The Jackeroo of Coolabong

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The Jackeroo of Coolabong
Newspaper ad for film
Directed byWilfred Lucas
Written byBess Meredyth
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAl Burne[1]
Edited byDudley Blanchard
Production
company
Distributed byUnion Theatres (Australia)
Aywon Corporation (USA)
Release date
16 October 1920[3]
Running time
55 minutes
CountryAustralia
Languages

The Jackeroo of Coolabong is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was the last of three films he made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood.[4]

It is considered a lost film.[5]

Synopsis[edit]

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station. He recalls his father's fights with Aboriginals in early days including the death dance and corroboree.[6]

The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. [7]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Kathleen Key was imported from the US to play the female lead.[8][9]

Lucas returned from the USA on 8 June 1920 with Key, Bert Glennon (a co director) and Dudley Blanchard (an editor).[10] Australian actor Bernice Veree was put under a 12 month contract.[11] "I already feel one of you," said Kathleen Key. "I am to act in Australian pictures, and I am sure that I shall be able to grasp the Australian ideal of womanhood, interpret it on the screen, and live up to it."[12]

"I did not intend bringing to Australia a leading artist," said Lucas. "It is the policy of the Carroll firm to make and feature our own stars here. That policy shall be carried out, but Miss Key is such a 'find' that for the benefit of the industry in this country generally I though it necessary to secure her."[12]

Shooting took place in June 1920 at Waverly with location work in the outback and on Sydney Harbour. During filming a kangaroo hunt in Narrabri, an extra, Nellie Park, fell off her horse and died of a fractured skull several days later.[13]

Charles Chauvel worked on the film.[14][15]

During filming E. J. Carroll clashed with Wilfred Lucas over the cost of films. Lucas soon returned to Hollywood with Bess Meredyth, taking Baker with them. Raymond Longford took over Carroll's Palmerston studio.[16]

Release[edit]

The film debuted on 16 October 1920 at Crystal Palace Cinema in Sydney.[17]

Critical reception[edit]

The Sydney Morning Herald said "The plot is a simple one, but their adventures are brimful of excitement and merriment. A special feature is the kangaroo hunt at Coolabong. The chase is well photographed, and the numerous 'roos fleeing before the dogs in mighty bounds form a spectacular scene of vivid animation."[18]

Smith's Weekly declared " Direction, scenery, and acting good. Photography beautiful. But such a frail, artificial plot; The cast is lost in the fog of padding."[19]

The Bulletin said the film "contains all the features that went to the making of The Lure of the Bush and Snowy Baker is once again demonstrator of how Young Australia can ride and dive and shoot and fight with his fists. Kathleen Key, the quaint little American importation, does not even contrive to look like an Australian girl."[20]

US release[edit]

The film was re-edited and released in the USA by the Aywon Corp as The Fighting Breed. [21]

Like all the Baker-Meredyth-Lucas collaborations, it was successful at the box office overseas, but returns did not come in quickly.[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "FILMING OF IPSWICH". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXV, no. 15, 088. Queensland, Australia. 23 March 1935. p. 14 (DAILY). Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "SOUTHERN CROSS FEATURE FILM COMPANY, LIMITED". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 23 December 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  3. ^ "NEW AUSTRALIAN FILM". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 829. New South Wales, Australia. 16 October 1920. p. 14. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ ""Australia Has No Romance. Racing Only National Trait." Dan Carroll Tells Why Australian Productions Failed, Sound Suggestions to Commission.", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 23 November 1927, nla.obj-578676979, retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Trove
  5. ^ "The Jackeroo of Coolabong". silentera.com. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  6. ^ "All Australian Pictures". Table Talk. No. 1881. Victoria, Australia. 18 August 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "WEST'S OLYMPIA." The Register (Adelaide) 11 Apr 1921: 3 accessed 18 December 2011
  8. ^ "THE PICTURE WORLD". The Leader. Orange, NSW: National Library of Australia. 18 June 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  9. ^ "The Jackeroo of Coolabong". Sunday Times. No. 1811. New South Wales, Australia. 10 October 1920. p. 22. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTIONS". The World's News. No. 968. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1920. p. 28. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "MOTION PICTURES". The Daily Telegraph. No. 12817. New South Wales, Australia. 9 June 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ a b "ARRIVAL OF WILFRED LUCA[?]". Table Talk. No. 1820. Victoria, Australia. 17 June 1920. p. 35. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "CRUSHED BETWEEN TRUCKS." The Sydney Morning Herald 17 Aug 1920: 7 accessed 18 December 2011
  14. ^ "A RESOLUTE FILM MAKER". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 523. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 August 1973. p. 10. Retrieved 14 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Hollywood", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 20 March 1929, nla.obj-578043021, retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Trove
  16. ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 102.
  17. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 829. New South Wales, Australia. 16 October 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "THE JACKEROO OR COLLABONG". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 830. New South Wales, Australia. 18 October 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "TABLOID REVIEWS". Smith's Weekly. Vol. II, no. 35. New South Wales, Australia. 23 October 1920. p. 20. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "SUNDRY SHOWS.", The Bulletin., Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 21 October 1920, nla.obj-679743021, retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Trove
  21. ^ "The Fighting Breed" NEW NAME FOR "JACKEROO OF COOLABONG."", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 5 October 1921, nla.obj-557019955, retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Trove
  22. ^ Graham Shirley and Brian Adams, Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years, Currency Press, 1989 p66

External links[edit]

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