The Midnight Wedding

The Midnight Wedding is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford based on a popular Ruritanian stage play in which Longford had appeared.[3][4] It is considered a lost film.

The Midnight Wedding
Still from the film
Directed byRaymond Longford
Produced byCharles Cozens Spencer
Written byRaymond Longford
Based onplay by Walter Howard
StarringLottie Lyell
CinematographyErnest Higgins
Edited byErnest Higgins
Production
company
Spencer's Pictures
Release date
7 December 1912[1]
Running time
3,500 feet[2]
CountryAustralia
LanguageSilent film
English intertitles

It should not be confused with a 1912 film from the Gaumont Company of the same name.[5]

Plot

In the fictitious European country of Savonia, the dashing Paul Valmar (Augustus Neville) enlists in the Hussars after the death of his mother. After five years of service he is becomes a lieutenant and is appointed sword master to the regiment, causing jealousy amongst other others, notably the young Prince Eugene von Strelsburg (George Parke) and the wealthy Captain von Scarsbruck (D.L. Dalziel). Von Scarsbruck has been rejected by Eugene's sister, the Princess Astrea (Lottie Lyell), and he gets Eugene involved in gambling. Eugene taunts Valmar about his parentage, resulting in a fight in which Eugene is injured. Valmar seeks refuge in a church.

Under the terms of her father's will, the Princess Astrea must marry, but is given the option of von Scarsbruck or a nunnery. Father Gerard conceives of the idea of uniting Valmar with the princess. He blindfolds the officer and marries him to her on midnight. Valmar is subsequently captured and brought towards the Crown Prince. Valmar informs him that he is the Crown Prince's own son.

Von Scarsbruck is still intent on forcing a marriage with Astrea by destroying her reputation. He visits her chamber late one night, and is discovered by Valmar who challenges him to a duel. Valmar is injured, and Astrea confesses to her brother that she is married to him. Valmar recovers from his wounds and fights another duel with Von Scarsbruck. During the fight the cowardly Eugene tries to strike up Valmar's sword and Valmar runs him through. Astrea succeeds in stopping the fight, then the Crown Prince intervenes and puts Eugene and von Scarsbruck under arrest, banning all women from officer's quarters. Astrea disguises herself as an officer and sneaks into see the injured Valnar. She is discovered by the Crown Prince and confesses she is married to him.

Three months later, Valmar has recovered from his wounds and duels von Scarsburck again. Astrea hears about this and rides to the duel just in time to see Valmar mortally wound his opponent. Valmar and Astrea marry again, this time in a large ceremony.[6][7]

Cast

Cast (in alphabetical order)

  • J. Barry ... Rev. A. Cette
  • D.L. Dalziel ... Capt. Rudolph von Scarsbruck
  • Jack Goodall ... Father Gerard
  • Robert Henry ... Maj. Donelli
  • Tim Howard ... Cpl. Otto
  • Dorothy Judge ...Kathie
  • Nellie Kemberman ... Stephanie
  • Tom Leonard ... Pvt. Bobo
  • Victor Loydell ... Sgt. Max
  • Lottie Lyell ... Princess Astrea
  • Augustus Neville ... Paul Valmar
  • George Parke ... Lt. Prince Eugene
  • Harry Saville ... Innkeeper
  • Arthur Smith ... Dr. Eitel
  • Fred Twitcham ... Crown Prince of Savonia

Original Play
The Midnight Wedding
Poster from a 1907 Australian production
Written byWalter Howard
Original languageEnglish
Genremelodrama

The play had was first performed in Australia in 1906[8] and was enormously popular. Longford had appeared in it playing the role of Von Scarsbruck although he did not act in the film.[9] The cast largely came from the stage production produced by Clarke and Clyde Meynell.

Production

The movie was the first to be shot at Charles Cozens Spencer's new studio at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney, enabling it to feature elaborate sets.[10]

A duel sequence shot outside a Sydney church was one of the first duels ever put on film.[11]

Release

The movie is sometimes confused with a British film of the same name that was released in Australia around the same time.[12] It received good reviews and was a popular success at the box office.[13][14]

References
  1. "Raymond Longford", Cinema Papers, January 1974 p51
  2. "Advertising". Traralgon Record. Traralgon, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 21 August 1914. p. 3 Edition: MORNING. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  3. "ENTERTAINMENTS." The Brisbane Courier 28 Mar 1910: 3 accessed 8 December 2011
  4. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 36
  5. http://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/movingpicturenew05unse_1054
  6. "A WEST'S SPECIAL". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 11 January 1913. p. 6 Section: SECOND SECTION. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. A synopsis of the play can be found at "ENTERTAINMENTS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 28 March 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  8. "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 16 November 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  9. "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 26 March 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  10. "SPENCER'S PICTURES". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 7 December 1912. p. 21. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  11. The bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880, retrieved 20 April 2019
  12. "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 15 April 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  13. "AMUSEMENTS". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 11 January 1913. p. 21. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  14. "OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1912. p. 17. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
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