The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)
Please note: this clip is silent
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Fitzpatrick incident at Mrs Kelly's homestead
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Original classification rating: not rated. This clip chosen to be PG
- Curator’s notes
- Education notes
- Transcript
Clip description
This fragment from The Story of the Kelly Gang shows Constable Fitzpatrick visiting the homestead of Kate Kelly. Fitzpatrick attempts to kiss Kate Kelly and in the scuffle Ned Kelly shoots Fitzpatrick in the wrist. As the Kelly gang escape on horseback Kate Kelly retrieves Fitzpatrick’s weapon and holds him at gunpoint.
(Elizabeth Taggart-Speers)
Curator’s notes
by Paul Byrnes
Charles Tait was an experienced theatrical producer, and the style of acting reflects the popular style of melodramatic gesture. Even so, a lot is communicated here – Constable Fitzpatrick’s haughty stance at the beginning gives way to plain old lust. Ned shoots the policeman quite deliberately, reaching for his pistol as soon as he has knocked him down. Joe Byrne wants to sink the boot in to the man on the ground, but Ned is already thinking of a getaway. The policeman appears to look at the director, as if for instructions, as he’s waiting on the ground.
Note how the camera moves left and right slightly during the fight, to keep the action central. The rather abrupt cut shows us that the Constable is not so badly hurt, as Kate Kelly holds him at gunpoint. A second cut moves the camera much closer to the constable and the gun-toting Kate, possibly to accentuate the comedy of a woman holding a gun on a policeman.
Teacher’s notes
provided by
This clip shows a re-enactment of the 'Fitzpatrick incident’. Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick is shown outside the Kelly homestead, where he has come to arrest Dan Kelly for horse theft. Fitzpatrick attempts to kiss Kate Kelly and, in the ensuing melee when Ned Kelly, Dan and their companions rush to her aid, Ned shoots Fitzpatrick in the wrist. As the gang escapes on horseback, Kate retrieves Fitzpatrick’s weapon and holds him at gunpoint. The clip is silent and black and white.
Educational value points
- Made in 1906, only 26 years after bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged, The Story of the Kelly Gang depicted the exploits of Kelly and his gang and was the first feature-length film produced in Australia and possibly the world. Made at a time when films were only about 15 minutes long, it had a running time of between 60 and 70 minutes. The film was a huge success, playing to packed audiences when it opened in Melbourne, and it is said to have made a huge £25,000 profit after costing £1,000 to make. In 2006, 100 years after it was first shown, only about 17 minutes of the film have been recovered; the film is held by the National Film and Sound Archive.
- The 'Fitzpatrick incident’ depicted in the clip occurred on 15 April 1878 and there are conflicting accounts of what actually happened. Fitzpatrick claimed that Mrs Ellen Kelly hit him on the head with a coal shovel, Dan beat him and Ned then shot and injured his wrist. Ned denied being present and the Kellys claimed that Dan and neighbours Bill Skillion and 'Brickey’ Williamson turned on a drunken Fitzpatrick after he attempted to molest 14-year-old Kate Kelly. Fitzpatrick was later expelled from the police service for lying and bad conduct.
- The event had dire consequences for the Kelly family. On the strength of Fitzpatrick’s testimony, Mrs Kelly was jailed for 3 years and her two neighbours, Bill Skillion and 'Brickey’ Williamson, were each jailed for 6 years 'for assisting in the attempted murder of a police officer’. Warrants were issued for the arrests of Ned and Dan and a £100 reward offered for their capture. After they murdered three police officers in a subsequent police hunt, Ned and his gang were legally declared 'outlaws’.
- The action shown in the clip makes the strong suggestion that the Kelly family were subjected to police harassment. Throughout the actual events the Kelly family maintained that they were being unfairly targeted by the police. The film’s depiction of Kelly as a hero and the police as the enemy led to it being the first officially censored film in Australia when the Victorian Chief Secretary banned screenings of the film in Kelly’s own territory, around Benalla and Wangaratta. In 1912 the Victorian Government banned the screening of a revised version of the film throughout the state.
