The Guyra Ghost Mystery
| The Guyra Ghost Mystery | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Cosgrove |
| Produced by | John Cosgrove |
| Written by | John Cosgrove |
| Starring |
John Cosgrove Nellie Regan |
| Cinematography | A.J. Moulton |
Production company |
Cogrove and Regan |
Release dates | 25 June 1921 |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | Silent |
The Guyra Ghost Mystery is a 1921 Australian film written and directed by John Cosgrove. It was based on the real-life 1921 mystery of the Guyra Ghost.[1][2]
It is considered a lost film.
Plot
In Guyra, New South Wales, the Bowen family are visited by ghosts. Sherlock Doyle, an expert in ghosts, goes to the town to investigate.
Cast
John Cosgrove as Sherlock Doyle
- Nellie Regan
- the Bowen family
Production
In April 1921, the family of William Bowen in Guyra reported knocking on the walls and stones being thrown on their roof. This continued even when police and volunteers guarded the house. One of the children later confessed to throwing some stones and it is through that practical jokers were behind it, but the mystery was never completely solved.[3][4]
The story became a media sensation in 1921 and several film projects based on it were announced but this was the only one made. It was partly funded by a Guyra exhibitor and shot on location in the own. The Bowen family themselves appear in the cast. The character of Sherlock Doyle was a spoof of Mr Moors, a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shooting only took three days.[5]
Reception
The movie performed poorly at the box office. It was the only director credit for actor John Cosgrove, although he wrote the scripts of several other movies.[5]
References
- ↑ 'Final Verdict on the Guyra Ghost', Guyra Argus
- ↑ Guyra Ghost at Unexplained Australia
- ↑ "GUYRA MYSTERY.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 15 April 1921. p. 9. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ↑ "A STAFF CORRESPONDENT RECALLS.... THE UNSOLVED RIDDLE OF GUYRA'S GHOST HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 9 March 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- 1 2 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 106-107.