Discover the story of Hollywood's first Australian, JP McGowan
Very few people know about JP McGowan, the first Australian in Hollywood… until now! This Wednesday 24 February, discover the story a man born in Terowie, South Australia, who would become a pioneer in Hollywood, laying the path for the likes of Errol Flynn, Chips Rafferty, Peter Finch and more.
Australian film historian and inaugural Director of the Sydney Film Festival, David Donaldson, will talk about the career of JP McGowan, an actor and filmmaker who enjoyed a career that survived the transition from silent to talkies, and saw him direct over 200 films. He gave John Wayne one of his first starring roles.
Mr Donaldson said, ‘Hollywood came to know JP McGowan as “The Railroad Man”. From 1912 to 1932, railroad melodrama was his forte. Never in the prestige movie league, McGowan prolifically gave straightforward visual action to US small-town and foreign export audiences.’
The presentation will include a trailer for The Hurricane Express (1932), starring a young John Wayne, as well as excerpts from an episode of the 1917 adventure serial The Railroad Raiders.
The presentation will be followed by one of McGowan’s feature films, Guns and Guitars (1936).
JP McGowan: Hollywood's First Australian
24 February 2016, Arc cinema
10am Presentation by film historian David Donaldson. Free
11am Guns and Guitars (1936, 57mins). Free. Book online: http://www.trybooking.com/JJEI
McGowan plays the bad guy to Gene Autry, who is framed for murder. After clearing his good name, Autry is elected sheriff to hunt down the villain.