Thunderbolt is a 1910 film in the genre of "outlaw" films at the time that tended to glorify the life of the outlaw "Bushrangers" that roamed the Australian outback in pre-commonwealth days. Shortly after this movie was made, the government of New South Wales banned the manufacture of this type of film on the basis that they were promoting crime. It is considered a lost film.
[edit] Synopsis
Frederick Ward is a cattle drover earning money for his wedding when he is accused of cattle theft and sentenced to seven years at Cockatoo Island. He escapes by swimming across the water only to learn that his fiancée, Jess Anson, has died of grief. He seeks his revenge by taking on a life of crime, becoming the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt. He befriends some aboriginal people, steals a racehorse, "Combo", and robs the Moonbi Mail Coach. He then enters "Combo" in a horse race and wins. He is rescued from a police trap involving Chinese by a half-caste girl, Sunday. He is grateful to her and they get married. He then holds up the Carlisle Hotel, and narrowly escapes. He takes on a boy apprentice and Sunday dies. Thunderbolt then dies in a shoot out with police.[1]
[edit] Production
H. A. Forsyth produced the film and adapted the novel by William Monckton and Ambrose Pratt, Three Years With Thunderbolt. He also appeared in the riding scenes. John Gavin directed the movie, and played the lead role of Frederick Ward.
Shooting took place in Lithgow and Hartley Vale, with extras recruited from local miners who were then on strike.[2]
[edit] Reception
The movie was usually screened accompanied by a lecturer.[3] It was so popular, Gavin subsequently went on to make films about Captain Moonlite, Ben Hall and Frank Gardiner.
- John Gavin as Thunderbolt
- Ruby Butler
- H.A. Forsyth
[edit] References
[edit] External links
