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Captured by Aboriginals
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Bertram Bracken and/or Gaston Méliès?
Cast: (unknown)
Méliès Star Films [American] production; distributed by [?] The Vitagraph Company of America through The General Film Company, Incorporated? / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 11 September 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on-location in Australia in 1912.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A party of English explorers make their way into the uncivilized region of Northern Queensland, Australia, and pitch camp. Jennings, one of the number, taking a little walk from the camp, is surprised by a tribe of aboriginal black fellows, who at first mean to kill and eat him, but beholding his white skin, the first white man they had ever seen, believe he is a god and receive him in honor. They are more convinced of his deity when he obtains fire from a match, whereas their method is antiquated and long. The black fellows amuse Jennings with a “Corroboree,” a native savage dance, after which he wishes to make his departure, but the aboriginals hold him a prisoner of honor. Next morning all go hunting, the aboriginals with their spears, Jennings with his gun. The report of his gun so scares them that they flee. The Englishman attempts escape, but is tracked by the skilled black fellows and brought back to the chief. The chief, taking Jennings aside, surprises him by talking English, and explaining that he once lived among the white men, but has concealed the fact from his fellows, wishing them to preserve their primitive happiness. He offers to aid Jennings’ escape if he promises to leave the land forever and take his white friends with him. The chief gives his fellows “pituri,” the opium of the Australia aboriginal and soon they sink into profound slumber. He then carries the white man on his shoulders so as to leave no tracks and taking him to his camp in safety returns while his men still sleep. So that when they awake and can find no trace of the stranger, they raise their arms to the skies, believing he has returned there.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Australia
Listing updated: 9 January 2025.
References: Shirley-Australian p. 27; Tarbox-Lost p. 142; Thompson-Star p. 234 : Website-IMDb.
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