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Gamblers' Gold
Author	Arthur Wright
Language	English
Series	Bookstall series
Genre	sporting
Publisher	NSW Bookstall Company
Publication date	1911
Publication place	Australia
Published in English	1923 (pub: George Newnes)
Pages	191

Gambler's Gold
Gambler's Gold
Directed by	George Young; Casper Middleton
Based on	novel by Arthur Wright
Starring	Casper Middleton; Roland Conway
Cinematography	George Wilkins
Production; company	Australian Films Ltd
Release date	17 November 1911;
Running time	4,000 feet
Country	Australia
Languages	Silent film; English intertitles

Gambler's Gold is a 1911 Australian film based on the 1911 novel by Arthur Wright. It is considered a lost film.

Plot

The story revolved around a man innocently accused of murder. The film was divided into chapters:

The Home in a Garret.
A Dastardly Murder.
Foong Lee's Opium Den.
Great Motor Boat Chase in Sydney Harbour.^[5]

Cast

Casper Middleton as the villain
Ronald Conway as the hero
E.B. Russell as Ayr Arnold^[6]
Evelyn St Jermyn as Aileen Ayr, the heroine^[4]

Original novel

The film was based on a novel by Arthur Wright, who specialised in stories about horse racing. ^[7] The story was first serialised in a newspaper in 1910 and published in novel form a year later. It became one of his most popular books.^[8]

Plot

Two men, who are good friends, fall in love with the same woman. One of the men is successful and works as a squatter. He eventually marries the woman, and they have a daughter together. Tragically, the squatter accidentally kills his wife while attempting to strike his friend. As the years pass, the squatter is tormented by remorse, while the friend develops feelings for the squatter's daughter, who, in turn, is in love with one of her father's shearers.^[9]

Reception

A contemporary critic called the book a "wild and woolly farrago of delinquencies and stupidities. To'outline the "plot" is practically impossible. The story drifts from one absurdity to another. There seems to be no possibility of rational connection between the events: there is certainly no emotional sentiment, no principle, no characterisation, no redeeming feature whatever in the crude production."^[10]

Nonetheless film rights were sold early.^[11]

Production

The film was made by the short lived Australian Film Syndicate in North Sydney.^[12]

A sequence involved the Sydney Cup race. The AJC would not allow scenes to be shot at Randwick so the producer used Victoria Park. According to Wright:

It was decided to shoot the Cup scene first. A grey — Fitz Merv, I think— won the handicap which was to represent the race for the Sydney Cup, after making a brilliant run in the straight from the rear of the field. This was a tiny stroke of luck for the producer who thereupon secured a grey horse to be used right through the picture, and when he was seen winning the Cup in the final scene the fans went crazy with delight.^[12]

The cinematographer, George Wilkins, later became a noted polar explorer under the name "Hubert". He had become cinematographer for the Australian Film Syndicate after Lacey Percival left the company to join the Australian Photo-Play Company.^[13]^[2]

Reception

According to Wright the film "paid its way well... packed with action and thrills, [it] drew the crowds... If it could be shown to-day [in 1931] lecturer and all, no doubt it would be the laugh of a life time.".^[12]

A contemporary review said "the story abounds is dramatic situations, which culminate in a motor-boat chase down Sydney Harbour, the death of the villain, and a promise of future happiness for the lovers and their bright little son. All who appreciate a clean Australian story should welcome this excellent film."^[14]

References

^ "GENERAL GOSSIP". The Referee. Sydney. 15 November 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 13 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b "Australian Moving Pictures. An Industry Which Has Failed to Grow Up. Some Reminiscences.", Everyones., 6 (357 (5 January 1927)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-576826185, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 12384. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1912. p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b "AUSTRALIAN PHOTO-PLAY". The Sunday Times. Sydney. 5 November 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 13 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Advertising". Clarence and Richmond Examiner. Grafton, NSW. 2 March 1912. p. 12. Retrieved 23 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "GENERAL GOSSIP". The Referee. Sydney. 1 November 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 13 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "CUPID CUP WINNER". The Register. Adelaide. 24 June 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 23 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "OBITUARY". Daily Advertiser. Wagga Wagga, NSW. 21 December 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 27 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "A BOOKSTALL STORY". The Freeman's Journal. Sydney. 15 June 1911. p. 18. Retrieved 27 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ""WHAT THEY DO IN AUSTRALIA."". The West Australian. Perth. 24 June 1911. p. 14. Retrieved 23 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Display Advertising". The Queenslander. 2 December 1911. p. 12. Retrieved 23 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b ^c "To Pana's Page on Passing and Past Shows". The Referee. Sydney. 1 July 1931. p. 24. Retrieved 13 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 31.
^ "GENERAL GOSSIP". The Referee. Sydney. 22 November 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 13 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.