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Stingaree (1934 film)

December 18, 2023

Stingaree is an American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by William A. Wellman released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1934. The film was based on a 1905 novel by Ernest William Hornung. Set in Australia, it stars Irene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie and Richard Dix as Stingaree.[2] Hollywood had previously filmed the Hornung story as serials in 1915 and 1917, starring True Boardman.[3][4]

Stingaree
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam A. Wellman
Written by
Screenplay by
Based onStingaree
1905 novel
by E.W. Hornung
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Edited byJames B. Morley
Music byMax Steiner
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
May 25, 1934 (1934-05-25)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$408,000[1]
Box office$563,000[1]

Plot edit

In 1874 Australia, newly installed Police Inspector Radford boasts to wealthy Hugh Clarkson that he will capture the famous outlaw Stingaree, who has returned to the area. Hilda Bouverie is an impoverished servant working for the Clarksons. Mr. Clarkson is kind, but his wife treats Hilda and Annie, another servant, as menials. Mrs. Clarkson is excited by the news that Sir Julian Kent, a renowned British composer, is going to be her guest. She dreams of performing before him and becoming an opera star, but her singing is not good. Hilda begs to be allowed to sing as well, but Mrs. Clarkson turns her down. Meanwhile, Sir Julian stops over at a tavern, where Radford and his colleagues are drinking. When Stingaree enters, the policemen are suspicious of the stranger; he is searched, but no weapon is found. His sidekick Howie follows, only he is armed. They abduct Sir Julian. Unaware of this, Mrs. Clarkson goes off to meet Sir Julian.

While she is away, Hilda, who dreams of being an opera singer herself, plays Sir Julian's new song. When Stingaree enters the Clarkson residence to reconnoitre for a future robbery, she mistakes him for Sir Julian and sings for him. He is entranced, and praises her talent. When the Clarksons return, they are accompanied by Radford, who eventually recalls Stingaree. Unmasked, he flees, taking Hilda with him. When they reach his hideout, Stingaree is annoyed to find that Howie has let Sir Julian escape, foiling his attempt to get her an audition. Hilda tells him that her parents had the dream of singing, and that when they died she inherited the dream. Then Stingaree kisses her.

Sir Julian attends a recital at the Clarksons house, with Mrs. Clarkson singing his song disastrously. Howie holds the guests at gunpoint while Stingaree accompanies Hilda on the piano. Sir Julian is greatly impressed by her singing. As the guests congratulate her, Stingaree and Howie slip away. However, Radford manages to shoot and arrest Stingaree. When a furious Mrs. Clarkson fires Hilda, Sir Julian invites her to Europe. Hilda refuses, unwilling to abandon Stingaree, but then she receives a letter from him telling her to pursue her dream, and that he gave up his freedom for her. She leaves, taking Annie with her. Under Sir Julian's tutelage, she becomes a famous opera singer.

Though she cannot forget Stingaree, she agrees to marry Sir Julian. The night before the wedding, however, she tells him that she cannot go through with it. She is going to give up her career and return to Australia. He persuades her to perform at a concert in Melbourne, hoping that the contrast with the fabulous opera houses of Europe will change her mind. Meanwhile, Stingaree escapes, and holds up the new Governor-General's stagecoach. He borrows the man's uniform and attends the concert disguised as him. When he is recognized, the police pursue him. He sneaks into Hilda's dressing room. Hilda offers to give up her singing career for him. As the police try to break down the door, he picks her up in his arms and escapes through the window. They ride off together on his horse.

Cast edit

Production edit

In June 1933, RKO, then under production chief Merian C. Cooper, purchased rights to the stories as a vehicle for Irene Dunne.[6] The story was described as being about an "Australian Robin Hood."[7]

In October 1933 Dunne signed a new two-year contract with RKO the first film of which was to be Stingaree with Richard Dix, with whom she had made the highly successful Cimarron.[8] Later that month RKO announced the male lead would be Leslie Banks[9] with Ernest B. Schoesdak to direct.[10] Then Banks left to sign a contract with Fox.[11]

RKO decided to replace him with John Boles, but he was not available, pushing back shooting so Dunne could make Age of Innocence.[12] Then Boles dropped out and RKO decided to use Dix. Filming started January 1934.[13] Sheep were imported from Camarialla.[14]

Reception edit

Box Office edit

According to RKO records, the film lost the studio $49,000.[1]

Critical edit

In 1934, Mordaunt Hall's review in The New York Times called the film "nicely done" and said that its "impossible happenings are highly entertaining." He went on to say that "Miss Dunne gives a charming performance and she sings several songs very agreeably."[15]

