Silent films were still a novel form of entertainment in 1913.
They were screened in venues across Australia, from rural town
halls – perhaps to the accompaniment of a lone pianist – to
purpose-built cinemas with small orchestras in the larger
cities. Outdoor screenings were popular during the warmer
months. The first, full-length feature film, Quo Vadis?, was
released internationally in 1913. A love story with a religious
theme set during the reign of Roman emperor Nero, the film
enthralled large audiences with its spectacular special effects.
Although 1913 was a buoyant year for the Australian film
industry, only one complete Australian feature film, The Sick
Stockrider, survives from this time. Some screenings of the film
were advertised as having ‘elocutionary accompaniment’ to make
‘the heart of every Australian … throb to the music of [Adam
Lindsay] Gordon’s poem’. Behind the scenes: the not so silent
films of 1913 This behind-the-scenes video features the
recording of a live piano soundtrack for Glorio