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Clip description
Shorty McGee (Harry Abdy) has punished his prize attraction, Chut the boxing kangaroo, by denying him water for two days. In the ring, Chut’s thirst and his hatred for the whip-wielding McGee boil over. Chut attacks the drunken McGee, inflicting serious wounds on the trainer. In the ensuing chaos, Chut escapes the circus. Margot (Gwen Munro) rushes to warn Tom Henton about what has happened.
Curator’s notes
The boxing scenes are the most violent in the film. A lot of the effect comes from fast editing, but it is still clear that the kangaroo is being forced to fight. Harry Abdy, the man playing McGee, had toured extensively with his own boxing kangaroo act, including with this kangaroo. Scenes such as these were likely the cause of the English ban on the film, for alleged cruelty to animals. The ‘sport’ of kangaroo boxing had a long history in Australia, dating back to tent shows in the 19th century.
