The heart of Melbourne, 3 November 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment