Dad and Dave Come to Town
Encyclopedia
Dad and Dave Come to Town is a 1938 Australia
n comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall
, the third in the 'Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey
.
) inherits a woman's fashion store in the city from his dead brother. The Rudd family moves there to take charge but find it difficult to adapt to city ways. He also finds opposition from a rival shop owner Pierre (Sidney Wheeler) who wants to put his store out of business. He puts his daughter Jill (Shirley Ann Richards
) in charge of the store, and she hires a young press agent from Pierre, Jim Bradley (Billy Rayes
). Jill decides to put on a giant fashion show at the film's climax. Pierre hires some thugs to disrupt things, but they are stopped by Dave (Fred MacDonald
), his new girlfriend Myrtle (Muriel Flood) and the store's effeminate floorwalker Entwistle (Alec Kellaway
). The show is a big success and Dad Rudd returns to the country.
, On Our Selection
(1932) and Grandad Rudd
(1935), this was not based on a play by Bailey but an original story by Ken G. Hall
. Hall claims he asked his regular writer Frank Harvey
to develop a premise, but Harvey could not do it, and indeed threatened to resign prior to the scripting of the film because he felt he couldn't write comedy. However, Hall came up with a story and Harvey stayed on the film, ending up with a writing credit. Uncredited work was done on the script by Hall's "comedy team" of Jim Bancks, Hal Carlton and Bill Maloney. The humour was considerably more risque that normal for a Cinesound film.
Hall made the film because Cinesound Productions
needed a guaranteed box office success. There had recently been a ruling that Australian films were no longer eligible as British under the local quotas in England, which hurt their ability to sell overseas. Hall needed to make a film which was appealed to local audiences and On Our Selection
(1932) had just enjoyed a fifth run in Sydney, indicating the market was still strong for Dad and Dave movies. "I'm fully prepared for verbal onslaughts from a certain section of the public that considers we are ruining Australia's prestige overseas," said Hall before filming. "In fact, it's the English markets that vitally concern us. But as our pictures have been subjected to certain restrictions there, we have cut our cloth to suit our pocket. Cinesound's next picture will be made for Australian audiences."
repeated their roles as Dad and Dave from the earlier films in the series, but the rest of the cast were newcomers. Ingenue
Shirley Ann Richards
, who was under long-term contract to Cinesound Productions
was cast as Dad's daughter.
Billy Rayes
and Leila Steppe were both Americans touring on the Tivoli vaudeville
circuit.
Peter Finch
plays a young man in love with Dad Rudd's daughter Sarah (Valerie Scanlan).Finch had appeared in a short film, The Magic Shoes
(1935), but this was his first feature. He was recommended to Hall by George Cross, Cinesound's casting director, and so impressed the director he was cast in the role. "He was almost painfully thin in his early days, with high, prominent cheekbones, and his looks gave no real promise of the handsome, world-class screen star he matured into overseas," wrote Hall late. "But from the beginning he was a really first-class actor." Indeed, Hall later cast him in a larger role in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out
(1939).
Valerie Scanlan was an 18 year old Sydney actor who had come to the attention of George Cross in an amateur proudction of Men Without Wives. It was her first film role.
Muriel Flood was a former vaudeville actor who was a well known radio personality "Susie" on 2GB.
(1940). It was released in England as The Rudd Family Goes to Town, and was the first Australian film to screen in a cinema on the West End.
) says to Jim Bradley (Billy Rayes
), "Don't call me girlie". This line was used as the title for a 1985 documentary about women in the Australian film industry.
The character of Entwistle (Alec Kellaway
), the effeminate floorwalker who works at the fashion store, is a rare gay character in early Australian cinema. Although a stereotype, he is depicted as a loyal friend of the hero - the "first upfront camp male character to be treated in a positive fashion" and was so popular with audiences he returned in Dad Rudd, MP
(1940).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
, the third in the 'Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey
Bert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
.
Synopsis
Dad Rudd (Bert BaileyBert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
) inherits a woman's fashion store in the city from his dead brother. The Rudd family moves there to take charge but find it difficult to adapt to city ways. He also finds opposition from a rival shop owner Pierre (Sidney Wheeler) who wants to put his store out of business. He puts his daughter Jill (Shirley Ann Richards
Ann Richards (actress)
Ann Richards was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet....
