The Road to Ruin (1913 film)

The Road to Ruin
Directed byW. J. Lincoln
Produced byW. J. Lincoln
Godfrey Cass
StarringRoy Redgrave
CinematographyMaurice Bertel
Production
company
Release date
  • 13 October 1913 (1913-10-13)[1]
Running time
2,700 feet
CountryAustralia
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

The Road to Ruin is an Australian melodrama film directed by W. J. Lincoln.[2] It was one of the first movies from Lincoln-Cass Films and is considered a lost film.[3]

Plot

Norman Harding, son of magnate Sir Gerald Harding, makes a fortune from stock speculation but borrows too much and faces ruin. His sister Elsie is in love with a bank clerk, Harold Henderson, who Norman persuades to help him in a bank fraud. Henderson becomes drawn into society life and finds himself greatly in debt but is bailed out by Sir Gerald.[4][5]

Production

The film was shot in Melbourne and features many notable landmarks such as the Royal Botanical Gardens.[6] The movie was supposedly based on fact. Scenes at Caulfield Raceway were taken on 6 September 1913 and included Meritus winning the Doona Trials.[7]

Cast

Reception

According to one review:

The Road to Ruin stands out as one of the most unique dramas of Melbourne life. It is founded on fact, and in the course of the story both interiors and exteriors of the city are included. It discloses some most beautiful scenic bits of Melbourne, including the Botanical Gardens, street scenes and important business houses and a magnificent series of race Sictures taken at Caulfield on Saturday, 6th inst., showing Meritus winning the Doona Trials.[9]

It was the first Lincoln Cass film to be released in Sydney.[10]

References

  1. ^ Mary Bateman, 'Lincoln Cass Filmography', Cinema Papers, June–July 1980 p 175
  2. ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p43
  3. ^ "NIGGER JIM". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 18 October 1913. p. 6 Section: SECOND SECTION. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  4. ^ "IDEAL THEATRE". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 22 July 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  5. ^ "MOVING PICTURES". The Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930). Vic.: National Library of Australia. 27 September 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ^ "AU[?] [?]". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 16 June 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  7. ^ "MOVING PICTURES". The Prahran Telegraph. Vol. 51, no. 2709. Victoria, Australia. 20 September 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 2 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "LYRIC THEATRE. Royal Pictures". The Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930). Vic.: National Library of Australia. 11 October 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  9. ^ "MOVING PICTURES". The Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930). Vic.: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  10. ^ "NIGGER JIM". The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 18 October 1913. p. 6 Section: SECOND SECTION. Retrieved 7 July 2015.