It does not do, in my view, to worship at he altar of conventional cinema historiography (grossly US-centred for the most part. Nor should one imagine something magical in a litany of names (D.
Mozjoukine reviews this fine film and downs it for its stereotypes, uninspired settings. I believe they have missed the point and failed to enjoy a sophisticated story well rendered to the screen.
This movie is one of the classics of the early Australian film industry. An adaptation of "Songs of a Sentimental Bloke" by poet C.
This is the masterpiece of collaborators, Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, who treat the source material - CJ Dennis's delightful verse narrative - with humanity and restraint. Realistically set in Sydney's Woolloomoolloo district, Vaudeville veteran Arthur Tauchert (very natural and instinctive) stars as the bloke, a barrowman, who's saved from his "larrikin" ways by the love of a good woman (Lyell, whose performance is subtle and touching).
The main line of Australian film making runs from this on through the Dad & Dave comedies (Ray Longford did some silent) Barry MacKenzie and Crocodile Dundee. While the later ones are a subject of embarrassment to the Australian film establishment, who nurture the fantasy of melding Political Correctness with CULTURE, this has been granfathered into an object of reverence.
In 1915 C.J.
Saturday June 2, 7:00pm , SIFF Cinema (The Nesholm Family Lecture Hall), Seattle Saturday June 16, 4:00pm, ACMI Cinemas, Melbourne" I nudge Doreen. She whispers, "Ain't it grand!
