English: This photograph depicts Australian actor George Rikard Bell, whose screen name was Brian Abbot, and his wife Grace Rikard Bell. He boarded the Burns Philp liner SS MORINDA on 5 September 1936. The cast and crew were sailing Lord Howe Island to shoot the film Mystery Island (1937).

Shortly after shooting the film, Rikard Bell and a fellow cast mate, Leslie Hay Simpson (screen name Desmond Hay), decided to forego the trip back to Sydney on board MORINDA and opted to sail on board the 16-foot motor skiff, MYSTERY STAR. The two were never seen again. This photograph shows George Rikard Bell saying goodbye to his wife for the last time.
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This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection

Object no. 00022874