the audience applauded

Excellent but underrated film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Blistering performances.

It's hard to come down heavily on these pre WW2 Australian talkies which were made under dreadful conditions for paltry amounts. However the lack of artistry or ambition that most - and "The Avenger" is a ripe example - show is disturbing.A kind of a thriller has the inexperienced leading man in peril through the company of "wasters" but redeemed by the love of a good (and well heeled) woman and the trust of a newly rich businessman played by Raymond Longford no less, the major Australian film maker of the silent period.Despite determined attempts to introduce bogus documentary sequences, the key moments could have been played on a neighborhood stage and the acting belongs there - particularly Fernside's lip twisting heavy.The country's leading camera and sound technicians were involved to no great effect.