‘When The Kellys Rode’ was the third Kelly film made by Harry Southwell, a footloose, independent filmmaker of the 1920s and 30s. The first, ‘The True Story Of The Kelly Gang’, was made in Victoria in 1920. The second, on cameraman Tas Higgins’ advice, was made again from scratch in 1923.
‘The Story Of The Kelly Gang’ was Australia’s first feature film and a work of ambitious dimensions. Produced by the Melbourne entrepreneurs, the brothers J. and N. Tait and photographed by Millard Johnson and William Alfred Gibson, it had a grand opening at the Melbourne Town Hall in 1906 before transferring to the Athenaeum Hall.
‘That’s Cricket’ was released at the Sydney State Theatre in 1931. It was Cinesound’s second short. Like ‘That She Blows!’ which preceded it, it was yet another film for which the claim has been made that it was Australia’s first talkie.