) in charge of the store, and she hires a young press agent from Pierre, Jim Bradley (Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes was an American actor, juggler and mimic. He was touring Australia when signed to appear as the male juvenile in Dad and Dave Come to Town . He appeared alongside his wife, the American model, Leila Steppe....
). Jill decides to put on a giant fashion show at the film's climax. Pierre hires some thugs to disrupt things, but they are stopped by Dave (Fred MacDonald
Fred MacDonald
Fred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
), his new girlfriend Myrtle (Muriel Flood) and the store's effeminate floorwalker Entwistle (Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
). The show is a big success and Dad Rudd returns to the country.
Production
Unlike the first two Dad and Dave films starring Bert BaileyBert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
, On Our Selection
On Our Selection (1932 film)
On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
(1932) and Grandad Rudd
Grandad Rudd
Grandad Rudd is a 1935 comedy featuring the Dad and Dave characters created by Steele Rudd and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to On Our Selection, and was later followed by Dad and Dave Come to Town and Dad Rudd, MP.-Original Play:...
(1935), this was not based on a play by Bailey but an original story by Ken G. Hall
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
. Hall claims he asked his regular writer Frank Harvey
Frank Harvey (Australian screenwriter)
Frank Harvey was an English-born actor, producer and writer best known for his work in Australia.-Biography:...
to develop a premise, but Harvey could not do it, and indeed threatened to resign prior to the scripting of the film because he felt he couldn't write comedy. However, Hall came up with a story and Harvey stayed on the film, ending up with a writing credit. Uncredited work was done on the script by Hall's "comedy team" of Jim Bancks, Hal Carlton and Bill Maloney. The humour was considerably more risque that normal for a Cinesound film.
Hall made the film because Cinesound Productions
Cinesound Productions
Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was one of Australia's first feature film production companies. Established in June 1932, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred around Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from production, to distribution and...
needed a guaranteed box office success. There had recently been a ruling that Australian films were no longer eligible as British under the local quotas in England, which hurt their ability to sell overseas. Hall needed to make a film which was appealed to local audiences and On Our Selection
On Our Selection (1932 film)
On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
(1932) had just enjoyed a fifth run in Sydney, indicating the market was still strong for Dad and Dave movies. "I'm fully prepared for verbal onslaughts from a certain section of the public that considers we are ruining Australia's prestige overseas," said Hall before filming. "In fact, it's the English markets that vitally concern us. But as our pictures have been subjected to certain restrictions there, we have cut our cloth to suit our pocket. Cinesound's next picture will be made for Australian audiences."
Casting
Bert Bailey and Fred MacDonaldFred MacDonald
Fred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
repeated their roles as Dad and Dave from the earlier films in the series, but the rest of the cast were newcomers. Ingenue
Ingenue
Ingenue may refer to:*Ingenue , a stock character in literature, film and theatre*Ingénue , the second solo album by k.d. lang...
Shirley Ann Richards
Ann Richards (actress)
Ann Richards was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet....
, who was under long-term contract to Cinesound Productions
Cinesound Productions
Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was one of Australia's first feature film production companies. Established in June 1932, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred around Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from production, to distribution and...
was cast as Dad's daughter.
Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes was an American actor, juggler and mimic. He was touring Australia when signed to appear as the male juvenile in Dad and Dave Come to Town . He appeared alongside his wife, the American model, Leila Steppe....
and Leila Steppe were both Americans touring on the Tivoli vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
circuit.
Peter Finch
Peter Finch
Peter Finch was a British-born Australian actor. He is best remembered for his role as "crazed" television anchorman Howard Beale in the film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a...
plays a young man in love with Dad Rudd's daughter Sarah (Valerie Scanlan).Finch had appeared in a short film, The Magic Shoes
The Magic Shoes
The Magic Shoes is a 1935 Australian short film based on the fairy tale Cinderella. It features the first screen performance by Peter Finch and Helen Hughes, daughter of former Prime Minister William Hughes and was the first dramatised movie to be shot at the National Studios, built to make The...
