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The Hayseeds

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The Hayseeds
Contemporary advertisement for film
Directed byBeaumont Smith
Raymond Longford (associate)[1]
Written byBeaumont Smith
Produced byBeaumont Smith
StarringCecil Kellaway
CinematographyTasman Higgins
Edited byFrank Coffey
Music byAlf Lawrence
Fred Chapple
Production
company
J.C. Williamson Picture Productions
Distributed byBritish Empire Films[2]
Release date
  • 8 December 1933 (1933-12-08)[3]
Running time
98 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget£4,500[4][5][6] or £6,000[7]
Box office£20,000[7][8] or £16,000[6][5]

The Hayseeds is a 1933 Australian musical comedy from Beaumont Smith. It centres on the rural family, the Hayseeds, about whom Smith had previously made six silent films, starting with Our Friends, the Hayseeds (1917). He retired from directing in 1925 but decided to revive the series in the wake of the box office success of On Our Selection (1932).[9] It was the first starring role in a movie for stage actor Cecil Kellaway.

It was also known as The Hayseeds Come to Town.

Plot

[edit]

Wealthy Mary Townleigh gets lost in the bush and hurts her ankle, but is rescued and stays with the Hayseed family. She starts a romance with their neighbour, Englishman John Manners. When Joe Hayseed and his girlfriend Pansy Regan decide to get married, the Hayseeds and John visit Sydney to stay with the Townleighs. John is accused of being a fugitive of justice but is eventually proved innocent and he and Mary get married.[10]

Cast

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  • Cecil Kellaway as Dad Hayseed
  • Kenneth Brampton as Mr. Townleigh
  • Arthur Clarke as John Manners
  • Shirley Dale as Mary Townleigh
  • Bryan Kellaway as Billy
  • John Moore as Henry Westcott
  • Tal Ordell as Joe Hayseed
  • Vincent Pantin as Lord Mornington
  • Molly Raynor as Pansy Ragen
  • Phyllis Steadman as Polly
  • Stan Tolhurst as Sam
  • Katie Towers as Mum Hayseed
  • the J.C. Williamson Chorus (singing hikers)
  • the Richard White Girls
  • Jimmy Coates and his Orchestra

Production

[edit]

The movie was part financed by the theatrical firm JC Williamsons, who leant many of their regular actors and crew to the film. Frank Tait, managing director of Williamsons, said "We have had films in mind for some time. The Hayseeds will give us some definite experience to work on. With so many players available to us and plays of which we hold' the rights, we regard film-making as a definite adjunct to our business."[11]

The movie was offically announced in July 1933.[12] That month Kellaway said "I was handed the script this morning for 'Hayseeds.' It all seems very con- fusing to me; it is so disjointed. Evidently, the producer has a lot to do."[13]

The movie was shot at Cinesound's studios in Rushcutter's Bay in August and September 1933, with location work near Pymble (this was where the hiking scenes were shot).[14] Many of the cast, including Kellaway, John Moore and Shirley Dale, were appearing in the play Music in the Air during filming.[15]

The movie was a semi musical with a number of songs and dance sequences. The latter were produced by Richard White, who ran a dance academy in Sydney.[16]

Cecil Kellaway's son, Brian, made his film debut alongside his father.[17]

Director

[edit]

There is some debate as to the true director of the film. While some sources say that Beaumont Smith both scripted and directed the picture, Smith himself announced that Raymond Longford would direct the picture,[18] and newspapers of the era also gave the credit to Longford.[19] He is credited on the film as "associate director".

Songs

[edit]
  • "Let's Call It a Day" - lyrics Edmund Barclay[20]
  • "Night in the Bush" - lyrics Edmund Barclay music Frank Chapple - sung by Shirley Dale
  • “The Song of the Hikers”
  • “By the Camp Fire”
  • “The Hikers Ballet” by Richard White[21]

Reception

[edit]

The film opened in Sydney in December 1933.[22]

Critical

[edit]

Reviews for the film were mixed.[23]

The Sun called it "a fresh note in Australian picture— a blend of musical comedy, country life, farce, and romance."[24]

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote "a good deal of new material has been interpolated; but the antiquated sentiment and the absurdly stilted dialogue of the original come staring all too plainly through... There are humorous passages on the screen; but, somehow or other, the farce has become toned down, and often subordinates itself to an element of deadly serious drama. Unfortunately, the production as a whole does not suggest Australian characters, or the basic qualities of Australian life."[25]