The Los Angeles Times called it "impossible but interesting."[16]

The film received mixed reviews in Australia. Released during preparations for the centennial celebration in Melbourne, it was described by one local paper as a "pleasant trifle"[17] while another found it "hard to swallow" with its plot being "a little too improbable for anyone, let alone an Australian audience."[18]

It screened in Australia in every state except New South Wales where there was a ban on bushranger films.[19]

Preservation status and release on home video edit

In 1946, Stingaree, in addition to several other films, were sold out of the RKO library to producer Merian C. Cooper. On April 4 and April 11, 2007, Turner Classic Movies premiered films produced by Cooper at RKO but out of distribution for more than 50 years. According to TCM host Robert Osborne, Cooper agreed to a legal settlement with RKO in 1946, after accusing RKO of not giving him all the money due him from his RKO producer's contract in the 1930s.

The settlement gave Cooper complete ownership of several RKO titles, including Rafter Romance (1933) with Ginger Rogers, Double Harness (1933), The Right to Romance (1933), One Man's Journey (1933) with Lionel Barrymore, Living on Love (1937), and A Man to Remember (1938). According to an interview with a retired RKO executive, used as a promo on TCM for the premiere, Cooper allowed these films to be shown in 1955–1956 in a limited re-release and only in New York City.[20]

Turner Entertainment purchased the rights to Stingaree, Turner Classic Movies remastered and released the films on DVD as part of their Lost RKO Collection. Until the rights were purchased by Turner and released on DVD, Stingaree had not been seen since a single television viewing in the late 1950s.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, vol. 14, no. 1, 1994, p. 57.
  2. ^ "Hollywood Discovers Australia – Strange 'Facts' About Our Country". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA: 1895-1950). WA: National Library of Australia. July 30, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "THE PICTURE SHOWS". Winner (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1917). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. January 19, 1916. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. ^ ""STINGAREE"". Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930). Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. January 30, 1916. p. 16. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Before casting Dunne as Hilda, RKO held talks with Jeanette MacDonald in hopes of loaning her out from MGM.Stingaree Detail View, tcm.com; accessed August 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "Talkie Gossip". Morning Bulletin. No. 20, 974. Queensland, Australia. October 11, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Projection Jottings". New York Times. June 4, 1933. p. X3. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Projection Jottings". New York Times. October 1, 1933. p. X4. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  9. ^ ""Vanessa," by Hugh Walpole, Purchased for Filming". Los Angeles Times. October 6, 1933. p. 11.
  10. ^ "Pictures and Players in Hollywood". New York Times. October 15, 1933. p. X3. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "At the Pictures". Sydney Mail. Vol. XLIV, no. 1130. New South Wales, Australia. November 22, 1933. p. 15. Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Movie Notes". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 19, 706. Queensland, Australia. January 2, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Monte Blue Forsakes Hero Roles and Continues Screen Career as Sympathetic Villain". Los Angeles Times. January 17, 1934. p. 11.
  14. ^ "An Australian Who Is "King" in California". Table Talk. No. 3445. Victoria, Australia. May 17, 1934. p. 16. Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ Hall, Mordaunt (May 18, 1934). "Richard Dix, Irene Dunne and Conway Tearle in a Film Conception of E.W. Hornung's 'Stingaree'". The New York Times.
  16. ^ Scott, John (June 7, 1934). ""Stingaree" Rides Screen: Richard Dix Portrays Dashing Bandit at Hillstreet With Irene Dunne as Singing Heroine". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
  17. ^ "WERE WE THUS IN THE 70's?". The Herald. Victoria, Australia. October 22, 1934. p. 20. Retrieved May 18, 2020 – via Trove.
  18. ^ "A Critic Goes to the Talkies". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.: 1866-1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. September 6, 1934. p. 20. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  19. ^ ""Out!" Says the Censor". Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: 1919-1954). Port Pirie, SA: National Library of Australia. December 28, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  20. ^ "Double Harness Review". Allmovie. Retrieved June 22, 2008.

