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Clip description
The five children have told their parents they are going camping. Instead they head towards the wild Warrigal Ranges, looking for the men who stole their father’s valuable mare Lucy (and foal). At Bellbird Crossing, they camp overnight. In the morning, Neza (Neza Saunders) finds tracks: the thieves have passed by while they were asleep. The children head into the ranges, hoping to catch the thieves.
Curator’s notes
The film is gorgeously photographed by the great George Heath, who had shot most of the Cinesound features from 1934 onwards. His use of silhouettes in this clip is particularly striking, lending an heroic air to the children’s exploits. Most of the film was shot in the Blue Mountains and Burragorang Valley, two hours west of Sydney. It was a frequent location in Australian films of the 1930s, but rarely was it used as effectively as in Bush Christmas.
