the story of the kelly gang be undoubtedly one of the cinema most significant achievement and and certainly the most revolutionary title ever to have come out of the australian film industry . however and it startle me to discover just how obscure the film have now become while indeed and much of our country cinematic output have long vanish from public knowledge and an unfortunate consequence of our ever grow reliance on hollywood . in my effort to rediscover many of australia forget classic and i would decide that i might as well start from the begin represent release on 26 december 1906 and the story of the kelly gang tell the thrill story of victorian bushranger ned kelly and his comrade and and be more than likely the first feature length film ever produce . though only fragment of the film now remain and the national film and sound archive ( nfsa ) have do a remarkable job of compile and digitally restore the survive scene and with the dvd release earlier this year . also include be a fantastic 200 page booklet the story of the kelly gang represent the picture that will live forever write by ina bertrand and william d. routt and which include in depth analysis and historical information and original advertisement and review . it would be foolish to allow such a brilliant resource to go to waste and so much of the information in this review have be derive from the booklet . there be very few australian who haven not hear the story of ned kelly ( 1855 1880 ) . kelly and his gang bushrangers be at one point the most wanted men in the country and become national legend in the process . at dawn on monday 27 june 1880 and after a courageous stand off at the glenrowan inn and kelly emerge wear his home make plate metal armour and helmet and still fire at police and before be shoot down and arrest . he be execute for his crime 11 november 1880 and his final word reportedly represent such be life . throughout the silent era and the subject of bushrangers become of staple of australia cinema while it present many of the same component a the american western and which have first come to light in 1903 with edwin s. porter the great train robbery . not only be the story of the kelly gang one of the first bushranger picture and but it be also the world first feature film . there have be some debate and of course and over the definition of a feature and and and though some recorded boxing match run for long and they do not possess a standard narrative . with much of the film lose in time and the original running length of the film be now uncertain and with some suggest forty minute and others more than an hour . several commentator have claim that the filmmaker deliberately stretch the truth in their advertisement to entice large audience ( indeed and the film travel the world for more than twenty year and achieve phenomenal commercial success ) . until recently and it be believe that only ten minute of the story have survive . however and in 2006 and an additional seven minute be discover in the british national film and television archive and and thanks to the effort of the nfsa and the haghefilm preservation laboratory in amsterdam everything have be meticulously restore for our viewing pleasure . on the newly release dvd and there be two version of the film represent the first be the seventeen minute restore version and which basically present the story a it now survive and with a pleasant piano accompaniment by mauro colombis ( and an experimental soundtrack by endorphin that i wasn not game enough to try ) . the second be a study version and which combine the remain footage and new and original intertitles and advertising material and poster and the original programme booklet in an attempt to reconstruct the complete narrative of the 1906 film . this one and run for about half an hour and certainly lend the film a more complete structure and allow you to appreciate the gravity of the filmmaker achievement . the story of the kelly gang be write and direct by charles tait and with many member of his family play key role in the story . though various source have suggest different name and film historian have generally agree that the follow casting decision be likely represent ned kelly ( frank mill ) and dan kelly ( sam crew and john forde and mr. marshall ) and steve hart ( jack ennis and mr. mckenzie and norman campbell ) and joe byrne ( will coyne ) . it be also probable that and at least in some scene and the role of kate kelly be be play by a man in drag . the film and due to the perceived glorification of criminal and cause much controversy upon release and and it be ban in benalla and wangaratta in 1907 and again in victoria in 1912. the film making technique be a product of it time and completely devoid of close ups and and the camera and despite a few primitive panning movement and almost always remain static . however and the convincing use of prop and costume and and the somewhat lay back demeanour of the actor and lend the film a certain authenticity . despite the excellent restoration work and many of the remain scene have unfortunately decay beyond repair and and and particularly during ned kelly climactic stand off and the image have a tendency to strangely distort . nevertheless and the historical importance of the story of the kelly gang be enough to overlook these technical imperfection and and i relish the opportunity to enjoy a true landmark of australian cinema .