The Australian film industry, one of early cinema's most vibrant country for movie productions, was slowly diminishing after 1912 because of business consolidations in studio and distribution companies. By the mid-1920's, 94% of all films shown in Australia were American-made.
But one movie released in Oct. 1919, "The Sentimental Bloke," gave hope to Australia's big screen model. The feature film was a huge success not only in Down Under but in New Zealand as well as in the United Kingdom. The main ingredient for success was its natural portrayal of Australia's working class members, a populace movie audiences around the English speaking world related to.
"The Sentimental Bloke," based on the hugely popular 1915 verse novel 'The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke,' by C. J. Dennis, has its title cards within the movie containing verses taken directly from Dennis' work. Critics agree "The Sentimental Bloke" is Australia's best silent movie and one of the finest motion pictures to be produced Down Under.
Its storyline is fairly simple: a scruffy laborer (played by Arthur Tauchert, himself a manual worker before becoming a vaudeville comedian in the early 1900's) is jailed for illegal gambling, and meets a female pickle factory worker once released. The movie traces their up and down relationship. She reprimands him for his drinking episodes with his mates at the same time a more sophisticated man has his sights on her. The circumstances of the normal working class romance tickles the hearts of even the most jaded viewers, illustrating how movies can cause an upwelling of emotions to those who can relate to its characters.
What makes "The Sentimental Bloke" even more remarkable today is its city scenes were shot in the dock neighborhood of Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Australia, a rough working class area during the early 1900's. The close proximity to the ocean has recently gentrified the district to become a highly desirable place to live.
A sequel, "Ginger Mick," was produced in 1920 as well as a 1932 talkie remake. But none achieved the look or status of the 1919 original. Like many thought-lost silent movies that were recently discovered, "The Sentimental Bloke" was found by shear luck in the cubbyholes of the George Eastman House archives in 1973 and fully restored.
