The Waybacks (film)

The Waybacks is a 1918 Australian silent film directed by Arthur W. Sterry. It is a rural comedy in the vein of Dad and Dave based on a play adaptation of a series of popular novels.[2] Only part of the film survives today.

The Waybacks
Directed byArthur W. Sterry
Based onplay by Philip Lytton
novels by Henry Fletcher
Produced byHumbert Pugliese
StarringVincent White
CinematographyErnest Higgins
Production
company
Koala Films
Release date
18 May 1918
Running time
7,000 feet[1]
CountryAustralia
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

Plot

The Wayback family visit Sydney from the bush. Dad and his son Jabex make friends with a group of bathing beauties at Bondi. Mum visits a fortune teller.

Cast
  • Vincent White as Dads Wayback
  • Gladys Leigh as Mums Wayback
  • Lucy Adair as Tilly
  • Louis Machilaton as Jabex
  • Rose Rooney as Frances Holmes
  • Harry Hodson as Dan Robins
  • William Turner as Charley Lyons
  • George Hewlitt as Nigel Kelvin
  • Lance Vane as Jack Hinds

Original play
The Waybacks
Poster from Tasmania production of play
Written byPhilip Lytton
Date premiered1915
Original languageEnglish
GenreRural comedy

The Waybacks, also known as The Waybacks at Home and in Town, was a 1915 Australian play by Philip Lytton which was adapted from the stories by Henry Fletcher about the comic adventures of a rural family. The play was seen as attempt to cash in on the success of the theatre version of On Our Selection, and enjoyed almost as much popularity at the box office during its original run.[3][4]

The plot involves the Wayback family visiting Sydney and having various adventures.[5]

Production

Director Sterry previously enjoyed success with The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang (1921). He appeared in the original stage production as Charley Lyons.[6]

The film was shot near Windsor and in Sydney. Two of the cast, Gladys Leigh and Harry Hodson, reprised their roles from the stage production.[7]

Release

The film was released in August 1918. The premiere was held at Sydney Town Hall and resulted in a near riot as people sought tickets. The film went on to be a success with the box office.[8] It continued to be seen in cinemas until 1925.[9] It was re-released as The Waybacks of 1925.

Sterry planned a sequel, The Cornstalks, but it does not seem to have been completed.[7]

References
  1. ""THE WAYBACKS."". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. "Philip Lytton" (PDF). Australian Variety Theatre Archive. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  3. Biography of Arthur Sterry
  4. "Philip Lytton" Biography at Australian Variety Theatre Archive
  5. "THE WAYBACKS." Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16892, 7 February 1917, Page 6
  6. "AMUSEMENTS". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 24 January 1916. p. 6 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  7. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 79.
  8. "Australian Notes", Moving Picture World 6 Jul 1918 - 31 Aug 1918 p 1128
  9. Crowley, Bill, 'Pugliese, Caroline Frances (1865–1940)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, Retrieved 7 January 2012
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