Mail Bag! Early Australian Film History: Marelle Flynn!

Dear David DeWitt

I am working on some early Australian film history and wondered if you or your blog associates might have some information particularly concerning Lily Mary (Marelle) Flynn.

According to another source she was an extra in a 1925 silent film, filmed at the Savage River in Tasmania and in Melbourne, entitled “Jewelled Nights” produced by Louise Lovely and based on  a novel by Tasmanian writer Marie Bjelke Petersen. I have only found one mention of Marelle Flynn as an extra  and would really like to know if there is more substantive evidence and whether she was filmed in the Tasmanian setting or in the Melbourne society setting.

Given that it was 1925, Errol Flynn would still have been in school at the Hobart High School. Further given that his father, Professor Theo Flynn was a great hiker, also wonder whether he and Errol might have ventured to Waratah, Savage River in NW Tasmania for the filming.

I’ve ordered up the books on Flynn to see if there is any mention, however, thought that you and your associates might have information.

Kind regards
Anne Sanders
Braidwood NSW Australia

Jewelled Nights starring Louise Lovely

— David DeWitt