Release Date

01 Jun, 1936

Runtime

00:21: (HH:MM)

Synopsis

Directed and filmed by Frank Hurley for Cinesound, this short industrial documentary captures the realities of 1930s mining in Broken Hill. This film opens with dramatised historical re-enactments of Captain Charles Sturt’s 1844 expedition and Charles Rasp’s 1883 silver lode discovery. Utilising extensive cable networks and specialised camera filters to overcome extreme dark and heat, Hurley takes his camera 2,000 ft below the surface. The footage captures miners drilling rock, pit ponies hauling ore cars, and an explosive rock blasting arrangement. Above ground, it documents men operating heavy machinery to extract zinc, lead, and silver deposits, and the refining of the raw minerals.

Original Title

Silver City

Photos

×

Actors

Frank Hurley

Mr. A. Johnson

Unnamed Station Hand

Crew

Frank Hurley

Frank Hurley

Frank Hurley

Frank Hurley

J.C. McColl

Arthur Smith