DISTANT SHORES
Germany, 1937, 90 minutes, Black and White.
Zara Leander.
Directed by Dietlief Sierck (Douglas Sirk)
Distant Shores is of interest as the work of Douglas Sirk during his German period. He also made La Habanera at this time with the same star, Zara Leander.
This film, from 1937, could be compared with films being made in Australia at the same time, especially some made by Charles Chauvel (Heritage). It focuses on England in the 1840s, a music hall actress who confesses to a crime that she did not commit, to be with the man she loved, and is transported to Sydney and to Parramatta Gaol for seven years. There is interesting Germanic re-creation of colonial Sydney, as well as of the gaols and the bush. The difficulty is, for English-speaking audiences, that looking at the actors and their Germanic manner and listening to their Germanic language, that they seem much more Prussian than British or Australian. (A problem, of course, for many American films about European situations.)
The film is the familiar story of the colonies, the rehabilitation of prisoners, the betrayal by the military. There are some momentary glimpses of Aborigines - dressed in livery at the governor's mansion and singing bush ballads at the farm to welcome the new wife.
Douglas Sirk was to go to the United States and establish a strong career as a director of musicals, comedies and romantic melodramas at Universal Studios (Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Imitation of Life ...)
1. Interesting historical drama? From Germany? From the '30s (and from Nazi Germany)? Comparisons with other films made at the time?
2. Black and white photography, German production values? The sets, costumes and decor? Music? The songs for Zara Leander?
3. The title, the focus on Australia?
4. Gloria Vane as music hall singer, the toast of the town, causing scandal, uproar and reactions, the defence by the composer of the songs? Social life? Love? The officer going to New South Wales, the need for money, her forging the cheque? The confession, in court, her confusion and wanting to retract her confession? The sentence, in Parramatta Gaol, the hard work, with the other convicts, the authority? Sending the letter to her lover? His not coming? The farmer and his sympathy? Offering to marry her, her consent, leaving, on the cart, going back to the city, trying to get a job, her being booed from the stage? Going to the governor's palace, meeting her lover, his failure and the announcement of his engagement? His killing himself? Her going back to the farmer - and the possibility of a life in the colonies?
5. The composer, his relationships, his family, his friend and the debts, wanting the loan? Going to New South Wales and the military? Successful career, the governor's adjutant, the relationship with Mary, the announcement of the engagement? His attempts to help Gloria - going to the authorities? His failure of nerve? Meeting Gloria, his failure, his death? His relationship with Fanny and other people in the colony?
6. Fanny and her husband, colonists, Fanny and her flirtation with the officer? Her husband's reaction? Going to see him and the rejection? The news of his death, concern about her husband? Reconciliation?
7. The nephew, the farmer, the hero type - attracted to Gloria, offering her the possibility of marriage, her leaving, his going back home, finding out the truth, pursuing her, a future together?
8. Life in the colonies: the governor and his daughter, the other military personnel, the way of life and officialdom? The contrast with the prisoners, Parramatta Gaol, the marrying of the women in order to build up the colony? The matron in charge of the gaol and her interview with the officer?
9. The background of the 1840s, England and Australia - as seen from a German point of view? Entertaining?
