Soldiers of the Cross (film)
Soldiers of the Cross was a multimedia production directed by Joseph Perry, made in Australia by the Limelight Department of the Salvation Army.[5] Much of the film was shot at the tennis courts attached to Belgrave House, a home owned by the Salvation Army in the Melbourne suburb of Murrumbeena.[3] Film historian Eric Reade recounts other techniques, "Stephen was pelted with cloth stones; Christians who refused to renounce their faith were prodded with cardboard spears to force them to jump into a pit of burning lime.When the martyrs jumped from a built-up platform representing the lip of the pit, they landed on a mattress conveniently situated on the ground out of camera range".[3] According to the Salvation Army, the aim of Booth's speech was, ‘Not to entertain, but to rouse religious thought; the object was not cash, but to recruit cadets for Christ’.[9] A 1901 Daily Telegraph article describes the large and enthusiastic crowds who attended performance of the ‘famous’ production, ‘An hour before the advertised starting time the capacious building was uncomfortably crammed, and many were turned away, unable to gain admission’.[10] The Evening Star, in a 1901 article, describes a similar scene, ‘the building was absolutely crammed with people, and by 8 o'clock there was hardly standing room left.The Salvation Army itself reported that Soldiers of the Cross exacted an emotional response from audiences, “involuntary interjections, moans of pity, sighs of relief”.[9] One article, found in a 1901 edition of The Daily Telegraph, details that Soldiers of the Cross finished with the narrative of Perpetua, a significant Christian martyr who lived in 3rd century Rome.[10] The surviving glass photographic slides, housed in the National Film and Sound Archive, provide further evidence about the plot of Soldiers of the Cross.[4] Below is a list of some key scenes depicted by these glass slides: Soldiers of the Cross was a significant production in the history of Australian film.[1] Pike and Cooper argue that due to the central role photographic slides play in the production, Soldiers of the Cross is not eligible for any of these titles.[2] Keith Richards, a Canberra radio presenter, provided narration and he was joined by historian Ross Cooper, who gave a lecture on the history of Soldiers of the Cross.[2] Edmondson, who was on the organising committee, explained that the re-construction aimed to "create the proper period atmosphere’’, “convey some historical data about the production and its importance’’ and to ‘’experience some of the theatrical and emotional power of the original presentation".
Joseph PerryHerbert BoothRobert McAnallyLimelight DepartmentThe Salvation ArmyMelbourneAustraliaSalvation Armyphotographic glass slidesHerbert Howard BoothorchestraAustralian film industryChristChristian martyrsNational Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaMajor Joseph Henry PerrySalvation Army.AustralasiaLumière CinématographeMurrumbeenaBourke StreetLimelight Department'sspecial effectspapier-mâchépuppeteersphotographic slides‘lantern slides’Isaac WattsNational Film and Sound ArchiveMelbourne Town HallNew ZealandBendigo IndependentDaily TelegraphThe Evening StaractorsensembleRoman SoldiersPolycarpChristian martyrdombiblicalreviewsChrist’smartyrdomThe Bendigo IndependentThe Daily TelegraphPerpetua3rd centuryglass photographic slidesAncient JerusalemJewishTemple(Matthew 21:12-13)(John 18:28-40)(Luke 22:59-62)(Matthew 27:29)(Matthew 26:36-56)(Matthew 26:17–29)(Mark 14:44-46)(John 19:1)(John 19:16–18)(Luke 23:26-43)(Matthew 27:38)(Matthew 28:2)(Acts 1:6-11)(John 10:11)(John 8:12)Saint StephenSaul's(Acts 9)martyrChristiansRoman ColosseumJesus’second comingangels.(Mark 14:62)history of Australian filmpropagandaAustralian filmslidesSydney Conservatorium of MusicHeroes of the Crossthe Limelight Department.The Story of the Kelly GangAustralian cinemaPassengers Alighting from Ferry Brighton at ManlySocial SalvationList of incomplete or partially lost filmsAusStage