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The Shadow of Lightning Ridge

January 01, 1970

The Shadow of Lightning Ridge is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker.[2] It has been called the most "Western"-like of the films Baker made in Australia.[3]

The Shadow of Lightning Ridge
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilfred Lucas
Written byBess Meredyth
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRobert Doerrer
Production
company
Carroll-Baker Australian Productions
Distributed byAywon Pictures (US)
Release dates
  • 3 April 1920 (1920-04-03) (Australia)
  • 13 September 1921 (1921-09-13) (US)
Running time
7 reels[1]
CountryAustralia
Languages

It is now considered a lost film.

Charles Chauvel had a small role as a groom.[4][5]

The success of the film prompted the formation of the Carroll-Baker Film Corporation with capital of £25,000. A studio, Palmerston, at Waverly was established.[6]

Synopsis edit

Travelling in a carriage is Sir Edward Marriott, a wealthy mine owner, his fiancée Dorothy Hardyn, and a bag containing the month's pay for the miners. They are travelling to Marriott's estate at Lightning Ridge. There is also a man with a hacking cough.

A conveyance with armed escort meets the train to prevent the large sum of money from a mysterious outlaw known as The Shadow. However The Shadow, the man with the hacking cough, gets the money and a necklace from the Dorothy. He jumps on to a horse and escapes.

It turns out the Shadow is actually a gentleman in disguise with a vendetta against Sir Edward because his mother has been victimised by him. He has become a The Shadow but only attacks Sir Edward's property.[7]

The Shadow rescues Dorothy from real bushrangers and they fall in love. Later he discovers he is the real heir to Sir Edward's property. Portuguese Anne, who is in love with the Shadow, becomes jealous of Dorothy and arranges for the Shadow to be arrested. However he escapes.[8][9]

Cast edit

Production edit

The script was clearly inspired by Zorro, which Bess Meredyth later adapted in The Mark of Zorro (1940). After reading the script and seeing the stunts he was required to perform, Baker reportedly went out and insured himself for £5,000.[12]

Lucas said he wanted to give Baker a different acting challenge to The Man from Kangaroo.[13]

Bernice Vere was a discovery of Baker's.[14] She was signed to a 12-month contract.[15]

Shooting took place in early 1920 in the bush near Sydney, at Bulli Pass and Loddon Falls[16] and at a studio built by E.J. Carroll at Palmerston near Waverly.[17]

A highlight of the film was Snowy Baker on horseback jumping 40 metres off a cliff.[18][19]

Baker used a stuntman for some of the more dangerous scenes.[20]

Reception edit

Critical edit

The trade paper Everyone's said:

Baker as an elusive bushranger brings joy to the hearts of the Pussyfoots by entirely wrecking a bush pub. Snowy doesn’t do it on behalf of prohibition. He’s escaping from the Law and the big fight that ensues causes the damage. It was thought at first that the big scene could be done with empty bottles on the shelves, but so many were smashed that it was found that there was a sad lack of realism. So, to the horror of many actors, dozens of bottles of real whisky were deliberately wasted. Now, it is said, " The Shadow of Lightning Ridge" is certain of a tremendous success especially after 6 p.m. Thirsty folk will go along just to smell the bush pubs scene.[21]

The Bulletin praised the photography but thought the story was too American saying the "only Australian thing about" the movie "is the setting. The scenery is dinkum, but the story itself is a mixture of old melodrama and Wild West movie. Australia wants Australian films, and in spite of "Snowy" Baker's great athletic business, she will refuse to swallow "The Shadow" as the thing her soul cries for. Leading-woman Brownie Vernon, also being American, adds nothing Australian to the picture. But the photography is excellent."[22] Another article in the same magazine said the film "claims Australian patronage on account of its local production, but is in all its gun play and other effects imitation American. Heaven forbid that this sort of stuff should go out to the world as dinkum Australian  !"[23]

The Lone Hand said it was the "Best Australian production to date. Station life and bush scenes well depicted, but story not original."[24]

Australian Worker said the film was "considerably better" than Man from Kangaroo.[25]

Meredyth and Lucas left for Sonoma on 11 February 1920 so were not in Australia when the film premiered.[26]

Box office edit

The film was a success at the Australian box office.[27][28] Reportedly "thousands" witnessed it in its Melbourne season[29] and broke box office records in Newcastle.[30]

