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Apart from directing the film below, Staveley appeared as an actor in two films: The Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell (John Gavin, C. Post Mason, 1916) and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (Arthur Shirley, 1925). He was a stage producer for J.C. Williamson.
The Enemy Within (Roland Stavely, 1918) dp Franklyn Barrett; Reg L. 'Snowy' Baker (Jack Airlie), John Faulkner (Henry Brasels), Lily Molloy; spy actioner; at 5500 ft, 61 min., this is the earliest Australian feature film to survive complete (Pike & Cooper: 76)
The main purpose of the film however was not to express concern about subversion in Australia, although it does incidentally reflect current paranoia; rather it was a Boy's Own adventure designed to display the heroic feats and daring stunt-work of one of Australia's most popular sportsmen, Reg L. 'Snowy' Baker. During the course of the film he performs several amazing leaps in pursuit of the enemy, from horse to horse, and from a rooftop to a moving wagon. He also dives eighty feet into a bay to rescue the heroine from the tide, and soundly defeats a pack of hoodlums in hand-to-hand fighting. Pike & Cooper: 77.
This is the earliest Oz film I've seen (almost) complete. I didn't see Snowy jump from one car to another, but ticked all the other boxes. The silly heroine is lying on a rock, not actually tied up, wearing her swimming costume, and only metres from the shore—but still she has to be 'rescued'. Standards of beauty must have changed: she's so 'plain' (to be polite) that she looks like a female impersonator!
IMDb have the actor's name as Rex.
Garry Gillard | New: 8 November, 2012 | Now: 14 August, 2020