The Melbourne Cinémathèque & ACMI present
The Sentimental Bloke
When
Wed 20 Sep 2023
Often claimed to be the greatest silent film Australia produced, this tale of a larrikin (Arthur Tauchert) and his fight for his sweetheart Doreen (Lyell) represents the zenith of Longford and Lyell’s artistic and romantic partnership. As well as starring, Lyell co-wrote this hugely popular adaptation of C. J. Dennis’ bestselling verse novel. The film is remarkable for its actorly naturalism, colloquial humour and location shooting in what were then the rough streets of Woolloomooloo. One of the few silent-era Australian films to have survived in its entirety.
New digital restoration courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive, Australia.
Preceded by Trooper Campbell (Raymond Longford, 1914) 12 mins – Unclassified 15+. This one-reel adaptation of a poem by Henry Lawson is an early Lyell and Longford collaboration. 16mm.
Co-presented by the National Film and Sound Archive’s digital restoration program, NFSA restores – reviving Australian cinema icons.
Also screening on Wed 20 September
Program
Lottie Lyell, Australia’s First Film Star
The Sentimental Bloke (1919) – Wed 20 Sep, 7pm
The Woman Suffers (1918) – Wed 20 Sep, 9.05pm
About the program
The collaboration between Lottie Lyell (1890–1925) and Raymond Longford (1878–1959) is one of the most significant in Australian film. Although her onscreen credits don’t reflect the varied roles she played as sometimes lead actor, screenwriter, art director, producer, editor and co-director, the partnership between Lyell and Longford was truly equal. The pair collaborated on 28 films and Lyell received official credit as a screenwriter on almost half...
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About Melbourne Cinémathèque
Australia's longest-running film society, Melbourne Cinémathèque screens significant works of international cinema in the medium they were created, the way they would have originally screened.
Melbourne Cinémathèque is self-administered, volunteer-run, not-for-profit and membership-driven.
