| Soldiers of the Cross | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Soldiers_of_the_Cross_title_slide.jpg) Soldiers of the Cross Title Slide | |
| Directed by | Joseph Perry |
| Produced by | Herbert Booth |
| Cinematography | Joseph Perry |
| Music by | Robert McAnally |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | The Salvation Army |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | Silent |
| Budget | £600 |
Soldiers of the Cross was a multimedia production directed by Joseph Perry, made in Australia by the Limelight Department of the Salvation Army. It premiered in 1900 and toured nationally and internationally until 1920.[1]
The production consisted of film segments and photographic glass slides. It was presented alongside a live evangelistic lecture, given by Commandant Herbert Howard Booth.[1] A 20-30 piece orchestra performed the original score, written by Major Robert McAnally.[2] Historians consider Soldiers of the Cross to be a landmark in production in the development of the Australian film industry.[1]
Soldiers of the Cross included episodes from the life of Christ, as well as stories of early Christian martyrs. It aimed to stir audiences to religious devotion.[3]
The only surviving material from Soldiers of the Cross is a collection of 200 photographic glass slides. These are currently held by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.[4]
- ^ a b c Pike, A. & Cooper, R. (1980). Australian Film, 1900-1977 A Guide to Feature Film Production. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. p. 5. ISBN 0195543327.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Edmondson, Ray (July 1977). "Soldiers of the Cross". Cinema Paper. 13: 15.
- ^ Shirley, G & Adams. B (1983). Australian Cinema: the First Eighty Years. Sydney: Currency Press. pp. 12–13.
- ^ Soldiers of the Cross article at National Film and Sound Archive