LOVERS AND LUGGERS
Australia, 1937, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Lloyd Hughes, Shirley Ann Richards, Sidney Wheeler, James Raglan, Elaine Hamill, Frank Harvey, Ronald Whelan, Alec Kellaway, Leslie Victor.
Directed by Ken G. Hall.
Lovers and Luggers was one of Ken G. Hall's most popular Cinesound films. It was an action adventure, opening in London society and moving to Thursday Island. It had American silent star Lloyd Hughes (who was to remain for Hall's Broken Melody). Shirley Ann Richards was at the beginning of her career which led her to America. Alec Kellaway, stage and radio actor Sidney Wheeler were amongst the supporting cast.
Frank Hurley photographed exteriors in Thursday Island and these were used with extensive rear production and tank sequences filmed in the Olympic Pool in North Sydney to get the atmosphere of the tropics. On the whole, this works very well. The plot is conventional enough and some of the characterisation and lines stilted by today's standards. However, there is a verve which moves the film along. It is interesting to observe the kind of tropical life imagined for Thursday Island in the '30s (very reminiscent of outpost Hollywood films) and there are echoes of white supremacy frequently in the dialogue. The film was released in the United States with the title Vengeance of the Deep.
1. The impact of Ken G. Hall and his Cinesound features in the '30s? Australian films for Australian audiences? Overseas success? Their contribution to the industry, Australian consciousness of its own films? Entertainment qualities? Sure-fire ingredients? Comparisons with American and British product?
2. The Thursday Island exterior photography? The studio work? Special effects - especially for underwater filming? The atmosphere of Thursday Island? The atmosphere of England for the opening? The quality of the black and white photography? Songs e.g. in Thursday Island, piano recitals, the musical score?
3. The popularity of this kind of action adventure? The setting of Britain and Empire? Australia and Thursday Island? Heroism and heroic actions for the sake of the unreachable beloved woman? The contrast with Thursday Island and its tropical types, outcasts, comics and villains? Pearling. the Torres Strait Islanders, whites, Chinese villains? Characters and stereotypes? The blend of adventure, serious themes, comedy?
4. Daubenny Carshott as hero? His artistic and musical background? His success at the Albert Hall? His spirit of adventure? His devotion to Stella? Her aristocratic ways and demanding his finding her a pearl? His being seduced by her glamour? The comparison with Craig Henderson? His decision to give up his career, arguments with his manager, the spinning of the globe and finding Thursday Island?
5. The trip, Thursday Island and the atmosphere of the tropics? The types on the island, their rules and codes e.g. the top step, wearing the hat? Their stealing, drinking? Daubenny and his fitting in? Captain. Quidley's comment that Daub was 'a doer'?
6. The background of pearling. technical detail, villains and rivalries, underwater fights, rescue techniques? The importance of Henderson going to rescue Daub? Their being raised, suspended? The effect of the experience on Daub, the bond with Henderson, the discovery of the pearl and his giving it to Captain Quid to give to Craig? Stella's arrival and her unmasking? The effect of the experience on him?
7. The comic style of Captain Quid, his drinking, his rules, jokes? Love for Lorna? Stealing? Helping out? Rescuing Henderson and Daub? A happy ending?
8. Lorna and her being dressed as a man, self-assertion, Quid's daughter, her attraction towards Bill, attraction towards Daub, the trip on the yacht, the helping and the rescuing, the crisis and the happy ending?
9. Craig Henderson and his artistic work, going to find a pearl for Stella, his suspicions, his going to save Daub, rescue and health, the confrontation with Stella and the truth?
10. The villains, the nightclub, Mendoza, the Chinese?
11. The Thursday Islanders: the bar. the singer, drinking? McTavish? and his comic relief?
12. The Torres Strait Islanders and their working for the white men, on the pearlers., their loyalties? The white supremacist, the language of the dialogue?
13. A typical adventure of the '30s, presuppositions about good and evil, success and failure, heroism, love, and the supremacy of the British Empire?
