Raymond Longford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raymond Longford
Portrait of Raymond Longford, circa 1935
Born	John Walter Hollis Longford (1878-09-23)23 September 1878 Hawthorn, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
Died	2 April 1959(1959-04-02) (aged 80) North Sydney, Australia
Other names	Raymond Hollis Longford
Occupation	Director actor screenwriter editor film producer
Years active	1911–1941
Spouse(s)	Melena Louisa Keen ​ ​ (m. 1900; div. 1926)​ Emilie Elizabeth Anschutz ​ (m. 1933)​
Children	1

Raymond Longford (born John Walter Hollis Longford, 1878–1959) was an important Australian filmmaker. He directed, wrote, produced, and acted in many movies. He was especially famous during the "silent film era." This was a time before movies had sound.

Longford worked closely with Lottie Lyell. Together, they created some of Australia's most famous silent films. These include The Sentimental Bloke (1919) and The Blue Mountains Mystery (1921). His amazing work led to the Australian Film Institute naming an award after him. The AFI Raymond Longford Award started in 1968. It is one of the highest honors in Australian film.

Early Life and Acting Career

John Walter Hollis Longford was born in Hawthorn. This is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. His family soon started calling him "Ray." His father was a civil servant from Sydney.

Ray spent his early life as a sailor. Later, he began acting on stage in India. He used the name Raymond Hollis Longford. In the early 1900s, he toured Australia and New Zealand. He performed with different theater groups.

Longford often acted alongside a young actress named Lottie Lyell. She became his most important creative partner. They worked together on many projects. Longford was also an early member of the Australian actors' union.

Starting in Film: Director and Actor

Longford's first involvement in film was around 1907. He worked on a movie about a boxing match. This was likely his first experience with filmmaking.

He then started acting in movies for a company run by Charles Cozens Spencer. He appeared in films like Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911). These early roles helped him learn about movie making.

Becoming a Director

In 1911, Charles Cozens Spencer asked Longford to direct his first full-length movie. It was called The Fatal Wedding. This film was based on a play Longford had acted in. Lottie Lyell also starred in it.

The movie was made quickly and on a small budget. But it was a huge success! This launched Longford's career as a director. He then directed several other films for Spencer. Many of these were also based on plays. Lottie Lyell continued to act in them. She also helped a lot behind the scenes. She worked as a writer, editor, and even co-director.

Working Independently

Later, the Australian film industry changed. A big group called "the Combine" formed. This made it hard for independent filmmakers like Longford. He found it difficult to get money for his movies.

He worked for other companies and made several short films. He also taught acting for films. He even made two movies in New Zealand.

Career Highlights: Famous Films

Longford's career became very successful towards the end of World War I. He helped start a new film company. He had a big hit with The Woman Suffers (1918). This success helped him get money for his next big project.

The Sentimental Bloke

In 1919, Longford directed The Sentimental Bloke. This movie was based on poems by C. J. Dennis. It was a massive hit with both critics and audiences. Many people still consider it one of Australia's greatest films ever.

He followed this success with another popular movie. It was On Our Selection (1920). This film was based on stories by Steele Rudd. These two movies helped Longford move towards more realistic storytelling. Both films were so popular that Longford directed successful sequels. He and Lyell also had another hit with The Blue Mountains Mystery.

Challenges and Later Years

As the 1920s continued, Longford faced more challenges. It became harder to get money and distribute his films. He and Lottie Lyell started their own company. They made some movies for another big film company. But this partnership was not very successful.

Loss of Lottie Lyell

In 1925, Lottie Lyell sadly passed away from tuberculosis. Longford's career never fully recovered after her death. He continued to work in the film industry. He even spoke at a special government inquiry in 1928. He argued for rules to support Australian movies. He also complained about the power of "the Combine."

Longford faced financial difficulties in 1929. However, he managed to travel to Europe the next year. He spent 18 months visiting different film studios. He noted how "talkies" (movies with sound) had changed everything.

Sound Films and World War II

When he returned to Australia, Longford tried to get money for a new film. It was about Australian soldiers in World War I. But he couldn't get the funding. He continued to push for rules to help local films.

In the early 1930s, Longford worked as an actor and assistant director. He helped with films like The Hayseeds (1933). He also directed another full-length movie, The Man They Could Not Hang (1934).

He even started his own film company in 1935. He hoped to make more movies. But this company didn't get enough support and didn't make any films.

World War II made it very difficult for the Australian film industry. Longford found it hard to find work in movies. During the war, he worked as a clerk for the U.S. military. Later, he became a night watchman on the Sydney wharfs.

In 1955, a complete copy of The Sentimental Bloke was found. It was shown at film festivals. This brought new attention to Longford's amazing work. He passed away on April 2, 1959, at the age of 80.

Personal Life

Raymond Longford married Melena Louisa Keen in 1900. They had one son, Victor. Longford and Melena later separated. He then started a relationship with Lottie Lyell. However, he could not marry Lottie until 1926. This was because his first wife, Melena, did not agree to a divorce until then. Sadly, Lottie Lyell passed away in 1925, before they could marry.

In 1933, Longford married Emilie Elizabeth Anschutz. He is buried at Macquarie Park cemetery in North Ryde, NSW. He rests alongside Lottie Lyell.

Longford Lyell Life Achievement Award

The AACTA Longford Lyell Award is a very special honor in the Australian film industry. It is named after Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell. This award celebrates people who have shown great dedication to film and television for many years. It honors those whose work has greatly enriched Australian screen culture.

Since 1968, many famous filmmakers and actors have received this award. These include Peter Weir, George Miller, Geoffrey Rush, and Cate Blanchett.

Filmography: Director

Filmography: Actor Only

• The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger (1910)
• Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911)
• Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road (1911)
• The Life of Rufus Dawes (1911) as Gabbett
• Diggers in Blighty (1933) as Von Schieling
• The Avenger (1937) as Warren
• Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938) as Policeman
• Wings of Destiny (1940) as Peters
• Dad Rudd, MP (1940) as Electoral Officer
• Racing Luck (1941)

Images for kids

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  Portrait of Raymond Longford, circa 1935