Captain Midnight, the Bush King (US: The Bushranger's Bride) is a 1911 Australian silent Western film about the fictitious bushranger Captain Midnight. It was the directorial debut of actor Alfred Rolfe. The film is based on the play of same name by W. J. Lincoln and Alfred Dampier. Captain Midnight, the Bush King is now considered lost.
Synopsis
Edgar Dalimore is the son of wealthy station owner Cecil Dalimore, who is persuaded to disinherit his son on false grounds by Cecil's villainous nephew Vincent Lennox. Lennox and an associate, John Stirling, rob a safe belonging to Cecil, resulting in the latter's death. Edgar is wrongfully accused of the murder and is given a life sentence. He escapes with the help of Ned Harling, a bushman who worked for his father, and Ned's daughter Elsa, who loves Edgar.
Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with squatter's daughter Thelma Warren. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape. Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. The killers try to kill Elsa but Edgar rescues her. Edgar's name is cleared. Elsa is left "lonely and forsaken, finding consolation in the sympathy of her faithful horse."
The movie was broken into the following sections: The Quarrel between Edgar Dalmore and his Father. The Murder of Edgar's Father. The Accusation – Edgar accused of the crime, and his committal. The Escape – Escaping from prison, he joins Hellville's Gang as Captain Midnight. The Attack on the Gold Escort, and Midnight pursued by police. The Diplomat – Elsa draws them off the track, and her daring ride. The Jealousy – Elsa's jealousy forces her to betray Midnight. The Dive for Life – Midnight's pluck and success. The Dead Man's Gully – Elsa's terrible fight for life. The Rescue – Midnight ever gallant. The Justice – The murderer of old Dalmore brought to justice. The Innocent – Midnight made a free man. The Fate of Captain Midight
Cast
Alfred Rolfe as Edgar Dalimore/Captain Midnight
Lily Dampier as Elsa
Raymond Longford
Lottie Lyell
Original play
W. J. Lincoln version
The film was adapted from The Bush King, a play originally written by W. J. Lincoln.
The play was about Roger Dalmore, a young English officer who argues with his father, a Cornish mine owner, then emigrates to Australia, where he discovers he is charged with murdering and robbing his father. Although the real culprit is his cousin, Dalmore flees to the bush, where he is rescued by cattle-stealing bushrangers and, due in part of his military experience, becomes their leader under the name Captain Dart.
Dart falls in love with a banker's daughter and another lady falls for him; the latter attempts to betray him to the police after she realises Dart does not love her, however the bushranger escapes. The cousin comes to Australia and becomes involved in defrauding investors in a worthless mine. The cousin plans to blow up the mine but is foiled by Dart who gets him to eventually confesses his crime. He is united with the captain's daughter.
The play debuted in London and over five months it played at three London theatres. "The whole thing is a libel on Australian life as it is", complained one critic. When Lincoln returned to Australia the play then ran in Melbourne for a week in 1894.
Lincoln did some further revisions and the play had a brief run at the Novelty Theatre in London in 1897.
Alfred Dampier version
The play was rewritten by Alfred Dampier (Rolfe's father in law), writing as "Adam Pierre". He set the play entirely in Australia, changed the hero from being the son of a Cornish mine owner to the son of a wealthy Australian station owner, added a fifth act, renamed the hero Captain Midnight instead of Captain Dart, and added a role for himself as an old bushman, Ned Harling (In the original Harling was a publican but only in a small part). The play ends with Edgar marrying Thelma, leaving Elsa alone.
The play premiered in Sydney on 26 January 1901. It was very popular and was frequently performed throughout the 1900s.
Production
Lottie Lyell and Raymond Longford appeared in the movie as second leads. According to contemporary reports, the actors researched their roles for seven months – this may be a reference to the amount of time they had played the parts on stage.