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The Assigned Servant
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Wikipedia article
'The Assigned Servant' is a 1911 Australian silent film about a convict who is transported to Van Diemen's Land. It was made by the husband-and-wife team of John and Agnes Gavin and is considered a lost film.
Plot
In England, Ralph Frawley is arrested for rabbit poaching and transported to Van Diemen's Land as a convict. He is assigned as a servant to a settler and falls in love with the daughter of the house. He marries her in secret but when this is revealed he is sent back to prison to serve the rest of his term. He escapes by a spectacular leap and swims to freedom. He turns to bushranging and robs the mail coach. He is saved by his aboriginal friend during a fight with police. After learning his wife has died he returns to England.
Cast
*John Gavin
*Alf Scarlett
*Charles Woods
*Dore Kurtz
*Sid Harrison
*Agnes Gavin
Production
Filming took under a month, which over a week spent on location. During the shoot, two actors injured themselves during a scene where they fought on top of a cliff and fell twenty feet below into the water. The actor Frank Gardiner cut his head falling from a horse during a chase scene, and an actor playing a trooper had four teeth knocked out during a fight.
Filming took place in the National Park, with Georges River heavily featured.
Reception
According to Gavin the film was a big success.
References
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