Soldiers of the Cross(Movie, 1900)

Soldiers of the Cross was a multimedia production directed by Joseph Perry, made in Australia by the Limelight Department of the Salvation Army. It premiered in 1900 and toured nationally and internationally until 1920. The production consisted of film segments and photographic glass slides. It was presented alongside a live evangelistic lecture, given by Commandant Herbert Howard Booth. A 20-30 piece orchestra performed the original score, written by Major Robert McAnally. Historians consider Soldiers of the Cross to be a landmark in production in the development of the Australian film industry. Soldiers of the Cross included episodes from the life of Christ, as well as stories of early Christian martyrs. It aimed to stir audiences to religious devotion. The only surviving material from Soldiers of the Cross is a collection of 200 photographic glass slides. These are currently held by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. ()