Henry C James (1902-1989), real name William Henry Constable James[1] was an Australian writer who wrote films, books, radio, stage plays, musicals and documentaries.[citation needed] He moved from Melbourne to London in the 1930s where his play The Golden Gander was produced on stage. This was a rare Australian written play set in Australia to be presented on the West End.[2]
Among James' achievements was The Bunyip, the first television play on an Australian theme.[3][4]
He returned to Australia in 1950 and worked in Australian radio as well as writing books.[5]
Selected works
Theatre
- The Golden Gander (1936) – play[6][7]
- No Sky So Blue (1938) – stage musical[8]
- The Silver Swan (1939) – stage musical[9]
- A Woman of Forty
Films
- The First of the Few (1942) – writer
- Waltz Time (1945) - writer
- Late at Night (1946) - writer
- Swiss Honeymoon (1947) - writer, director
- Nickel Queen (1971) – original story[10]
Short stories
- The Man Who Came Back (1944)[11]
Novels
- Gold is where you find it (1946)
- The Madness of Charlie Pierce (1952) – novel[12]
- The Green Opal (1953)
- Coast of the Sun (1956)
Non fiction books
- Children of the Hidden Valley (1959)
- Children of the Barges (1959)
- Children of the Fishing Boats (1960)
- Children of the Highlands (1961)
- Children of the Island Town (1962)
- Children of Down Under (1962)
- Children of Olympus (1962)[13]
TV plays
- The Bunyip (1947) – writer
- Crock of Gold (1948) - writer
Radio features
- Dutchmen in Australia (1951)
- Living at a Price (1952)
- Traveller's Tales (1959)
References
- ^ "Henry C. James". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN PLAY IN LONDON". The West Australian. Vol. 52, no. 15, 490. Western Australia. 15 February 1936. p. 5. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ See June Averill, ‘Obituaries: Joy Nichols’, Independent, 6 July 1992, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaries-joy-nichols-1531655.html accessed 1 January 2024.
- ^ Gray, Darren (15 September 2016). "Australian Television Turns 60".
- ^ "SYDNEY DIARY". The Sun. No. 12, 601. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1950. p. 7 (FINAL FOOTBALL LASTRACE). Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Australian as Play Character", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 25 Mar 1936, nla.obj-568724217, retrieved 27 March 2024 – via Trove
- ^ ""THE GOLDEN GANDER"". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 8 January 1936. p. 10 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PERSONAL ... COLUMN". The Sun. No. 1842. New South Wales, Australia. 17 July 1938. p. 2 (Second News Section). Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Our Stars In London". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. III, no. 113. New South Wales, Australia. 1 August 1938. p. 2 (Home Magazine and Film News). Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Henry C James - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ ""THE MAN WHO CAME BACK"". Morning Bulletin. No. 25, 293. Queensland, Australia. 4 November 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A JUDGMENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST". The Herald. No. 23, 430. Victoria, Australia. 28 June 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "YOUNG GREEKS". The Canberra Times. Vol. 36, no. 10, 223. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 May 1962. p. 14. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
- Henry C James at IMDB
- Henry C James at AustLit
- Henry C. James at AusStage