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''The Life of Rufus Dawes'' is a 1911 Australian silent film based on Alfred Dampier's stage adaptation of the novel ''For the Term of His Natural Life'' produced by Charles Cozens Spencer.〔 It was also known as ''The Story of Rufus Dawes, or the Term of His Natural Life'' or ''The Convict Hero''.〔(''The Convict Hero'' ) at IMDB〕 The film was the third produced by Charles Cozens Spencer, based on a popular stage adaptation by Alfred Dampier and starring Alfred Rolfe, his wife Lily Dampier and Raymond Longford. ItThe others were ''Captain Midnight, the Bush King'' (1911) and ''Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road'' (1911). Rolfe then left Spencer to work for the Australian Photo-Play Company under Stanley Crick. It is considered a lost film.〔Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, ''Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production'', Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998,21〕 ==Synopsis== The film was divided into sections: *ENGLAND – A room at Hampstead heath – Sir Richard Devine refuses to be blackmailed by Crofton, alias John Rex – The Scapepgrace Dick Devine quarrels with his father, Sir Richard Devine is cast off forever – Sir Richard awaiting Parson North is murdered by Rex – North discovers the body and secures his own forged bills – Dick, accused of murder gives his name as Rufus Dawes – Parson North denounces Rex as a notorious highwayman. *VAN DIEMEN'S LAND – the convict settlement at Hell's Gate; life on the chain gang; Gabbet's escape and capture; the Rev. Meakin visits his flock; Chaplain North gives the convicts tobacco; Lt Frere threatens to report him; Major Vickers announces the move to Port Arthur; the attack by the convicts; the prisoner Troke saved by North; the departure from the settlement. *THE MUTINY – on board the Osprey; the capture of the Osprey; the mutineers maroon the survivors *WRECK OF THE OSPREY – the morning after. *MAROONED – two weeks later Rufus Dawes saved by Sylvia Vickers. Rex, Crow and Gabbett starving, draw lots to decide who should be killed. The Ruffian Gabbett. Three months. Rufus Dawes builds a boat of goat skins to enable Mrs Vickers and Sylvia to escape from the island. Major Vickers and party search for the castaways. Rev Meekin's morning walk interrupted by Gabbet. Mrs Vickers killed by Gabbett. The shock deprives Sylvia of her memory. Lt Frere accuses Rufus Dawes of the crime. *PORT ARTHUR – Dawes escapes from prison. Sylvia Vickers, now Mrs Frere, fails to recognise him at first but then it comes back. Her memory returning she demands to see him. Major Vickers returns with recaptured convicts. Lady Devine arrives to see her son. *THE END – Rex and Gabbett confess to the murders of Sir Richard and Mrs Vickers. His innocence established and a parson for Rufus Dawes.〔("Advertising." ) ''The Examiner'' (Launceston), 23 Jan 1912: 1, accessed 26 November 2011〕〔 Unlike the original novel and 1908 film version, this had a happy ending. This was in line with Spencer's version of ''Robbery Under Arms'' which had a happier ending than the original novel. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Life of Rufus Dawes」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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