The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang (1921 film)

The Life Story of John Lee, or the Man They Could Not Hang is a 1921 Australian silent film based on the true life story of John Babbacombe Lee. It is a remake of a 1912 film with some extra scenes of Lee's childhood.

The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang
Directed byArthur W. Sterry
Produced byArthur W. Sterry
Frederick Haldane
Written byArthur W. Sterry
StarringRose Rooney
CinematographyTasman Higgins
Production
company
Sterry and Haldane
Release date
24 December 1921
Running time
six reels
CountryAustralia
LanguageSilent film
English intertitles

Unlike many silent Australian films, a copy of the movie exists.

Plot

John Lee grows up in England and is falsely accused of the murder of Emma Keye at Babbacombe. Characters include his parents; Miss Key's employer, Ned Saw; Eliza Harris and Jane, servants of Miss Keye; Kate Farmer, Lee's sweetheart.

He is sentenced to be executed but the executions fail three times. Eventually, Lee is set free and is reunited with his mother and sweetheart at home.[1]

Production

Sterry and Haldane enjoyed enormous success with the 1912 version of this story, so they decided to remake it. They added extra scenes of Lee's childhood and extra piety.[2]

It was registered for copyright on 8 September 1921.[3]

Sterry registered a play for copyright in 1927 called The Life Story of John Lee or The Babbacombe Tragedy[4]

Reception

The movie proved very popular at the box office. Sterry and Haldane would often appear at screenings, delivering an oration. Haldane also toured the English speaking world showing this film and providing the oration that accompanied it.[5]

References
  1. "Union Pictures". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (15, 295). New South Wales, Australia. 20 October 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 111.
  3. "Proceedings Under the Copyright Act 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (85). Australia, Australia. 3 November 1921. p. 1616. Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Proceedings Under the Copyright Act 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (89). Australia, Australia. 25 August 1927. p. 1738. Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "The Gippsland Times". Gippsland Times (Vic. : 1861–1954). Victoria: National Library of Australia. 15 January 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 28 July 2012.


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