Dan Carroll later said his company "was encouraged to consider making further pictures" after the success of this and Man from Kangaroo. He "found, however, that small producers had entered the field, and, releasing pictures of a low duality, had made Australian films subjects for the ridicule of audiences. Lack of Australian stories suitable for dramatisation and the fact that oversea producers were releasing films more than sufficient for market needs had also forced him and his associates to abandon the production of films."[31]

The film was screened in Australian cinemas as late as 1923.[32]

US release edit

The film was released in the US in 1922 by William Selig. One trade paper wrote that:

"Good stunt stuff is introduced in the film, and there are a few genuine thrills such as the leap from a dashing horse on to a speeding train; a kidnapping episode and a daring rescue. In connection with some of the stunts performed by Baker it would seem that either the director has been too hasty in an effort to get action or the film has not been carefully cut. At any rate, things happen along just a little too quickly to follow comprehensively. This is particularly noticeable in the instance where Baker rescues the girl he loves."[33]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ ""SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE" AT WEST'S". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 1 October 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. ^ The Lone hand, W. McLeod, 1907, retrieved 4 June 2018
  3. ^ Vagg, Stephen (24 July 2019). "50 Meat Pie Westerns". Filmink.
  4. ^ "TOPICS OF THE DAY". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 21, 972. New South Wales, Australia. 6 March 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "A RESOLUTE FILM MAKER". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 523. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 August 1973. p. 10. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "ALL AUSTRALIAN". The Sun. No. 897. New South Wales, Australia. 6 June 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE". Table Talk. No. 1810. Victoria, Australia. 1 April 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "WEST'S PICTURES." The Register (Adelaide) 28 Sep 1920: 6 accessed 18 December 2011
  9. ^ "STRAND THEATRE". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 14, 216. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "NEW AUSTRALIAN-MADE FILM". The Sunday Times. No. 1790. New South Wales, Australia. 16 May 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Along Film Row". Everyone's. 22 April 1922. p. 5.
  12. ^ "AMUSEMENTS". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 30 September 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  13. ^ "From Parson to Bad Man". Sunday Times. No. 1765. New South Wales, Australia. 23 November 1919. p. 22. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ The bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880, retrieved 14 March 2019
  15. ^ "[?] Baptist Association". Quorn Mercury. South Australia. 10 September 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ Australian Geographical Society.; Australian National Publicity Association.; Australian National Travel Association. (1934), Walkabout, Australian National Travel Association, retrieved 14 March 2019
  17. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  18. ^ "AUSTRALIAN-MADE FILMS". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 September 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  19. ^ "WEST'S PICTURES". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 28 September 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  20. ^ "NEWS OF THE FILM WORLD". Sydney Mail. Vol. XVI, no. 415. New South Wales, Australia. 10 March 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ Everyones, Everyones Ltd, 1920, retrieved 14 March 2019
  22. ^ "Sundry Shows". The Bulletin. 20 May 1920. p. 36.
  23. ^ "Poverty Point". The Bulletin. 15 April 1920. p. 44.
  24. ^ "Film Criticism". The Lone Hand. 1 July 1920. p. 34.
  25. ^ "THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE". The Australian Worker. Vol. 29, no. 11. New South Wales, Australia. 11 March 1920. p. 20. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ The Lone hand, W. McLeod], 1907, retrieved 14 March 2019
  27. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FILMS". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 November 1927. p. 18. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  28. ^ Everyones, Everyones Ltd, 1920, retrieved 14 March 2019
  29. ^ "CAMPERDOWN CHRONICLE PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY. SATURDAY SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920". Camperdown Chronicle. Vol. XLI, no. 4248. Victoria, Australia. 15 May 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "STRAND THEATRE". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 14, 216. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FILMS". The West Australian. Vol. XLIII, no. 7, 939. Western Australia. 23 November 1927. p. 18. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "OXFORD THEATRE". Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 23 May 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 28 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Footlights and Screen". The Herald. No. 14, 295. Victoria, Australia. 7 January 1922. p. 16. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
