This film is part of Free
Lieutenant Lilly and the Sploge of Opium
The intrepid Lt Lilly is called upon to quell a Chinese Boxer rebellion in a spoof adventure serial.
Overview
This agreeably daft comedy pokes fun at popular adventure serials of the early 1910s. Our (inevitably) dashing and intrepid hero learns of a Chinese rebellion and flies to rescue his distressed love, Dolores, from some very unconvincing Chinese. The association of the Chinese with drugs and vice was a feature of the same 'Yellow Peril' moral panics that gave rise to Sax Rohmer's Fu-Manchu.
Filmed for the Hepworth Company by Hay Plumb, the film was made very quickly on a very modest budget - and wasn't ashamed to show it. But its knowing swipe at more serious adventurers such as Lieutenant Rose (who took on some Chinese pirates in one episode - inevitably played, as here, by white actors in make-up) and Lieutenant Daring would strike a chord with audiences. The era's most prolific parodist, Fred Evans (aka Pimple), released a number of similar spoofs under the guise of Lt Pimple.
Related
Dr Sin Fang: The Adventure of the Torture Cage Dr Sin Fang: The Adventure of the Torture Cage
Action and Adventure 1928 30 mins Silent Location: Limehouse
An evil criminal doctor entraps and tortures a greedy trader in this only surviving episode of silent adventure serial Dr Sin Fang.
Attack on a Mission Station Attack on a Mission Station
War 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Blackburn
Dramatised account of Chinese rebels' violent confrontation with Christian missionaries, made in the wake of the Boxer Rebellion.
Lieutenant Rose and the Chinese Pirates Lieutenant Rose and the Chinese Pirates
Drama 1910 12 mins Silent Location: Croydon
Lieutenant Rose is kidnapped by Chinese pirates in this action-packed early adventure series.
The Woman from China The Woman from China
Action and Adventure 1931 76 mins Silent
A young woman is persuaded to help a Chinese businessman to kidnap a naval officer in this fun and outrageous British thriller.
Cosmopolitan London Cosmopolitan London
Interest film 1924 10 mins Location: Soho
An extraordinary tour of Soho's French cafés, Clerkenwell's Little Italy and the lesser-trodden streets of Limehouse in the 1920s.
Attack on a China Mission - Bluejackets to the Rescue Attack on a China Mission - Bluejackets to the Rescue
War 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Brighton
Fictional treatment of a contemporary atrocity story from the 1900 Boxer rebellion in China.
Day in the Life of the School Day in the Life of the School
Amateur film 1970 25 mins Location: Walton-on-Thames
A typical day at Burwood Park, a boarding school for deaf children, features in this film made by two of its pupils, Alan Loft and Michael Chawner
The Perils of Picturegoing The Perils of Picturegoing
Amateur film 1950 6 mins Silent Location: Walton-on-Thames
Amateur comedy film within a film, about the unforeseen risks of going to the cinema, including 3D films, ice creams, lions and spears!
Filming Again Filming Again
Amateur film 1953 2 mins Silent Location: Walton-on-Thames
This behind the scenes film captures the range of skills shown by the members of the local cine club whilst filming the Perils of Picturegoing
Kingston Movie Makers' History of Walton Kingston Movie Makers' History of Walton
Amateur film 1952 18 mins Location: Walton-on-Thames
An award winning animation by John Daborn and team, who were part of an animation collective with grand ideas of rivalling Disney
Scenes at the Walton-on-Thames Lawn Tennis Tournament Finals Day Scenes at the Walton-on-Thames Lawn Tennis Tournament Finals Day
Amateur film 1934 3 mins Silent Location: Walton-on-Thames
Amateur film of the final day of play at the Walton-on-Thames Tennis Tournament 1934.
Health at the Centre Health at the Centre
Documentary 1974 8 mins Location: Walton-on-Thames
The latest developments in healthcare on show at Walton-on-Thames community health centre
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.