The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1911 film)
| The Mystery of the Hansom Cab | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | W. J. Lincoln |
| Produced by |
William Gibson Millard Johnson John Tait Nevin Tait |
| Written by | W. J. Lincoln |
| Based on | the novel The Mystery of the Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume |
| Starring | "A selected metropolitan company" Walter Dalgeish |
| Cinematography | Orrie Perry |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | Sawyer Pictures (USA) |
|
Release date
|
4 March 1911 (Melbourne) August 1914 (USA) |
|
Running time
|
4,000 feet (est. over an hour) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language |
Silent film English intertitles |
The Mystery of the Hansom Cab is an Australian feature-length film directed by W. J. Lincoln based on the popular novel, which had also been adapted into a play.
It was the first Australian feature film to have a predominantly urban setting.
A Melbourne playboy, Oliver White, is murdered as he is driven home one night in a hansom cab. Investigating the crime encompasses all aspects of Melbourne society. The scenes featured in the movie were:
GUNSLER'S CAFE, COLLINS STREET
DRIVE TO ST. KILDA.
THE MURDER IN THE CAB – Opposite Church of England Grammar School.
You Killed Oliver Whyte – Death of Mark Frettleby – End of the Astounding Mystery
With the exception of one scene in the countryside, shooting took place in Melbourne, with extensive featuring of local landmarks such as the Melbourne Club, Scotts Church, Collins Street, the Orient Hotel, the Esplanade at St Kilda and Melbourne Gaol. The murder sequence, although set at night time, was shot in the afternoon for better lighting.
A newspaper report on 25 March 1911 said the film was to be "produced" in Sydney but this may be a reference to the release of the film.
The Melbourne Argus wrote that:
Cab is almost as familiar to Australian readers as Robbery Under Arms or The Term of His Natural Life. Its thrilling incidents provide splendid material for a moving picture drama, and in obtaining the desired film the cinematograph experts have secured an excellent presentation of the features of the novel... The audience took over an hour to throw on the screen, but the keen interest of the audience was held throughout.
The film was usually accompanied by a lecturer.
The movie was a popular success at the box office, particularly in Melbourne.
The film was released in the USA in August 1914 by Sawyer Pictures.
According to W.J. Lincoln an overseas film adaptation soon followed. There was also another version in 1925.
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