shadow, lightning, ridge, 1920, australian, silent, film, starring, renowned, australian, sportsman, snowy, baker, been, called, most, western, like, films, baker, made, australia, theatrical, release, posterdirected, bywilfred, lucaswritten, bybess, meredythp. The Shadow of Lightning Ridge is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker 2 It has been called the most Western like of the films Baker made in Australia 3 The Shadow of Lightning RidgeTheatrical release posterDirected byWilfred LucasWritten byBess MeredythProduced byE J CarrollSnowy BakerStarringSnowy BakerAgnes VernonCinematographyRobert DoerrerProductioncompanyCarroll Baker Australian ProductionsDistributed byAywon Pictures US Release dates3 April 1920 1920 04 03 Australia 13 September 1921 1921 09 13 US Running time7 reels 1 CountryAustraliaLanguagesSilent filmEnglish intertitles It is now considered a lost film Charles Chauvel had a small role as a groom 4 5 The success of the film prompted the formation of the Carroll Baker Film Corporation with capital of 25 000 A studio Palmerston at Waverly was established 6 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4 1 Critical 4 2 Box office 4 3 US release 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSynopsis editTravelling in a carriage is Sir Edward Marriott a wealthy mine owner his fiancee Dorothy Hardyn and a bag containing the month s pay for the miners They are travelling to Marriott s estate at Lightning Ridge There is also a man with a hacking cough A conveyance with armed escort meets the train to prevent the large sum of money from a mysterious outlaw known as The Shadow However The Shadow the man with the hacking cough gets the money and a necklace from the Dorothy He jumps on to a horse and escapes It turns out the Shadow is actually a gentleman in disguise with a vendetta against Sir Edward because his mother has been victimised by him He has become a The Shadow but only attacks Sir Edward s property 7 The Shadow rescues Dorothy from real bushrangers and they fall in love Later he discovers he is the real heir to Sir Edward s property Portuguese Anne who is in love with the Shadow becomes jealous of Dorothy and arranges for the Shadow to be arrested However he escapes 8 9 Cast editSnowy Baker as the Shadow Agnes Vernon as Dorothy Harden Bernice Vere as Portuguese Annie Wilfred Lucas as Sir Edward Marriott Evelyn Johnson 10 Reg K Bisley as station guard 11 Production editThe script was clearly inspired by Zorro which Bess Meredyth later adapted in The Mark of Zorro 1940 After reading the script and seeing the stunts he was required to perform Baker reportedly went out and insured himself for 5 000 12 Lucas said he wanted to give Baker a different acting challenge to The Man from Kangaroo 13 Bernice Vere was a discovery of Baker s 14 She was signed to a 12 month contract 15 Shooting took place in early 1920 in the bush near Sydney at Bulli Pass and Loddon Falls 16 and at a studio built by E J Carroll at Palmerston near Waverly 17 A highlight of the film was Snowy Baker on horseback jumping 40 metres off a cliff 18 19 Baker used a stuntman for some of the more dangerous scenes 20 Reception editCritical edit The trade paper Everyone s said Baker as an elusive bushranger brings joy to the hearts of the Pussyfoots by entirely wrecking a bush pub Snowy doesn t do it on behalf of prohibition He s escaping from the Law and the big fight that ensues causes the damage It was thought at first that the big scene could be done with empty bottles on the shelves but so many were smashed that it was found that there was a sad lack of realism So to the horror of many actors dozens of bottles of real whisky were deliberately wasted Now it is said The Shadow of Lightning Ridge is certain of a tremendous success especially after 6 p m Thirsty folk will go along just to smell the bush pubs scene 21 The Bulletin praised the photography but thought the story was too American saying the only Australian thing about the movie is the setting The scenery is dinkum but the story itself is a mixture of old melodrama and Wild West movie Australia wants Australian films and in spite of Snowy Baker s great athletic business she will refuse to swallow The Shadow as the thing her soul cries for Leading woman Brownie Vernon also being American adds nothing Australian to the picture But the photography is excellent 22 Another article in the same magazine said the film claims Australian patronage on account of its local production but is in all its gun play and other effects imitation American Heaven forbid that this sort of stuff should go out to the world as dinkum Australian 23 The Lone Hand said it was the Best Australian production to date Station life and bush scenes well depicted but story not original 24 Australian Worker said the film was considerably better than Man from Kangaroo 25 Meredyth and Lucas left for Sonoma on 11 February 1920 so were not in Australia when the film premiered 26 Box office edit The film was a success at the Australian box office 27 28 Reportedly thousands witnessed it in its Melbourne season 29 and broke box office records in Newcastle 30 Dan Carroll later said his company was encouraged to consider making further pictures after the success of this and Man from Kangaroo He found however that small producers