'"The Spirit of Gallipoli," at the Union Pictures, Cook's Hill, is an Australian production, typifying the spirit of the youth of this country. It is a post war story, dealing with the life from early youth to manhood of Billy Austin, and in many ways it must have an appealing charm to the Australian boy of exuberant, care-free spirit. The opening scene is in the suburban home, near Sydney, of the Austin family with Billy's mother and father anxious as to what prank he would be up to next. He is seen in some of his escapades, which have their humorous sides. From school to work, and, much against Billy's will, into the training camp is the next step. There are some interesting glimpses of life in camp at Liverpool, with the youths at work and play. The camp has the effect of stiffening Billy into a sense of his responsibilities. He grows to like it, and says so. He saves a chum from drowning, and his gallant aection and his efficiency bring him the good opinions of the commanding officer, who presents him with the book "Australia and the World War." The departure of the first contingent from Sydney, and the landing at Gallipoli, with its desperate fighting, is finely depicted. Spurred by the spirit of the book, Billy resolves to win a place for himself, and the final scene shows him with his wife and child viewing their prosperous homestead in the back country.'
Source:
'Union Pictures', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 5 June 1928, p.6 (via Trove Australia).
