The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)

True story of notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly (1855-80).

Director:

Charles Tait

Writer:

Charles Tait

Stars:

Elizabeth Tait, John Tait, Norman Campbell

Cast

Credited cast:
Elizabeth Tait	...	Kate Kelly
John Tait	...	School Master
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Norman Campbell	...	Steve Hart
Bella Cola
Will Coyne	...	Joe Byrne
Sam Crewes	...	Dan Kelly
Jack Ennis	...	Steve Hart
John Forde	...	Dan Kelly
Vera Linden
Mr. Marshall	...	Dan Kelly
Mr. McKenzie	...	Steve Hart
Frank Mills	...	Ned Kelly
Ollie Wilson

Storyline

True story of notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly (1855-80).

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Plot Keywords:

ned kelly | australia | historic figure | australian western | first of its kind | 

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Taglines:

The Most Sensational, The Most Thrilling and Interesting LIVING PICTURES EVER TAKEN.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Thriller | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was banned in Benalla and Wangarratta, Australia, in 1907, and then again in Adelaide in 1911.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Film Firsts (2016)

User Reviews

The World's first feature film!

THE STORY OF THE KELLY GANG is believed to be the world's first feature length film. Running at between 65 and 70 minutes, it was billed at the time as the longest film ever made. It toured Australia for nine years and was an enormous success.

Today only fragments survive, and it is hard to judge the film's artistic merits. About nine minutes of footage exists - some found on a garbage dump in Melbourne. Some of this footage may be out-takes. The footage is held by ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive, in Canberra.

The sequences show some enthusiastic acting, although the camera-work is static (like most films of the period). The most remarkable shot is probably when a priest, carrying a wounded man over his shoulder, walks toward and just past the camera, creating a strong sense of drama and movement. The final shoot-out scene is also well filmed - with Ned Kelly moving, and shooting, toward the camera, as troopers flee to the sides.

A remarkable film, of great historical importance, that all film students should see. Up until World War 1, when initially neutral America began to dominate the world of film distribution, Australia had one of the most thriving and innovative film industries in the world.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

None

Release Date:

26 December 1906 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Die Geschichte der Kelly Bande

Filming Locations:

Eltham, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$2,250 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

J. and N. Tait, Johnson and Gibson

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 17 min (surviving footage)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1