Charles Cozens Spencer
Encyclopedia
Charles Cozens Spencer was a British-born film exhibitor and producer, who was a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry.
in Australia and soon became the leading exhibitor in the country. He moved into production, establishing a permanent production unit under Ernest Higgins
in 1908. Initially focused on documentary shorts and newsreels, he moved into funding dramatic feature films, starting with The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger
(1910).
He was an early supported of director Raymond Longford
who directed The Fatal Wedding
(1911) for Spencer. The success of this film enabled him to set up a ₤10,000 studio complex in Rushcutter's Bay, Sydney, where Longford made his next couple of features.
1913 saw the formation of the "combine", a merger of key Australian exhibition, distribution and production companies, including Spencer's. After the box office failure of The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
(1914) he was unable to persuade the combine to invest in drama production, and stepped back his involvement in the local industry.
. In 1930, depressed after some financial reversals, he went on a shooting spree, killing his storeman and wounding another man, before drowning himself in a nearby lake. He left behind an estate worth $300,000.
Biography
After working in Canadian film exhibition, he first arrived in Australia in 1905. He made a fortune exhibiting The Great Train RobberyThe Great Train Robbery
- Events :* Great Gold Robbery of 1855, took place during a train and sea journey from London to Paris on May 15* Great Train Robbery , took place near Linslade in England on August 8...
in Australia and soon became the leading exhibitor in the country. He moved into production, establishing a permanent production unit under Ernest Higgins
Ernest Higgins
Ernest Higgins was an Australian cinematographer during the days of silent film. He was the brother of Arthur and Tasman Higgins.-Select Filmography:*The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger...
in 1908. Initially focused on documentary shorts and newsreels, he moved into funding dramatic feature films, starting with The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger
The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger
The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger is a 1910 Australian silent film about the bushranger John Vane, who was a member of Ben Hall's gang.-Synopsis:...
(1910).
He was an early supported of director Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond 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...
who directed The Fatal Wedding
The Fatal Wedding
The Fatal Wedding is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford based on a popular American stage melodrama which he and Lottie Lyell had toured around Australia.-Synopsis:...
(1911) for Spencer. The success of this film enabled him to set up a ₤10,000 studio complex in Rushcutter's Bay, Sydney, where Longford made his next couple of features.
1913 saw the formation of the "combine", a merger of key Australian exhibition, distribution and production companies, including Spencer's. After the box office failure of The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
The Shepherd of the Southern Cross is a 1914 Australian silent film about an Englishwoman torn between two men.. -External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
(1914) he was unable to persuade the combine to invest in drama production, and stepped back his involvement in the local industry.
Death
Spencer left Australia and returned to Canada with his wife, where he bought a ranch in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. In 1930, depressed after some financial reversals, he went on a shooting spree, killing his storeman and wounding another man, before drowning himself in a nearby lake. He left behind an estate worth $300,000.
Filmography
- Boxing 1908: Johnson vs Burns (1908)
- Marvellous Melbourne (1910) - director
- The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian BushrangerThe Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian BushrangerThe Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger is a 1910 Australian silent film about the bushranger John Vane, who was a member of Ben Hall's gang.-Synopsis:...
(1910) - producer - Captain Midnight, the Bush KingCaptain Midnight, the Bush KingCaptain Midnight, the Bush King is a 1911 Australian silent film about the fictitious bushranger Captain Midnight which was the directorial debut of actor Alfred Rolfe.-Synopsis:...
(1911) - producer - Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the RoadCaptain Starlight, or Gentleman of the RoadCaptain 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.-Stage Adaptation:...
(1911) - producer - The Life of Rufus DawesThe Life of Rufus DawesThe 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.-Synopsis:The film was divided into sections:...
(1911) - producer - Dan MorganDan Morgan (film)Dan Morgan is a 1911 Australian film from Charles Cozens Spencer about the bushranger Dan Morgan....
(1911) - producer - The Fatal WeddingThe Fatal WeddingThe Fatal Wedding is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford based on a popular American stage melodrama which he and Lottie Lyell had toured around Australia.-Synopsis:...
(1911) - producer - The Romantic Story of Margaret CatchpoleThe Romantic Story of Margaret CatchpoleThe Romantic Story of Margaret Catchpole is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford and starring Lottie Lyell. It is based on the true story of Margaret Catchpole, an adventuress and convict.-External links:...
(1911) - producer - Sweet Nell of Old DrurySweet Nell of Old DrurySweet Nell of Old Drury is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford about the relationship between Nell Gwynne and King Charles II. It is based on the 1900 play of the same name by Paul Kester...
(1911) - producer - The Midnight WeddingThe Midnight WeddingThe Midnight Wedding is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford.-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1912) - producer - The Tide of DeathThe Tide of DeathThe Tide of Death is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford.- External links :* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1912) - producer - Australia CallsAustralia Calls (1913 film)Australia Calls is a 1913 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford about the fictitious invasion of Australia by an unnamed Asian country.-Synopsis:...
(1913) - producer - The Shepherd of the Southern CrossThe Shepherd of the Southern CrossThe Shepherd of the Southern Cross is a 1914 Australian silent film about an Englishwoman torn between two men.. -External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
(1914) - producer
External links
- Charles Cozens Spencer at IMDB
- Marvellous Melbourne at Australian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen Online is an on-line database operated by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. It provides information about and excerpts from a wide selection of Australian feature films, documentaries, television programs, newsreels, short films, animations, and home-movies. It also...
- Charles Cozens Spencer 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...
- Full copy of Marvellous Melbourne at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Biography at Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....