- The film is the first bushranger film, a distinctive genre established in Australia before the Hollywood western swept the world. It was the most popular genre of film in Australia until 1912, when both New South Wales and Victoria banned the films on the grounds that they made a mockery of the police and glorified outlaws. The ban was not lifted until the 1940s.
- Before about 1929–30, films were silent and black and white, and the size and weight of the camera meant that films tended to have long, static shots, such as those in this clip, and few close-ups. The screening of The Story of the Kelly Gang was accompanied by a live narration, which explained aspects of the story, and sometimes by two actors providing voices, as well as an orchestra and a group of boys who produced sound effects from behind the screen.
- The clip provides an example of the style of acting in early silent films. The Story of the Kelly Gang was based on a number of popular stage plays about the gang and some of the actors and costumes used in the film may have come from one of those existing productions. The sometimes exaggerated performances in the film were partly the product of the actors’ theatrical training but long shots with few close-ups also called for exaggerated gestures.
- The film heralded an active period of film production in Australia. After film was invented in the 1890s, Australians were quick to adopt the new medium and between 1906 and 1912 Australia produced more feature-length films than Britain or the USA. However in the 1920s US and British distributors signed exclusive deals with Australian cinemas to exhibit their products only and the resulting limited screening possibilities sent the Australian film industry into a decline that lasted until the 1970s.
Constable Fitzpatrick is outside the Kelly homestead. Kate Kelly helps her visibly upset mother enter the homestead. Fitzpatrick gestures to Kate to come back outside. He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and waves it at her before returning it to his pocket. He opens his arms out and moves towards her as if to embrace and kiss her. Kate fights him off and is pushed back towards the homestead. When Fitzpatrick pulls her towards him, Kate continues to resist. She escapes his grasp and runs inside the homestead.
Then one of the Kelly gang comes out of the homestead and punches Fitzpatrick in the face, knocking him to the ground. The gang member draws his gun and shoots Fitzpatrick in the wrist. The rest of the Kelly gang emerge from the homestead and start kicking Fitzpatrick where he lies on the ground. Kate and her mother come outside as the Kelly gang escape. Kate picks up Fitzpatrick’s gun and holds him at gunpoint to prevent him giving chase as the Kelly gang escape on horseback.
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FAQs
What was the story behind the Kelly Gang? ›
The Story of the Kelly Gang is a 1906 Australian bushranger film that traces the exploits of 19th-century bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang. It was directed by Charles Tait and shot in and around the city of Melbourne.
What was Ned Kelly's last words? ›1880, 5, whose attending reporter wrote that “Kelly, on coming out [of the cell onto the gallows], exclaimed, 'Ah, well! It's come to this at last'.
Is the true story of the Kelly Gang true? ›Based on Peter Carey's novel of the same name, the film is a highly-fictionalised account of the life of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they flee from authorities during the 1870s.
What does son of sieve mean? ›As imagined by Peter Carey in his novel, the Kellys are part of an Irish faction called the 'Sons of Sieve'; men who blacken their skin and wear a uniform of women's dresses when committing crimes and standing up to their oppressors, as a way of undercutting their authority and throwing them off guard.
Why did Ned Kelly get hanged? ›Edward (Ned) Kelly was the first person born in Victoria to be hanged. Convicted at Melbourne on 29 October 1880 for murder, Ned Kelly was a well-known bushranger who captured the public's imagination. His death mask was created after his execution at the Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880. He was aged 25.
How did Ned Kelly get caught? ›Dan Kelly and Steve Hart came back to the inn and kept shooting at the police. This created a diversion while Ned retreated into the bush behind the hotel and circled around behind the police. At dawn on 28 June 1880 Ned came towards the police from behind and began shooting. He was shot in the legs and captured.
How old was Ned Kelly when he saved a kid? ›Ned, around 10 years old, rescued Richard Shelton from drowning in a creek. He was given a green silk sash for saving the boy.
Did Ned Kelly have a child? ›Ned Kelly had no known children. In 2014, a book called Ned Kelly's Son, by Trevor Tucker, put forth the hypothesis that Kelly did have a son by a young woman he met in...
