The Sunny South or The Whirlwind of Fate
| The Sunny South, or The Whirlwind of Fate | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alfred Rolfe |
| Produced by | Archie Fraser Colin Fraser |
| Written by | Johnson Weir or George Darrell |
| Based on | play by George Darrell |
| Starring | Charles Villers |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | Fraser Film Release and Photographic Company |
|
Release date
|
1 February 1915 |
|
Running time
|
3,000 feet (three reels) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language |
Silent film English intertitles |
| The Sunny South | |
|---|---|
| Written by | George Darrell |
| Date premiered | 30 March 1883 |
| Place premiered | Prince of Wales Opera House Melbourne |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Melodrama |
The Sunny South, or the Whirlwind of Fate is a 1915 Australian silent film directed by Alfred Rolfe based on the popular play by George Darrell. It is considered a lost film.
Darrell's play premiered in 1883 and was a massive success. Darrell himself performed in it over 1,500 times. It was one of a series of melodramas Darrell wrote in his career.
In an English country mansion lives Worthy Chester, his daughter Clarice and nephew Ivo Carew. Worthy Chester is in debt to a money lender, Eli Grup, who threatens Chester with ruin unless Clarice marries him. Clarice and Ivo are in love with each other but neither have any money.
An old friend of the family, Matt Morley, returns from Australia. He reveals himself to be Morley Chester, the long supposed dead son and heir to the late owner of the estate, and claims ownership of the property.
A telegram arrives from Bubs Berkely, Morley's adopted daughter, indicating the discovery of gold in Australia. Morley and Bubs sail for Australia to find gold to save the family property; Clarice and Ivo Carew come with them.
Morley's friend Ben Brewer discovers a five thousand pound gold nugget on Morley's El Dorado claim. It is placed in a local bank stood up by Dick Duggan, bushranger. Duggan is defeated in a massive fight and the nugget is recovered. Duggain is jailed, but escaped.
Eli Grup, who has arrived in Australia, arranges for Duggan to kill Morley. Duggan kidnaps Bubs and imprisons her in a hut. He then captures Morley who has come to rescue her and ties him to a tree. He threatens to use Morley as a target for pistol practice unless Morley gives him a thousand pounds and Bubs marries him. Both refuse.
The police attack the gang in their hide out. The hut is burned down and Morley and Bobs are rescued but Duggan and his men escape.
Duggan and his gang plan to hold up the Zig Zag railway train on the Blue Mountains. It is carrying Morley, Bubs, their friends and the gold to Sydney. However the bushrangers are defeated. Babs marries Morley and Clarice and Carew are also married.
The film was the second Rolfe directed for the Fraser Film Release and Photographic Company. Rolfe had appeared in several of Darrell's plays as an actor.
According to the Referee "the cast was chosen from some of the most popular Thespians in Australia. No expense was spared in producing both the comedy and drama on a scale comparing favorably With American offerings."
The film was shot on location at French's Forest in late 1914.
A riot scene was shot at Manly Beach, involving a large number of extras carrying fire arms and weapons. According to star Charles Villiers:
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Wikipedia