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The Price (1924 film)

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The Price
Everyone's 12 November 1924
Directed byDunstan Webb
Written byMary Mallon
Produced byMary Mallon
StarringJames Alexander
Production
company
Australian National Films[1]
Release date
  • 18 October 1924 (1924-10-18)
CountryAustralia
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles
Budget£1,000[2]

The Price is a 1924 Australian silent film made with a largely amateur cast under the direction of Dunstan Webb. It is considered a lost film.

Synopsis

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Tom Howard's wealthy parents want him to become a banker but he leaves home to become a jockey. He does not do well and decides to return home, only to read that his mother and father have been killed in a motor accident.

Too ashamed to collect his inheritance, he buys an old horse and works as a cab driver in Sydney.

Tom is eventually found in a hospital by his sister who persuades him to return home, where he reconciles with his former girlfriend.[2][3][4]

Cast

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  • James Alexander as Tom Howard
  • Muriel Copeland as sister[5]
  • Doris Brooks
  • Belle Bates
  • Eddie Hamilton (jockey)
  • Bert Ralton and His Havana Band
  • Jimmy McMahon[6]
  • Marigold as the racehorse[7]

Production

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Mary Mallon formed her own company, Australian National Films, in April 1924 and spent less than £1,000 to make the movie.[1]

Shooting began in early 1924.[2] The movie featured several Sydney cabarets and racing stables, including Randwick Racecourse.[8][9]

Part scenes at the Ambassador Hotel were shot in August 1924.[10][11]

Some of the actors were amateurs cast from a competition.[12] The A reported of the cast were amateurs, selected over a thousand applicants.[13][14]

Release

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A preview of the film was held in October 1924. Everyones said the film "was most generally approved, the photography and direction being equal to anything done in this country."[15]

Some screenings were accompanied by Dunstan Webb, who said he would talk to any members of the audience interested in appearing in future films made by the company.[16]

A critic from Everyones called it "a creditable story, ably retold by an efficient producer and a clever company of actors, most of them screen tyros, but, under capable direction, doing exceptionally good work. Being locally-made, it will, as usual, be taken more critically than a majority of the overseas article." The critic did add "the tale is excellently told, and the many masterly touches of realism, so naturally transferred to the screen, are a credit to the producer. Unfortunately, the ending comes some- what abruptly, due, we are given to understand, by force of circumstances (mainly financial)."[4]

The costs were so low the film reportedly made a small profit.[2]

Mallon was involved in the making of another film, Repentant Woman. However filming ended when the production ran out of money and Mallon left for New Zealand with a copy of The Price.[1]

Mallon later claimed two cast members of The Price, Phyllis du Barry and Lucille Lisle, found success in the USA.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c ""REPENTANT WOMEN" --AND MEN". Smith's Weekly. Vol. VII, no. 13. New South Wales, Australia. 16 May 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 122.
  3. ^ "ELITE THEATRE". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 887. Queensland, Australia. 2 January 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b "SYDNEY'S RECENT FILM RELEASES", Everyones., 4 (243 (29 October 1924)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-574753848, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
  5. ^ "In Australian Film Production", Everyones., 4 (235 (3 September 1924)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-574662769, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
  6. ^ "The Play And Otherwise.", Everyones., 4 (240 (8 October 1924)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-574702146, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
  7. ^ "THE PRICE". The Daily Telegraph. No. 13, 962. New South Wales, Australia. 6 September 1924. p. 16. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "ELITE THEATRE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 2 January 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 5 January 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Advertising". The Sun. No. 1116. New South Wales, Australia. 17 August 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "MOVIE GALA NIGHT". The Daily Telegraph. No. 13, 947. New South Wales, Australia. 20 August 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 29 December 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  13. ^ "TALK OF THE THEATRES YESTERDAY'S SHOWS AND PICTURES". Truth. No. 1813. New South Wales, Australia. 5 October 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Advertising", Everyones., 4 (245 (12 November 1924)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-576373360, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
  15. ^ "Private Screening of "The Price."", Everyones., 4 (240 (8 October 1924)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-574701179, retrieved 26 February 2024 – via Trove
  16. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 3 January 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  17. ^ "Society". Truth. No. 1613. Queensland, Australia. 22 February 1931. p. 18. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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