The Guyra Ghost Mystery
| The Guyra Ghost Mystery | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Cosgrove |
| Written by | John Cosgrove |
| Produced by | John Cosgrove |
| Starring | John Cosgrove Nellie Regan |
| Cinematography | A.J. Moulton |
Production companies | Cogrove and Regan |
Release date |
|
Running time | five reels[2] |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | silent |
The Guyra Ghost Mystery is a 1921 Australian film written and directed by John Cosgrove. It was based on the real-life 1921 mystery of the Guyra Ghost.[3][4]
It is considered a lost film.
Plot
[edit]In Guyra, New South Wales, the Bowen family are visited by ghosts. Sherlock Doyle, an expert in ghosts, goes to the town to investigate.
Cast
[edit]- John Cosgrove as Sherlock Doyle
- Nellie Regan
- Minnie Bowen[5]
- the Bowen family
Background
[edit]The film is based on actual events. In April 1921, the family of William Bowen in Guyra reported knocking on the walls and stones being thrown on their roof.[6] This continued even when police and volunteers guarded the house.[7] A friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, then touring Australia, visited to help investigate.[8]
One of the children, Minnie Bowen, later confessed to throwing some stones and it is thought that practical jokers were behind it, but the mystery was never completely solved.[9][10][11] Since then, the mystery has continued to persist, including media released around the centenary.[6][12]
Production
[edit]The story became a media sensation in 1921 and several film projects based on it were announced but this was the only one made. It was partly funded by a Guyra exhibitor and shot on location in the town.[13] Cosgrove reportedly arrived in the town in May 1921, accompanied by a cameraman, and approached the Bowens directly asking for their co operation in making the film. They were reluctant at first but eventually agreed.[14]
The Bowen family themselves appear in the cast. It is unknown, however, if any other actual participants or internal locations were used.[7] The character of Sherlock Doyle was a spoof of Mr Moors, a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Shooting took place in May."SYDNEY GOSSIP". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 24 May 1921. p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia. One report says it was three days.,[13][15] another two weeks.[16][17][18]
The film, with a runtime of approximately 50 minutes, was advertised as containing "five reels of laughter" indicating it was a comedy.[2] The Bowens did not appear in the advertising posters.
Reception
[edit]The movie performed poorly at the box office. It was the only director credit for actor John Cosgrove, although he wrote the scripts of several other movies.[13]
"Should interest those who believe in ghosts," said one review.[19]
The film did not appear to be widely seen. One report said it "sat on the shelf" for three years.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "INVISIBLE DIVORCE". The Sunday Times. No. 1847. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Advertising". The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ 'Final Verdict on the Guyra Ghost', Guyra Argus
- ^ Guyra Ghost at Unexplained Australia
- ^ "Advertising". Nepean Times. Vol. 38, no. 2024. New South Wales, Australia. 13 August 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b The Guyra Ghost – Part One | Forgotten Australia, retrieved 24 April 2022
- ^ a b The Guyra Ghost – Part Two | Forgotten Australia, retrieved 24 April 2022
- ^ "GUYRA GHOST". Daily Mail. No. 5867. Queensland, Australia. 23 April 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "GUYRA MYSTERY". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 1921. p. 9. Retrieved 28 July 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A STAFF CORRESPONDENT RECALLS.... THE UNSOLVED RIDDLE OF GUYRA'S GHOST HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 28 July 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "GUYRA GHOST". Daily Mail. No. 5873. Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Best, Daniel (13 August 2020). Mystery, Myth & Misdirection: Hunting the Guyra Ghost. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1-9842-4377-5.
- ^ a b c Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 106-107.
- ^ "Filming the Guyra Spook". The Richmond River Herald And Northern Districts Advertiser. Vol. 35, no. 2356. New South Wales, Australia. 20 May 1921. p. 7. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "FILM MORALS AND MARKETS". Smith's Weekly. Vol. IV, no. 38. New South Wales, Australia. 11 November 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SYDNEY GOSSIP". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 24 May 1921. p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ""THE GUYRA GHOST"". Truth. No. 1638. New South Wales, Australia. 29 May 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Everyones, Everyones Ltd, 1920, retrieved 27 October 2018
- ^ "TABLOID REVIEWS". Smith's Weekly. Vol. III, no. 16. New South Wales, Australia. 11 June 1921. p. 10. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.