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form y separately published work icon While the Billy Boils single work   film/TV  
Adaptation of While the Billy Boils Henry Lawson , 1896 selected work short story
Issue Details: First known date: 1921... 1921 While the Billy Boils
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The camp-fire in the prologue showed the two mates yarning over their evening meal, when the story was forthcoming that immediately was filmed. Tom Wall, on the death of his wife, strove to do double duty to his young, sons, Jim and Dick, at Murraburra Station; but only a mother could have understood the fineness of Jim's nature. Consequently when the lad was found studying and dreaming amid the lonely beauty of the great gums, Wall quarrelled with him and turned him out. Dick remained on the station and grew up to be a weakling in character, but Jim, who took the name of Bob Brothers, was beloved throughout the country. He returned to the Redclay district and took service on his father's property, with One-Eyed Bogan, one of the finest characters in the story. The little 'pub' at Redclay, owned by the 'Widder' Shiffner, was the scene of many humorous episodes; and when the hands were on their way to the Murraburra roll call there was a stampede for the hotel as 'last man to reach the pub shouts!' A gentler influence was introduced when Ruth, Wall's niece, came to live on the station, and both brothers fell in love with her; but Jim, with characteristic unselfishness, believing that Ruth loved Dick, did not obtrude his own claims. A barmaid arrived at Redclay apparently to take a position at the hotel, but in reality to blackmail Dick. A robbery on the station and one at the bank, provided sufficient sensation, and numerous bouts of fisticuffs, as well as a long chase on horse back, added to the excitement of a story that ended entirely to the satisfaction of the audience.'

Source:

'While the Billy Boils', The Register, 1 November 1921, p.6.

Exhibitions

7992747
7974092

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Last amended 17 Sep 2014 15:18:41
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