THE MAN FROM KANGAROO

Australia, 1920, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Rex ‘Snowy’ Baker, Agnes Vernon, Charles Villiers.
Directed by Wilfrid Lucas.

The Man From Kangaroo, an action adventure from 1920, has been restored by the National Library of Australia. It is one of the few remaining films from the period now available. Made by Americans Wilfrid Lucas and his wife Bess Meredith, it features action star and athlete Snowy Baker. When compared with American and overseas product of the time, the film stands quite well. However, it was contributing to the pioneering film-making in Australia - experiments with studio work and outdoor work, blending cinema styles with experience from the stage, developing editing techniques for action adventure. The film resembles American westerns in many ways but has the feel of the Australian bush.

It has a strong hero - with the interesting sideline that he initially appears as a minister of the church who is ousted from his parish and feels he can no longer live as a minister. A hero of the cloth, he moves to being a hero of the city and then to be a hero of the bush. The heroine is a strong-minded vigorous lady. While the stereotypes of the bush are there, they are given some vigour. Snowy Baker's stunt work is also of note. This film and the films of the '20s have been well discussed in John Tulloch's Legends of the Screen.

1. The impact of this film on its first release? The status of the cinema in 1920? Overseas? Australian? The authentic Australian feel? The incoming American film-makers? The success of the film in the United States? Its impact now? Its contribution to an understanding of the Australian industry?

2. How effective a piece of cinema for 1920? Comparisons with contemporary product? The plot outline? The popular ingredients of western and action adventure? The characters - rounded characters or types? Stereotypes? Basic situations? The emphasis on the emotional response? The range of acting styles - contrived, realistic? The communication of plot and character by silent film acting styles? The importance of the captions? The resolution of the strands of the plot - the happy ending?

3. The titles and their style, rhetoric, speeches, stylised presentation of character and feeling? The sketches on the caption frames? The irony of so many of the remarks? The strange blend of sentiment and irony?

4. The Australian atmosphere - especially the emphasis of the opening? Kangaroo as town, the bush, the river, the church, business? The contrast with the inner city of Sydney and the bashings? The transition to and comparison of the western town, properties, cattle?

5. The initial background of religion - the status of religion in Australia in 1920, established religion, the expectations of the audience, people at worship, hypocrisy, the role of the bishop, the place of the minister in the local community, the challenge to the minister from the people, the people ousting the minister? The respect for religion? The critique of religion? Popular expectations of holiness - in action, in posture?

6. Snowy Baker's presence, strength. athletic prowess. stunt work? The character of John Harland - the boxing background and the flashbacks? His teaching the boys to box? His swimming demonstration? His incessant broad smile? Love for Muriel? The clash with Giles? His self-doubt? The discussions with the bishop? His decision to move away? His leaving Muriel? His life in the city, helping the assaulted man? The reward in going to Greythorn? His arrival. the clash with Braggan? The irony of the interlinking with Giles and Muriel? Meeting Muriel again? Mike and his friendship and advice? The sermon? The chase? His sense of unworthiness and resigning? His final heroism with Muriel? The contradictory elements in the Australian hero of the time?

7. Muriel as heroine - beauty, wealth? Love for John? The administration of Giles? Her discovering the truth? The visit? The sermon? The build-up to the climax and her participation in it? The photographing of the heroine - communicating charm (the use of cats and lambs!)?

8. Giles as nasty villain, his smiling attitude, behaviour, hypocritical? His exploiting money? His presentation to the bishop? His force on Muriel? His hold over Braggan and the men? His brutality? The expectation of the embodiment of villainy?

9. The kids of Kangaroo, their friendship with the minister, the sweets, the boxing, the swimming? John Harland and his supporting the kids? The mother and her influence in turning the town against him?

10. The interlude in the city - almost from another film? The atmosphere of the inner city, poverty, men down and out, the violence, the chase, the police? The capturing of the atmosphere of city life?

11. The contrast with the western properties, the hard life of the towns, the foreman and his influence on the men, the greed? The overtones of the American western?

12. The build-up to the final chase, the stunt work, especially the leap from the coach? (And the influence of the westerns?)

13. The influence of this film and others like it in the early '20s? Shaping the style of Australian films - themes, situations, characters? Symbols and myths? The influence of American production and the potential American audience?