NFSA Restores: The Sentimental Bloke (1919)

Title:
NFSA Restores: The Sentimental Bloke (1919)
NFSA ID
240
Year
1919
Access fees

One of Australia’s greatest silent films celebrates its 100th anniversary with a new digital restoration by the NFSA.

Based on the verse novel The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke by CJ Dennis, this is a tale of romance, jealousy, temptation and redemption.

It tells the story of Bill ‘The Kid’ (Arthur Tauchert), a larrikin who cleans up his act when the beautiful Doreen (Lottie Lyell) enters his life.

Directed by legendary filmmaker Raymond Longford, The Sentimental Bloke is set in the then-rough streets of Woolloomooloo and the beaches of Manly, offering contemporary audiences a rare glimpse of Sydney 100 years ago.

A huge box-office hit at the time, The Sentimental Bloke is one of few silent-era Australian films to have survived in its entirety.

NFSA Restores: The Sentimental Bloke premieres at Sydney OpenAir Cinema on 15 February 2020, accompanied by a new musical score composed by ARIA Award-winning musician Paul Mac, who will also perform it on the night.