had entered the field and releasing pictures of a low duality had made Australian films subjects for the ridicule of audiences Lack of Australian stories suitable for dramatisation and the fact that oversea producers were releasing films more than sufficient for market needs had also forced him and his associates to abandon the production of films 31 The film was screened in Australian cinemas as late as 1923 32 US release edit The film was released in the US in 1922 by William Selig One trade paper wrote that Good stunt stuff is introduced in the film and there are a few genuine thrills such as the leap from a dashing horse on to a speeding train a kidnapping episode and a daring rescue In connection with some of the stunts performed by Baker it would seem that either the director has been too hasty in an effort to get action or the film has not been carefully cut At any rate things happen along just a little too quickly to follow comprehensively This is particularly noticeable in the instance where Baker rescues the girl he loves 33 See also editList of lost filmsReferences edit SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE AT WEST S The Register Adelaide National Library of Australia 1 October 1920 p 8 Retrieved 25 July 2012 The Lone hand W McLeod 1907 retrieved 4 June 2018 Vagg Stephen 24 July 2019 50 Meat Pie Westerns Filmink TOPICS OF THE DAY Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate No 21 972 New South Wales Australia 6 March 1947 p 2 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia A RESOLUTE FILM MAKER The Canberra Times Vol 47 no 13 523 Australian Capital Territory Australia 25 August 1973 p 10 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia ALL AUSTRALIAN The Sun No 897 New South Wales Australia 6 June 1920 p 5 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE Table Talk No 1810 Victoria Australia 1 April 1920 p 7 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia WEST S PICTURES The Register Adelaide 28 Sep 1920 6 accessed 18 December 2011 STRAND THEATRE Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate No 14 216 New South Wales Australia 1 June 1920 p 6 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia NEW AUSTRALIAN MADE FILM The Sunday Times No 1790 New South Wales Australia 16 May 1920 p 5 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia Along Film Row Everyone s 22 April 1922 p 5 AMUSEMENTS The Register Adelaide National Library of Australia 30 September 1920 p 9 Retrieved 25 July 2012 From Parson to Bad Man Sunday Times No 1765 New South Wales Australia 23 November 1919 p 22 Retrieved 20 April 2024 via National Library of Australia The bulletin John Haynes and J F Archibald 1880 retrieved 14 March 2019 Baptist Association Quorn Mercury South Australia 10 September 1920 p 1 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia Australian Geographical Society Australian National Publicity Association Australian National Travel Association 1934 Walkabout Australian National Travel Association retrieved 14 March 2019 Palmerston Studio Our pioneer silent film studio Waverly Council PDF Archived from the original PDF on 23 March 2012 Retrieved 18 December 2011 AUSTRALIAN MADE FILMS The Register Adelaide National Library of Australia 25 September 1920 p 10 Retrieved 25 July 2012 WEST S PICTURES The Register Adelaide National Library of Australia 28 September 1920 p 6 Retrieved 25 July 2012 NEWS OF THE FILM WORLD Sydney Mail Vol XVI no 415 New South Wales Australia 10 March 1920 p 10 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia Everyones Everyones Ltd 1920 retrieved 14 March 2019 Sundry Shows The Bulletin 20 May 1920 p 36 Poverty Point The Bulletin 15 April 1920 p 44 Film Criticism The Lone Hand 1 July 1920 p 34 THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING RIDGE The Australian Worker Vol 29 no 11 New South Wales Australia 11 March 1920 p 20 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia The Lone hand W McLeod 1907 retrieved 14 March 2019 AUSTRALIAN FILMS The West Australian Perth National Library of Australia 23 November 1927 p 18 Retrieved 25 July 2012 Everyones Everyones Ltd 1920 retrieved 14 March 2019 CAMPERDOWN CHRONICLE PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY THURSDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY MAY 15 1920 Camperdown Chronicle Vol XLI no 4248 Victoria Australia 15 May 1920 p 2 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia STRAND THEATRE Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate No 14 216 New South Wales Australia 1 June 1920 p 6 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia AUSTRALIAN FILMS The West Australian Vol XLIII no 7 939 Western Australia 23 November 1927 p 18 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia OXFORD THEATRE Daily Advertiser New South Wales Australia 23 May 1923 p 2 Retrieved 28 July 2019 via National Library of Australia Footlights and Screen The Herald No 14 295 Victoria Australia 7 January 1922 p 16 Retrieved 14 March 2019 via National Library of Australia External links editThe Shadow of Lightning Ridge at IMDb nbsp The Shadow of Lightning Ridge at National Film and Sound Archive The Shadow of Lightning Ridge at SilentEra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Shadow of Lightning Ridge amp oldid 1223488684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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