Title

The Hero of the Dardanelles

Authors

Daniel Reynaud, Avondale College of Higher EducationFollow

Author Faculty (Discipline)

Arts

Document Type

Creative Work

NTRO Sub-type

Recorded or Rendered Creative Work - Audio or Visual

Publisher

Australasian Films

Publication Date

4-2015

Embargo Period

4-15-2015

Scale/Significance of work

Major

Abstract

The hero of the Dardanelles is the first surviving feature film depiction of Australian troops of the First World War in Gallipoli and includes images of a real army camp and real soldiers, in training at Liverpool, NSW.

The Hero of the Dardanelles was released on 17 July 1915, less than three months after the actual landings. Based on the sensational reports of the April 25 landings penned by British correspondent Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, it was produced by Australasian Films and directed by one of Australia’s best silent film makers, Alfred Rolfe. The film was actually a sequel to Will They Never Come?, released on 5th April, a short recruiting drama made for the Government by Australasian Films using Rolfe, and writers Philip Gell and Loris Browne. This short film told the story of an insipid young man finding true manhood on the battlefields of France while his sports-loving brother stayed home, but nearly lost his girl because of it. The enormous popularity of this first film led Prime Minister Hughes to suggest to Australasian Films that they make a sequel. A brief scene from this film, one of soldiers firing in an open field, was used as a flash-back in The Hero of the Dardanelles, and hence survives.

Quality Indicators

Disseminated via nationally recognised outlet or entity

ANZSRC / FoR Code

190201 Cinema Studies| 190204 Film and Television| 200212 Screen and Media Culture| 210303 Australian History (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History)

Avondale Research Centre

Spirituality and Worship Research Centre

Reportable Items (HERDC/ERA)

Creative Work

Comments

This version of The hero of the Dardanelles from the National Film and Sound Archive is a reconstruction of the original film produced by Australasian Films in 1915.

Due to copyright restrictions this creative work is unavailable for download.

Staff and Students of Avondale College may access The Hero of the Dardanelles from Avondale College Library (791.43658 R33-4).

Recommended Citation

National Film and Sound Archive (Producer). (2015). The hero of the Dardanelles [DVD]. Available from http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/hero-of-the-dardanelles/