For the term of his natural life

This film, based on Marcus Clarke’s complex novel of the convict days, begins in England with a murder on Hampstead Heath. Rufus Dawes is wrongly arrested and sentenced to transportation, as a convict, to Van Dieman’s Land. The bitter life of the convicts is depicted, culminating in Dawes’ escape. In disguise, he joins a boat to sail to freedom and on board meets his long lost love, Sylvia.
Cast includes George Fisher, Eva Novak, Dunstan Webb, Jessica Harcourt.

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Collection

In ACMI's collection

Previously on display

22 April 2019

ACMI Viewing Booths

Credits

director

Norman Dawn

producer

Charles MacMahon

Duration

01:37:48:00

Production places

Australia

Production dates

1927

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

300828

Audience classifications

G

Mediatheque - all ages (ACMI classified)

Subject categories

Adaptations

Feature films

Feature films → Feature films - Australia

History → Australia - History

Literature → Australian literature - Film and video adaptations

Literature → Literature

Silent films

Sound/audio

Silent

Colour

Tinted

Holdings

VHS; Access Print (Section 1)

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Cite this work on Wikipedia

If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/79851--for-the-term-of-his-natural-life/ |title=For the term of his natural life |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=4 June 2023 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}

Australia, 1927