The Tenth Straw is a 1926 Australian
silent film heavily inspired by the novel For the Term of His Natural Life. Little is known of the director and cast, but most of the film survives today.[4]
Plot
Aristocrat Bruce Lowe is convicted for a crime he did not commit and is transported from England to Australia. An army officer, Matthew Marr, pretends to be a friend of Lowe's to gain access to his fortune and seduce his sister, Marie.
On board ship, Lowe stands up to a bully and gains a friend in Richard Groves. Lowe escapes from prison, and heads to the bush.
Some aboriginals discover a goldfield. Lowe proves his innocence, and Marr is arrested.[5][6]
The Daily Telegraph said the film "proves definitely that Australia can produce a motion picture that can hold Its own with the best produced in other parts of the world."[14]
The Brisbane Sunday Mail said "there is not one objectionable feature in the
whole six reels. The predominating note is one of kindness and sympathy. True, it has its fighting reels, and real fights, too, while the love interest is ever present."[15]
Everyone's said "Evidently there has been no great expense incurred in its making, and the many crudities will not pass un-noticed, but it has the saving grace of interest ,and will be followed attentively from the first to the last reel."[6]
References
^"Another Australian Film Production", Everyones., 4 (290 (23 September 1925)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-570517896, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
^"Advertising", Everyones., 5 (317 (31 March 1926)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-577676839, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
^
ab"SYNEY'S RECENT FILM RELEASES", Everyones., 5 (317 (31 March 1926)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-577676871, retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Trove
^"THIS WEEK'S PICTURES". Evening News. No. 18333. New South Wales, Australia. 25 March 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"AUSTRALIAN MOVIES". The Telegraph. No. 16, 475. Queensland, Australia. 19 September 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"TIVOLI THEATRE". Queensland Times. Vol. LXIX, no. 13, 277. Queensland, Australia. 15 October 1928. p. 2 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"PERSONAL". The Daily Mail. No. 7351. Queensland, Australia. 19 September 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"ENTERTAINMENTS". Queensland Times. Vol. LXIX, no. 13, 276. Queensland, Australia. 13 October 1928. p. 14 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"EMPRESS THEATRE". The Daily Telegraph. No. 14, 446. New South Wales, Australia. 29 March 1926. p. 11. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"THE MAJESTIC". Sunday Mail. No. 216. Queensland, Australia. 17 July 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.