External links edit

December 18, 2023
stingaree, 1934, film, stingaree, american, code, romantic, drama, film, directed, william, wellman, released, radio, pictures, 1934, film, based, 1905, novel, ernest, william, hornung, australia, stars, irene, dunne, hilda, bouverie, richard, stingaree, holly. Stingaree is an American pre Code romantic drama film directed by William A Wellman released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1934 The film was based on a 1905 novel by Ernest William Hornung Set in Australia it stars Irene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie and Richard Dix as Stingaree 2 Hollywood had previously filmed the Hornung story as serials in 1915 and 1917 starring True Boardman 3 4 StingareeTheatrical release posterDirected byWilliam A WellmanWritten byLynn RiggsLeonard SpigelgassScreenplay byBecky GardinerGarrett FortAgnes Christine JohnstonWells RootDwight TaylorBased onStingaree1905 novelby E W HornungProduced byPandro S BermanDavid LewisStarringIrene DunneRichard DixCinematographyJames Van TreesEdited byJames B MorleyMusic byMax SteinerProductioncompanyRKO Radio PicturesDistributed byRKO Radio PicturesRelease dateMay 25 1934 1934 05 25 Running time77 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 408 000 1 Box office 563 000 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4 1 Box Office 4 2 Critical 5 Preservation status and release on home video 6 References 7 External linksPlot editIn 1874 Australia newly installed Police Inspector Radford boasts to wealthy Hugh Clarkson that he will capture the famous outlaw Stingaree who has returned to the area Hilda Bouverie is an impoverished servant working for the Clarksons Mr Clarkson is kind but his wife treats Hilda and Annie another servant as menials Mrs Clarkson is excited by the news that Sir Julian Kent a renowned British composer is going to be her guest She dreams of performing before him and becoming an opera star but her singing is not good Hilda begs to be allowed to sing as well but Mrs Clarkson turns her down Meanwhile Sir Julian stops over at a tavern where Radford and his colleagues are drinking When Stingaree enters the policemen are suspicious of the stranger he is searched but no weapon is found His sidekick Howie follows only he is armed They abduct Sir Julian Unaware of this Mrs Clarkson goes off to meet Sir Julian While she is away Hilda who dreams of being an opera singer herself plays Sir Julian s new song When Stingaree enters the Clarkson residence to reconnoitre for a future robbery she mistakes him for Sir Julian and sings for him He is entranced and praises her talent When the Clarksons return they are accompanied by Radford who eventually recalls Stingaree Unmasked he flees taking Hilda with him When they reach his hideout Stingaree is annoyed to find that Howie has let Sir Julian escape foiling his attempt to get her an audition Hilda tells him that her parents had the dream of singing and that when they died she inherited the dream Then Stingaree kisses her Sir Julian attends a recital at the Clarksons house with Mrs Clarkson singing his song disastrously Howie holds the guests at gunpoint while Stingaree accompanies Hilda on the piano Sir Julian is greatly impressed by her singing As the guests congratulate her Stingaree and Howie slip away However Radford manages to shoot and arrest Stingaree When a furious Mrs Clarkson fires Hilda Sir Julian invites her to Europe Hilda refuses unwilling to abandon Stingaree but then she receives a letter from him telling her to pursue her dream and that he gave up his freedom for her She leaves taking Annie with her Under Sir Julian s tutelage she becomes a famous opera singer Though she cannot forget Stingaree she agrees to marry Sir Julian The night before the wedding however she tells him that she cannot go through with it She is going to give up her career and return to Australia He persuades her to perform at a concert in Melbourne hoping that the contrast with the fabulous opera houses of Europe will change her mind Meanwhile Stingaree escapes and holds up the new Governor General s stagecoach He borrows the man s uniform and attends the concert disguised as him When he is recognized the police pursue him He sneaks into Hilda s dressing room Hilda offers to give up her singing career for him As the police try to break down the door he picks her up in his arms and escapes through the window They ride off together on his horse Cast editIrene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie 5 Richard Dix as Stingaree Mary Boland as Mrs Clarkson Conway Tearle as Sir Julian Kent Andy Devine as Howie Henry Stephenson as Mr Hugh Clarkson George Barraud as Inspector Radford Una O Connor as Annie Snub Pollard as Victor Reginald Owen as The Governor General Billy Bevan as Mac Robert Greig as The Innkeeper Arthur Clayton as ConstableProduction editIn June 1933 RKO then under production chief Merian C Cooper purchased rights to the stories as a vehicle for Irene Dunne 6 The story was described as being about an Australian Robin Hood 7 In October 1933 Dunne signed a new two year contract with RKO the first film of which was to be Stingaree with Richard Dix with whom she had made the highly successful Cimarron 8 Later that month RKO announced the male lead would be Leslie Banks 9 with Ernest B