Captain Thunderbolt (film)
Encyclopedia
Captain Thunderbolt is a 1953 Australian action film from director Cecil Holmes
about the bushranger
Captain Thunderbolt
.
) is imprisoned for horse stealing. He escapes from Cockatoo Island and becomes a bushranger
under the name of Captain Thunderbolt, working with his friend Alan Blake (Charles Tingwell
). Thunderbolt is tracked by the evil Sergeant Mannix (Harp McGuire) who has a gunfight with the bushranger at a dance, only to discover that he has killed Alan Blake instead. Mannix passes off Blake's body as Thunderbolt, enabling the bushranger to escape.
.
The movie was shot in early 1951 on location in New England, New South Wales, and at the Royal National Park in Sydney, with studio work done in Supreme Sound System in north Sydney. The woolshed dance sequence was shot at a Pyrmont woolstore. One of Thunderbolt's robbery victims was played by Kathleen Drummond, daughter of the then-local MP David Drummond.
British censorship requirements meant that the real-life romantic relationship between Thunderbolt and is aboriginal girlfriend Mary, who helped him escape from Cockatoo Island, was not featured in the film.
There were apparently plans to spin off the movie into a TV series but this did not eventuate.
The only copy of the film in possession of the Australian National Film and Sound Archive
is a 53 minute TV edition. The archive is looking for a copy of the full 69 minute version.
Cecil Holmes (director)
Cecil Holmes , was a New Zealand-born film director and writer. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and British Royal Navy during World War II before turning to filmmaking...
about the bushranger
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 Thunderbolt
Captain Thunderbolt
Frederick Wordsworth Ward was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island, and also for his reputation as the "gentleman bushranger" and his lengthy survival, being the longest roaming bushranger in Australian history.-Early years:Frederick Ward was the son of convict...
.
Synopsis
Fred Ward (Grant TaylorGrant taylor
Grant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
) is imprisoned for horse stealing. He escapes from Cockatoo Island and becomes a bushranger
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...
under the name of Captain Thunderbolt, working with his friend Alan Blake (Charles Tingwell
Charles Tingwell
In 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
). Thunderbolt is tracked by the evil Sergeant Mannix (Harp McGuire) who has a gunfight with the bushranger at a dance, only to discover that he has killed Alan Blake instead. Mannix passes off Blake's body as Thunderbolt, enabling the bushranger to escape.
Production
The budget was provided entirely by theatrical entrepreneur Sir Benjamin FullerBen Fuller (producer)
Sir Benjamin John "Ben" Fuller was an English-born Australian theatrical entrepreneur.Fuller was born in London to compositor John Fuller and Harriett, née Jones...
.
The movie was shot in early 1951 on location in New England, New South Wales, and at the Royal National Park in Sydney, with studio work done in Supreme Sound System in north Sydney. The woolshed dance sequence was shot at a Pyrmont woolstore. One of Thunderbolt's robbery victims was played by Kathleen Drummond, daughter of the then-local MP David Drummond.
British censorship requirements meant that the real-life romantic relationship between Thunderbolt and is aboriginal girlfriend Mary, who helped him escape from Cockatoo Island, was not featured in the film.
Release
The film did not receive a wide release in Australia - it did not play in Melbourne cinemas until late 1955, and Sydney until 1956. However it sold well overseas, including to American television.There were apparently plans to spin off the movie into a TV series but this did not eventuate.
The only copy of the film in possession of the Australian National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive
The 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...
is a 53 minute TV edition. The archive is looking for a copy of the full 69 minute version.
Cast
- Grant TaylorGrant taylorGrant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
as Captain ThunderboltCaptain ThunderboltFrederick Wordsworth Ward was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island, and also for his reputation as the "gentleman bushranger" and his lengthy survival, being the longest roaming bushranger in Australian history.-Early years:Frederick Ward was the son of convict... - Charles TingwellCharles TingwellIn 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
as Alan Blake - Rosemary Miller as Joan
- Harp McGuire as Mannix
- John Fegan as Dalton
- Jean Blue as Mrs Ward
- John Fernside as Colonel
- Loretta Boutmy as Maggie
- Ronald Whelan as Hogstone
- Charles Tasman as Colonial Secretary
- Harvey Adams as parliamentarian
- Patricia Hill as Belle
- John Brunskill as Judge
External links
- Captain Thunderbolt in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Interview with Philip Hawkes who played the young Thunderbolt at Moviememorabilie
- Captain Thunderbolt 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...