A comedy, the film consists of six reels.[1] Ralph Vickers is a villainous convict, working against a mill owner, Mr Lucas, who has a pretty daughter, Geraldine, and an office boy who in the end baffles the designs of Vickers.
The film premiered at a Trade Show in April 1919.[2]
Reception
The Era said on 9 April 1919 ”Mr. C. M. Hallard gives a finished portraiture of the villainous Ralph Vickers, Miss Daisy Burrell makes a pretty and vivacious heroine, and Wee Wood is most successful in the comedy part of James, the office boy.[3]
The Era Dramatic & Musical Almanack commented “Convict 99 made a big hit... It features Wee Georgie Wood and Daisy Burrell. It is slightly sensational, with good comedy relief and some quite pathetic parts.”[4]
Overseas
Convict 99 was at the Gaiety Cinema, Singapore, in February 1920, when it was advertised as -
Samuelson presents the all British production starring C. M. Hallard and Daisy Burrell in CONVICT 99 by M. Connor and R. Leighton in 6 parts[5]
It was shown in Singapore again in November 1921, this time at the Empire.[6]
^Robert B. Connelly, The silents: silent feature films, 1910-36 vol. 40, issue 2 (1998): "CONVICT 99 (1919, Brit.) (6 r.) d, GB Samuelson; Ip, Daisy Burrell. Wee Georgie Wood, Ernest A. Graham. Wyndham Guise"
^Rachael Low, Roger Manvell, The History of the British Film: 1918-1929 (1971), p. 141: "Amongst Samuelson's varied output were films with... the midget comedian Wee Georgie Wood: Convict 99 (Trade Show April 1919)"
^The Era (London, England), Wednesday 9 April 1919, p. 18