(1935), but this was his first feature. He was recommended to Hall by George Cross, Cinesound's casting director, and so impressed the director he was cast in the role. "He was almost painfully thin in his early days, with high, prominent cheekbones, and his looks gave no real promise of the handsome, world-class screen star he matured into overseas," wrote Hall late. "But from the beginning he was a really first-class actor." Indeed, Hall later cast him in a larger role in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out
Mr. Chedworth Steps Out
Mr. Chedworth Steps Out is a 1939 Australian film directed by Ken G. Hall. The film is a comedy about a mild-mannered clerk who is dominated by his wife and gets fired from his job after years of service...
(1939).
Valerie Scanlan was an 18 year old Sydney actor who had come to the attention of George Cross in an amateur proudction of Men Without Wives. It was her first film role.
Muriel Flood was a former vaudeville actor who was a well known radio personality "Susie" on 2GB.
Reception
The film was a success at the box office, Ken G. Hall later calling it a "very substantial hit", and it led to a fourth (and final) entry in the series, Dad Rudd, MPDad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, M.P. is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and Frank Harvey....
(1940). It was released in England as The Rudd Family Goes to Town, and was the first Australian film to screen in a cinema on the West End.
Legacy
In one scene, Jill (Shirley Ann RichardsAnn Richards (actress)
Ann Richards was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet....
) says to Jim Bradley (Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes
Billy Rayes was an American actor, juggler and mimic. He was touring Australia when signed to appear as the male juvenile in Dad and Dave Come to Town . He appeared alongside his wife, the American model, Leila Steppe....
), "Don't call me girlie". This line was used as the title for a 1985 documentary about women in the Australian film industry.
The character of Entwistle (Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
), the effeminate floorwalker who works at the fashion store, is a rare gay character in early Australian cinema. Although a stereotype, he is depicted as a loyal friend of the hero - the "first upfront camp male character to be treated in a positive fashion" and was so popular with audiences he returned in Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, M.P. is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and Frank Harvey....
(1940).
Cast
- Bert BaileyBert BaileyAlbert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
as Dad Rudd - Shirley Ann RichardsAnn Richards (actress)Ann Richards was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet....
(Ann Richards) as Jill - Fred MacDonaldFred MacDonaldFred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
as Dave - Billy RayesBilly RayesBilly Rayes was an American actor, juggler and mimic. He was touring Australia when signed to appear as the male juvenile in Dad and Dave Come to Town . He appeared alongside his wife, the American model, Leila Steppe....
as Jim Bradley - Alec KellawayAlec KellawayAlec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
as Entwistle - Sidney Wheeler as Pierre
- Connie Martyn as Mum
- Ossie Wenban as Joe
- Valerie Scanlan as Sarah
- Peter FinchPeter FinchPeter Finch was a British-born Australian actor. He is best remembered for his role as "crazed" television anchorman Howard Beale in the film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a...
as Bill Ryan - Muriel Ford as Myrtle
- Leila Steppe as Sonia
- Marshall Crosby as Ryan Snr
- Cecil Perry as Rawlings
- Billy Stewart as Bob Thompson
- Marie D'Alton as Miss Quince
- Leslie Victor as Brown
- Raymond LongfordRaymond LongfordRaymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
as Policeman
External links
- Dad and Dave Come to Town at the NFSA
- Dad and Dave Come to Town at Australian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen Online is an on-line database operated by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. It provides information about and excerpts from a wide selection of Australian feature films, documentaries, television programs, newsreels, short films, animations, and home-movies. It also...
- Article on Dad and Dave Come to Town by Bill Routt
- McNamara, Andrew E. (2008) The Promise of Modernity—Ken G. Hall's "Dad and Dave Come to Town" (1938-39). In Stephen, Ann, Goad, Philip, & McNamara, Andrew (Eds.) Modern Times: The Untold Story of Modernism in Australia. The Miegunyah Press/Powerhouse Publishing, Melbourne and Sydney, xxv-xxviii.http://eprints.qut.edu.au/14743/1/14743.pdf