The Sentimental Bloke

The Sentimental Bloke  (1919) Raymond Longford

 

Raymond Longford brought attention to the Australian character the “Aussie larrikin” through the success of  The Sentimental Bloke. It seemed to be the character, which really stuck a chord with its audiences and its influence within the Australian industry can still be seen today in shows such as Kath and Kim

 

From a modern viewing, I thought it had elements similar to that of Chaplin. The simple story of a man who abandons gambling and alcohol to chace a woman for love and the visual comic elements were similar. There are small visually clear complications but its simple nature allows it to be easy to watch.

 

Probably the thing that stood out to me was the display of the “working man” who lived in the city’s suburbs, which was a major part of Australian life at the time. For a time that people were looking for an escape, usually to a “Hollywood fantasy” when they went to the cinema it must have struck a chord because it was so close to home that all the jokes portrayed would have been very familiar.

 

The film itself is still funny for a modern audience, which comes with the lead characters, Bill and Doreene and their relationship which grows over the film and the situations they get themselves into.

 

These days it is a bit slow to watch, however it is credited for its establishment and success it brought for Australian film in its 1919 context.