The Murder of Captain Fryatt

The Murder of Captain Fryatt is a 1917 Australian silent film about the execution of Captain Charles Fryatt during World War I from John and Agnes Gavin. It is considered a lost film. Plot The Gavins claimed the plot "followed closely the facts contained in the official report of the British Admiralty" about the Fryatt incident, with a Belgian love story added. The film begins after Fryatt, the commander of a merchant ship, has rammed a German submarine, and has returned to London a hero. German spies seek to track him down. Fryatt goes on another voyage, is captured by the Germans and executed. Cast Harrington Reynolds as Captain Charles Fryatt John Gavin as Von Kehlen Olive Proctor as Mrs. Fryatt Augustus Neville Charles Villiers Roland Watts-Phillips Mabel Fish as Baby Percy Walshe Clara Stevenson Elsie Prince Production Fryatt's murder was one of the three best known German atrocities of World War I, the others being the sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the execution of Nurse Edith Cavell. Gavin sought official approval from the New South Wales Chief Secretary prior to making the film. This was given, provided the actual execution of Fryatt was not shown. Production was very swift – Fryatt was killed on 27 July 1916 and the film was ready for screening in February 1917. The script was reportedly based on British admiralty naval reports.