The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger is a 1910 Australian silent film about the bushranger

Bushranger

Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...

 John Vane, who was a member of Ben Hall's gang.

Synopsis

The film starts with John Vane bailing up a Chinese man in pursuit of a wager, leading to Vane fleeing to the bush with his sweetheart. Later adventures include his capture and release of his sweetheart; the sticking up of the Keightley Homestead; the shooting of Michael Burke, which leads to Vane joining the Ben Hall gang; Vane's change of heart and surrender to Father McCarthy. He serves fifteen years in prison and after release retires comfortably.

Screenings of the movie was accompanied by a narrator.

Production

It was the first dramatic film from Charles Cozens Spencer

Charles Cozens Spencer

Charles Cozens Spencer was a British-born film exhibitor and producer, who was a significant figure in the early years of the Australian film industry.-Biography:...

 and although he was purportedly dissatisfied with the final product, he went on to become a notable backer of early Australian movie production.

Spencer had established a production unit in June 1908 which made newsreels and scenic short films. It was headed by Ernest Higgins

Ernest Higgins

Ernest Higgins was an Australian cinematographer during the days of silent film. He was the brother of Arthur and Tasman Higgins.-Select Filmography:*The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger...

who shot John Vane.

External links