Everyone's said "from the sole viewpoint of entertainment value, the picture measures up to around average merit, but it is disappointing to see such experienced players as John Moore and Shirley Dale put forward the uninspired and stilted performances they do. Cecil Kellaway is satisfactory. Acting honors are easily won by the two players interpreting the burlesque caricature characterisations, Molly Rayner and Tal Ordell."[26]

The Bulletin wrote "No doubt such characters are meant for caricatures, but even a caricature should have some re-semblance to truth. It is time such films as “The Hayseeds” and “On Our Selection” were dropped, even though the producers and exhibitors may be able to claim, like the old-time vaudeville singer, that “it’s getting them the money.” These libels on our up-country folk may not do much damage here, but they are likely to create a disastrous impression of Australians in Britain and the U.S.A."[27]

Box office

[edit]

The film proved popular with audiences on release in Australia and New Zealand.[28]

By the end of 1934 it was estimated to have earned £16,000 in Australia and an overall profit of £5,900.[5][6] A 1938 article said the film had earned more than £30,000.[29]

The film was still screening in cinemas in 1950.[30]

In late 1933 Frank Tait expressed interest in Williamsons making more movies.[31] However this did not happen.

References

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  1. ^ "Raymond Longford", Cinema Papers, January 1974 p51
  2. ^ "BEAUMONT SMITH BEGINS WORK ON TALKING PICTURE". Il Giornale Italiano. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 6 September 1933. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. ^ Ross Cooper,"Filmography: Beaumont Smith", Cinema Papers, March–April 1976 p333
  4. ^ Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 164.
  5. ^ a b c "Counting the CASH in Australian Films. "Selection Nets Rert Bailey £14,000 What Others Cost and Lost—Stars' Salaries and Story Prices.", Everyones., Sydney: Everyones Ltd: 19–20, 12 December 1934, nla.obj-577835346, retrieved 24 August 2024 – via Trove
  6. ^ a b c "Film Industry In Australia". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 11 June 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Doyle's Quota Views: What Cinesound Films Grossed.", Everyones., 14 (728 (7 February 1934)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-579030605, retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Trove
  8. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 16 April 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  9. ^ Vagg, Stephen (23 December 2019). "Australian Film Musicals You Probably Didn't Realise Existed". Filmink.
  10. ^ "PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 June 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. ^ "THEATRE and SCREEN". The Age. No. 24, 480. Victoria, Australia. 27 September 1933. p. 9. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ ""THE HAYSEEDS"". The Sun. No. 7349. New South Wales, Australia. 20 July 1933. p. 19 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "British and AUSTRALIAN". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 1, no. 8. Australia, Australia. 29 July 1933. p. 33. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "The Showman's Corner.. Corner..", Everyones., 13 (702 (9 August 1933)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-576179613, retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Trove
  15. ^ ""THE HAYSEEDS."". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 6 September 1933. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 22 July 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Edmonton Regent Theatre". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 February 1935. p. 3. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  18. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FILM". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 22 July 1933. p. 8. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Longford Directs 'Hayseeds' for Beaumont Smith.", Everyones., 13 (699 (19 July 1933)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-576161672, retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Trove
  20. ^ "HONOR in HIS OWN COUNTRY". The Sun. No. 1602. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1933. p. 48. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Plenty of Music in "The Hayseeds"", Everyones., 13 (707), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, 13 September 1933 [1920], nla.obj-576110005, retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Trove
  22. ^ ""HAYSEEDS"". The Sun. No. 7471. New South Wales, Australia. 9 December 1933. p. 8 (CRICKET STUMPS). Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "PRIVATE VIEWS". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 16 December 1933. p. 26. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  24. ^ "SHOWS SYDNEY IS SEEING!". The Sun. No. 1602. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1933. p. 55. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "FILM REVIEWS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 934. New South Wales, Australia. 11 December 1933. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Reviews of Recent Releases", Everyones., 13 (720 (13 December 1933)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-576888985, retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Trove
  27. ^ "SHADOW SHOWS.", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 13 December 1933, nla.obj-611746948, retrieved 24 August 2024 – via Trove
  28. ^ "THINGS LOOK BRIGHTER IN NEW ZEALAND", Everyones., 13 (723 (3 January 1934)), Sydney: Everyones Ltd, nla.obj-578998135, retrieved 23 March 2024 – via Trove
  29. ^ "FILM INDUSTRY'S PROGRESS". News. Vol. XXX, no. 4, 560. South Australia. 5 March 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Palace Theatre". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 July 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  31. ^ "REBUILDING HIS MAJESTY'S". The Herald. No. 17, 607. Victoria, Australia. 19 October 1933. p. 10. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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