Australia Calls (1923 film)

Australia Calls is a 1923 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford. It is considered a patriotic adventure film, focused on depicting the threat of a potential Asian invasion of Australia and highlighting the importance of coastal defense. The plot revolves around a wireless operator who discovers a plot by foreign agents to disable Australia's defenses, thereby allowing an invasion force to land unopposed. He races to alert the authorities and prevent the sabotage, ultimately succeeding and foiling the invasion plan. The film incorporates themes of nationalism, anti-Asian sentiment prevalent at the time, and technological progress represented by wireless communication. It was a relatively large-budget production for Australian cinema of the era and was intended to both entertain and serve as a form of propaganda, emphasizing the need for vigilance and a strong defense force. Despite its initial popularity, Australia Calls is now a lost film; no known copies have survived.