Are there descendants of Ned Kelly? ›The skeleton of Australia's most notorious criminal will finally be returned to his descendants 132 years after he was executed, government officials said on Thursday.
How many Ned Kelly movies are there? ›The Ned Kelly Films recounts the nine feature films, three miniseries and two TV movies that have been made about this controversial character, Irish Australian outlaw Ned Kelly .
Who was Ned Kelly's lover? ›
When Kelly was hanged on November 11, 1880, at Melbourne Gaol, he was wearing a ring. Kelly author Ian Jones says the outlaw's love was Kate Lloyd, sister of his cousin Tom Lloyd, one of the Kelly gang's most ardent supporters. Instead, O'Keefe says, Kelly had fallen in love with the younger sister of his mate Steve.
What accent did Ned Kelly have? ›Ned and his brother Dan speak in Irish accents, even though they were born in Victoria. The theory is that the Australian accent was not yet fully formed; these men therefore spoke the brogue of their Irish-born father, 'Red' Kelly.
What would Ned Kelly wear? ›The Kelly Gang's armour, made of plough mouldboards, closely followed the style of ancient Chinese armour — as worn by Beechworth Chinese in the town's Prince of Wales Birthday processions of 1873 -74. Ned's suit was made by Tom Lloyd and the Gang on a bush forge near Greta and beaten to shape over a green log.
What did Ned Kelly say before he died? ›He was hanged in the Old Melbourne Gaol on the 11 November 1880. His execution was witnessed by various prison and police officials and by a number of journalists. His final words were reported by most observers to be 'ah well I suppose' or 'ah well I suppose it has come to this'.
Did Ned Kelly marry? ›On several occasions during the career of the bushranger, Edward Kelly, it was stated (writes the Melbourne Herald) that he had been married not long before the commission of the police ...
Did Ned Kelly give to the poor? ›Contrary to popular belief and legend, Ned Kelly was not the Australian equivalent to Robin Hood, for he did not rob from the rich and give to the poor. In fact, he actually stole from poor Australians—as well as the rich—even getting violent with them if they did not concede to his demands.
How many died by Ned Kelly? ›Ned Kelly was a 'bushranger' — a person who robbed others and spent his life escaping from the police. He also killed three policemen. There have been many films, songs and books about Ned Kelly.
What is Ned short for? ›An Old English name, Ned means 'guardian of the riches' or 'wealthy'. It is a pet name for Edward, Edgar, Edmund and Edwin and a name in its own right.
Why did Ned Kelly steal things? ›When Ned Kelly was young, he often stole from the wealthy in order to support his poor family. He was always known to be in trouble with the police for stealing food and livestock from farms.
How many shots did Ned Kelly take? ›There was a fight when a policeman, Constable Hall, tried to arrest him. Hall tried to shoot Kelly three times, but his gun would not work so he hit him over the head with it instead. Kelly was sent to Pentridge Gaol in Melbourne. After four months he was moved to the prison ship, Sacramento, at Williamstown.
How long did Ned Kelly live for? ›
| Ned Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Kelly December 1854 Beveridge, Colony of Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 11 November 1880 (aged 25) Melbourne, Colony of Victoria, Australia |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Occupation | Bushranger |
Ned Kelly, byname of Edward Kelly, (born June 1855, Beveridge, Victoria, Australia—died November 11, 1880, Melbourne), most famous of the bushrangers, Australian rural outlaws of the 19th century. In 1877 Kelly shot and injured a policeman who was trying to arrest his brother, Dan Kelly, for horse theft.
Who were Ned Kelly's mates? ›Having served a brief apprenticeship with the infamous bushranger Harry Power, Kelly formed a gang (comprising Kelly, his brother Dan, and mates Joe Byrne and Steve Hart) in 1878 and fled to the bush, where his outlaw reputation flourished.
What happened to Ned Kelly's sister? ›Kate Kelly, the daring sister of legendary bushranger Ned Kelly, was mysteriously found dead in a lagoon outside the NSW town of Forbes in 1898. At the inquest, Kate's husband Bricky Foster claimed that she was addicted to drink and frequently spoke of suicide.
