The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang

1921 Drama 6 reels Directed by Arthur W. Sterry

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About The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang

John Lee grows up in England and is falsely accused of the murder of Emma Keye at Babbacombe. He is sentenced to hang. The execution fails three times. He is freed and goes home to his mother and his sweetheart, Kate Farmer.

Cast & crew

More about The Life Story of John Lee, or The Man They Could Not Hang

Arthur W. Sterry wrote, directed, and produced it with Frederick Haldane. Tasman Higgins photographed it. Copyright was registered on September 8, 1921. It opened on December 24, 1921, in six reels. Three New Zealand businessmen were reported as the backers. It remakes Sterry and Haldane's 1912 film and adds childhood scenes.

Themes

  • A false murder charge at Babbacombe
  • Three failed hangings
  • A return to mother and sweetheart
  • A childhood added to the 1912 version
  • John Babbacombe Lee
  • gallows
  • Exeter
  • false accusation
  • sweetheart
  • Australia
  • remake

Background

An Australian silent feature built on a famous English hanging that failed, released at Christmas 1921 and reported as a strong box-office draw.

Making

Sterry and Haldane had already made money with the 1912 version. A 1919 Bulletin item said they had shot extra footage; they then chose to remake the story and add the childhood and the piety.

Audiences

The film was a popular draw. Wikipedia cites a box-office figure of £27,000.

Look

Tasman Higgins photographed it, including the cottage prologue and the cell.

Preservation

Unlike many Australian silent features, a copy survives.

Notes

  • Carlton Max, a ventriloquist, plays John Lee. The signing was announced in August 1921.
  • Kate Rooney, from vaudeville, plays the female lead. Some billing lists Rose Rooney.
  • A prologue of Mrs. Lee's cottage and John Lee's cell was played by Louise Parndon and George Frederick.
  • The real John Lee, known as Babbacombe Lee, had the trap fail at Exeter prison in 1885. His sentence was commuted.
  • Sterry registered a play, The Life Story of John Lee or The Babbacombe Tragedy, for copyright in 1927.

Scenes

  • The trap is sprung three times and Lee is still alive.
  • He is reunited with his mother and Kate Farmer at home.

Influenced by

  • The 1912 film The Life Story of John Lee

Also available

  • Internet Archive (silent-life-story-of-john-lee-or-the-man-they-could-not-hang)