Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road
Encyclopedia
Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road is a 1911 Australian silent film about the bushranger
Captain Starlight. It was based on Alfred Dampier
's stage adaptation of the novel Robbery Under Arms
.
, his son in law, played Dick Martson.
it is possible to gauge some idea of the plot from contemporary reviews. One critic wrote that "plenty of relief in the way of comedy has been introduced; and whilst there are many grim incidents, these are not allowed to unduly obtrude themselves."
The film started at the home of the Marstons. Some troopers, led by Sergeant Goring, are looking for Captain Starlight when he appears, introducing himself and telling them to put their hands up. Then there was a sequence where Starlight and his friends go to the horse races and Starlight participates in the Goldfield Cup on his horse Darkie, only to be chased off the course by police. There was also a sequence involving the robbery of the mail coach at Rocky Rises, and one where Sir Ferdinand Morringer is threatened with death in Terrible Hollow at the hands of the villainous Dan Moran and his rescue by Starlight.
The finale involves Moran leaving Sergeant Goring and the troopers to Starlight's stronghold. During the final battle, Moran is mortally wounded but Starlight's life is saved by his faithful aboriginal servant. Starlight and Dick Marston are subsequently pardoned for their crimes. (This happy ending was in contrast to the novel).
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
Captain Starlight. It was based on Alfred Dampier
Alfred Dampier
Alfred Dampier was an English-born actor-managerand playwright, active in Australia. Dampier was born in Horsham, Sussex, England, the son of John Dampier, builder, and his wife Mary, née Daly.. Dampier had a stage career in Manchester before moving to Melbourne, Australia in 1873. Dampier soon...
's stage adaptation of the novel Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms is a classic Australian novel by Rolf Boldrewood . It was first published in serialised form by The Sydney Mail between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in London in 1888...
.
Stage Adaptation
Dampier played the role of Captain Starlight on stage many times to great acclaim. Alfred RolfeAlfred Rolfe
The Reverend Alfred James Rolfe was an Englishman who emigrated to Australia to pursue a career as a clergyman and teacher, rising to become headmaster of Malvern School in Sydney....
, his son in law, played Dick Martson.
Film
Although the movie is considered a lost filmLost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
it is possible to gauge some idea of the plot from contemporary reviews. One critic wrote that "plenty of relief in the way of comedy has been introduced; and whilst there are many grim incidents, these are not allowed to unduly obtrude themselves."
The film started at the home of the Marstons. Some troopers, led by Sergeant Goring, are looking for Captain Starlight when he appears, introducing himself and telling them to put their hands up. Then there was a sequence where Starlight and his friends go to the horse races and Starlight participates in the Goldfield Cup on his horse Darkie, only to be chased off the course by police. There was also a sequence involving the robbery of the mail coach at Rocky Rises, and one where Sir Ferdinand Morringer is threatened with death in Terrible Hollow at the hands of the villainous Dan Moran and his rescue by Starlight.
The finale involves Moran leaving Sergeant Goring and the troopers to Starlight's stronghold. During the final battle, Moran is mortally wounded but Starlight's life is saved by his faithful aboriginal servant. Starlight and Dick Marston are subsequently pardoned for their crimes. (This happy ending was in contrast to the novel).
Cast
- Alfred RolfeAlfred Rolfe (director)Alfred Rolfe was an Australian film director and actor. He was the son-in-law of Alfred Dampier and husband to Lily Dampier...
as Captain Starlight - Lily DampierLily DampierLily Dampier was an Australian actor of stage and screen. She was the daughter of Alfred Dampier and married to Alfred Rolfe. An earlier marriage had ended in divorce.-Select Filmography:*Captain Midnight, the Bush King...
as Eileen Marston - Raymond LongfordRaymond LongfordRaymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
- Augustus Neville
- Lottie LyellLottie LyellLottie Lyell was an Australian actress, screenwriter, editor and filmmaker born in Balmain, Sydney in 1890. She is regarded as Australia’s first film star, and also contributed to the local industry during the silent era with her collaborations with Raymond Longford.-Career:Charlotte Cox pursued...
- Stanley Walpole
External links
- Captain Starlight at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...
- Copy of screenplay at the University of Queensland