Where did Ned Kelly get shot? ›After the death of his father in 1866, Ned took on the responsibilities of the head of the large and poor Kelly family. The year after John Kelly's death, the family moved to Eleven-Mile Creek in the Greta District, north-east Victoria to be closer to Ellen's family, the Quinns.
Where is Ned Kelly's remains? ›Ned Kelly's descendants finally got their chance to bury the outlaw's remains in the cemetery at Greta, a short drive from his famous last stand at Glenrowan in Victoria's north-east. The family had arranged a white marquee where they interred the coffin near the unmarked grave of Kelly's mother, Ellen.
Is Ned Kelly's house still standing? ›Beveridge is home to the Ned Kelly House, the birthplace of the infamous bushranger and where he spent his early childhood years. The house still remains today with a wire fence surrounding it.
How many bullet wounds did Ned Kelly have? ›Sporting 18 bullet holes from the shootout at Glenrowan, Ned Kelly's armour continues to fascinate.
Did Ned Kelly have a funeral? ›More than 300 people attended the requiem mass at St Patrick's Church in Wangaratta in Victoria's north-east. The service took place near where the notorious bushranger was captured more than 130 years ago. Kelly was hanged after the historic Glenrowan shoot-out with police in 1880.
Did Mick Jagger ever play Ned Kelly? ›
It was the seventh Australian feature film version of the story of 19th-century Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, and is notable for being the first Kelly film to be shot in colour. The film was directed by Tony Richardson, and starred Mick Jagger in the title role.
What did they do with Ned Kelly's head? ›Kelly's head went home with one of the contractors, Harry Lee, who kept it by his marital bed for a few days before handing it back to authorities. The remains of the many prisoners uncovered were then put into coffins, many of them makeshift, and reburied at Pentridge Prison, almost 10 kilometres to the north.
Did Ned Kelly have a nickname? › What did Ned Kelly's dad do? › Did Ned Kelly wear a dress? ›More strikingly, Ned and his band wear long evening gowns during the most iconic episodes from the legend, including the Stringybark Creek massacre and the Siege of Glenrowan.
What sort of personality did Ned Kelly have? ›Personality… protective and hardworking. Ned Kelly is a staunch family man. He looks out for his mother, brother, and sisters and cares for the livestock and farmland.
What culture is Ned Kelly? ›Ned Kelly was a 19th-century Australian bushranger and outlaw whose life has inspired numerous works in the arts and popular culture, especially in his home country, where he is viewed by some as a Robin Hood-like figure.
What weapons did Ned Kelly use? ›They rode away with two rifles, two double-barrelled shot guns, eight revolvers and a Snider-Enfield . 577 calibre rifle which, nicknamed 'Betty', quickly became Ned's favourite.
How heavy was Ned Kelly's suit? ›Ned Kelly's armour weighed around 45 kilos but the heavy suit of steel saved his life when he emerged from the bush at Glenrowan, gun blazing, and helped launch the Kelly myth.
How much is Ned Kelly's armor worth? ›MELBOURNE, Australia -- A piece of armor worn by Australian folk legend Ned Kelly has been bought by the State Library of Victoria for $100,000 (Aust. $200,000).
What is the famous saying by Ned Kelly? ›
'I am a Widow's Son, outlawed and my orders must be obeyed'. With these chilling words bushranger Ned Kelly ended the Jerilderie letter, a detailed written justification of his actions in the year before his death. Kelly (1854–1880) is one of Australia's best-known historical characters.
What language did Ned Kelly speak? ›Ned and his brother Dan speak in Irish accents, even though they were born in Victoria. The theory is that the Australian accent was not yet fully formed; these men therefore spoke the brogue of their Irish-born father, 'Red' Kelly.
Why is Ned Kelly a hero for kids? ›Kelly's a hero:
He fought against a violent police force, and stuck up for the working man. According to his letters, he was pushed into a life of crime by police brutality and being hounded by the force as a child. He tried to make the authorities give money to charity, and stuck up for widows and orphans.