Schoesdak to direct 10 Then Banks left to sign a contract with Fox 11 RKO decided to replace him with John Boles but he was not available pushing back shooting so Dunne could make Age of Innocence 12 Then Boles dropped out and RKO decided to use Dix Filming started January 1934 13 Sheep were imported from Camarialla 14 Reception editBox Office edit According to RKO records the film lost the studio 49 000 1 Critical edit In 1934 Mordaunt Hall s review in The New York Times called the film nicely done and said that its impossible happenings are highly entertaining He went on to say that Miss Dunne gives a charming performance and she sings several songs very agreeably 15 The Los Angeles Times called it impossible but interesting 16 The film received mixed reviews in Australia Released during preparations for the centennial celebration in Melbourne it was described by one local paper as a pleasant trifle 17 while another found it hard to swallow with its plot being a little too improbable for anyone let alone an Australian audience 18 It screened in Australia in every state except New South Wales where there was a ban on bushranger films 19 Preservation status and release on home video editIn 1946 Stingaree in addition to several other films were sold out of the RKO library to producer Merian C Cooper On April 4 and April 11 2007 Turner Classic Movies premiered films produced by Cooper at RKO but out of distribution for more than 50 years According to TCM host Robert Osborne Cooper agreed to a legal settlement with RKO in 1946 after accusing RKO of not giving him all the money due him from his RKO producer s contract in the 1930s The settlement gave Cooper complete ownership of several RKO titles including Rafter Romance 1933 with Ginger Rogers Double Harness 1933 The Right to Romance 1933 One Man s Journey 1933 with Lionel Barrymore Living on Love 1937 and A Man to Remember 1938 According to an interview with a retired RKO executive used as a promo on TCM for the premiere Cooper allowed these films to be shown in 1955 1956 in a limited re release and only in New York City 20 Turner Entertainment purchased the rights to Stingaree Turner Classic Movies remastered and released the films on DVD as part of their Lost RKO Collection Until the rights were purchased by Turner and released on DVD Stingaree had not been seen since a single television viewing in the late 1950s 5 References edit a b c Richard Jewel RKO Film Grosses 1931 1951 Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television vol 14 no 1 1994 p 57 Hollywood Discovers Australia Strange Facts About Our Country Kalgoorlie Miner WA 1895 1950 WA National Library of Australia July 30 1934 p 2 Retrieved May 18 2020 THE PICTURE SHOWS Winner Melbourne Vic 1914 1917 Melbourne Vic National Library of Australia January 19 1916 p 10 Retrieved May 18 2020 STINGAREE Sunday Times Sydney NSW 1895 1930 Sydney NSW National Library of Australia January 30 1916 p 16 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b Before casting Dunne as Hilda RKO held talks with Jeanette MacDonald in hopes of loaning her out from MGM Stingaree Detail View tcm com accessed August 7 2015 Talkie Gossip Morning Bulletin No 20 974 Queensland Australia October 11 1933 p 3 Retrieved July 16 2019 via National Library of Australia Projection Jottings New York Times June 4 1933 p X3 Retrieved August 5 2019 Projection Jottings New York Times October 1 1933 p X4 Retrieved August 5 2019 Vanessa by Hugh Walpole Purchased for Filming Los Angeles Times October 6 1933 p 11 Pictures and Players in Hollywood New York Times October 15 1933 p X3 Retrieved August 5 2019 At the Pictures Sydney Mail Vol XLIV no 1130 New South Wales Australia November 22 1933 p 15 Retrieved July 16 2019 via National Library of Australia Movie Notes Maryborough Chronicle Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser No 19 706 Queensland Australia January 2 1934 p 2 Retrieved July 16 2019 via National Library of Australia Monte Blue Forsakes Hero Roles and Continues Screen Career as Sympathetic Villain Los Angeles Times January 17 1934 p 11 An Australian Who Is King in California Table Talk No 3445 Victoria Australia May 17 1934 p 16 Retrieved July 16 2019 via National Library of Australia Hall Mordaunt May 18 1934 Richard Dix Irene Dunne and Conway Tearle in a Film Conception of E W Hornung s Stingaree The New York Times Scott John June 7 1934 Stingaree Rides Screen Richard Dix Portrays Dashing Bandit at Hillstreet With Irene Dunne as Singing Heroine Los Angeles Times p 11 WERE WE THUS IN THE 70 s The Herald Victoria Australia October 22 1934 p 20 Retrieved May 18 2020 via Trove A Critic Goes to the Talkies The Queenslander Brisbane Qld 1866 1939 Brisbane Qld National Library of Australia September 6 1934 p 20 Retrieved November 23 2014 Out Says the Censor Recorder Port Pirie SA 1919 1954 Port Pirie SA National Library of Australia December 28 1939 p 4 Retrieved November 23 2014 Double Harness Review Allmovie Retrieved June 22 2008 External links editStingaree at IMDb Stingaree at the TCM Movie Database Stingaree at AllMovie Stingaree at the American Film Institute Catalog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stingaree 1934 film amp oldid 1183404112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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