Let George Do It (1938 film)
Encyclopedia
Let George Do It is a 1938 comedy starring popular stage comedian George Wallace
. It was the first of two films Wallace made for Ken G. Hall
at Cinesound Productions
, the other one being Gone to the Dogs
(1939). Hall later called Wallace "in my opinion, easily the best comedian that this country as produced."
). When he finds out that the girl he is in love with, Molly (Gwen Munro
), is getting married, he gets drunk with his friend (Joe Valli
) and decides to commit suicide. He offers to leave all his possessions to a gangster, Zilch (Harry Abdy), if Zilch will arrange a painless death for Joe. The next day Joe finds out he has received an inheritance and wants to live, but Zilch and his men, including Unk (George Lloyd), abduct Joe and demand half his money. Joe escapes with the help of Clara (Letty Craydon), a woman who has a crush on him, resulting in a wild speedboat chase across Sydney harbour.
. This consisted of Hall, cartoonist Jimmy Bancks
, Bill Maloney and Hal Carleton
.
The male romantic lead was played by Neil Carlton, a Melbourne-born actor who had appeared in films in England. "I've been searching for a juvenile of Carlton's type ever since I have been directing," said Hall during production. "He's handsome, a good actor, and possesses a fine singing voice; stands 6 ft 1 in. in his socks, weighs 14 St., and is a splendid all-round athlete."
Filming commenced on January 30, 1938 and finished on March 22. During the shooting of a speedboat chase scene on Sydney Harbour, the boat crashed into a racing eight near Double Bay, cutting it in half and injuring three rowers.
There were several musical numbers which demonstrated Wallace's ability to sing and dance. A water ballet, choreographed by Leon Kellaway, brother of Cecil Kellaway
, was shot but was mostly cut in the interests of keeping the film at a fast pace.
Hall later wrote that the two films he made with Wallace "were very substantial hits". The famous tenor Richard Tauber
saw the movie when touring Australia. It was released in Britain in 1940 as In the Nick of Time, to avoid confusion with the 1940 George Formby
film Let George Do It
.
George Wallace (Australian comedian)
George Wallace , was an Australian comedian, vaudevillian and film star. He was one of the most famous and successful Australian comedians on stage and screen in the twentieth century.-History:...
. It was the first of two films Wallace made for 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:...
at 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...
, the other one being Gone to the Dogs
Gone to the Dogs
Gone to the Dogs is a 2003 novel by Emily Carmichael.-Plot introduction:Piggy is the reincarnation of a blonde girl named Lydia Keane. She suffers from a diet started by her new owner, Nell Jordan. Piggy searches for morsels of food to eat. When Piggy inherits a fortune from an old man, that she...
(1939). Hall later called Wallace "in my opinion, easily the best comedian that this country as produced."
Synopsis
The plot concerns a man, Joe (Wallace), who works as a stage hand in a vaudeville theatre headlined by Mysto the magician (Alec KellawayAlec 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...
). When he finds out that the girl he is in love with, Molly (Gwen Munro
Gwen Munro
Gwen Munro was an Australian actor best known for playing the female lead in Orphan of the Wilderness .-Biography:Munro grew up in privileged circumstances in Toorak, Melbourne and was partly educated in Switzerland and a finishing school in Paris. On returning to Australia she entered a beauty...
), is getting married, he gets drunk with his friend (Joe Valli
Joe Valli
Joe Valli was a Scottish actor, who worked for many years in Australian vaudeville and film. He had a long-running vaudeville partnership with Pat Hanna, Chic and Joe.- Selected filmography :* Diggers * Waltzing Matilda...
) and decides to commit suicide. He offers to leave all his possessions to a gangster, Zilch (Harry Abdy), if Zilch will arrange a painless death for Joe. The next day Joe finds out he has received an inheritance and wants to live, but Zilch and his men, including Unk (George Lloyd), abduct Joe and demand half his money. Joe escapes with the help of Clara (Letty Craydon), a woman who has a crush on him, resulting in a wild speedboat chase across Sydney harbour.
Production
On this film, as with most Cinesound comedies of the late 1930s, Hall employed a team of comedy writers to help with the script along with credited screenwriters Wallace and Frank HarveyFrank Harvey (Australian screenwriter)
Frank Harvey was an English-born actor, producer and writer best known for his work in Australia.-Biography:...
. This consisted of Hall, cartoonist Jimmy Bancks
Jimmy Bancks
James Charles Bancks or Jimmy Bancks was an Australian cartoonist best known for his comic strip Ginger Meggs....
, Bill Maloney and Hal Carleton
Hal Carleton
Hal H. Carleton was an Australian writer. He was a friend of film director Ken G. Hall and was part of Hall's comedy writing team at Cinesound Productions in the late 1930s...
.
The male romantic lead was played by Neil Carlton, a Melbourne-born actor who had appeared in films in England. "I've been searching for a juvenile of Carlton's type ever since I have been directing," said Hall during production. "He's handsome, a good actor, and possesses a fine singing voice; stands 6 ft 1 in. in his socks, weighs 14 St., and is a splendid all-round athlete."
Filming commenced on January 30, 1938 and finished on March 22. During the shooting of a speedboat chase scene on Sydney Harbour, the boat crashed into a racing eight near Double Bay, cutting it in half and injuring three rowers.
There were several musical numbers which demonstrated Wallace's ability to sing and dance. A water ballet, choreographed by Leon Kellaway, brother of Cecil Kellaway
Cecil Kellaway
Cecil Lauriston Kellaway was a South African-born character actor.Cecil Kellaway spent many years as an actor, author, and director in the Australian film industry until he tried his luck in Hollywood in the 1930s. Finding he could get only gangster bit parts, he got discouraged and returned to...
, was shot but was mostly cut in the interests of keeping the film at a fast pace.
Hall later wrote that the two films he made with Wallace "were very substantial hits". The famous tenor Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber was an Austrian tenor acclaimed as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Some critics commented that "his heart felt every word he sang".-Early life:...
saw the movie when touring Australia. It was released in Britain in 1940 as In the Nick of Time, to avoid confusion with the 1940 George Formby
George Formby
George Formby, OBE , born George Hoy Booth, was a British comedy actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian. He sang light, comical songs, accompanying himself on the banjo ukulele or banjolele...
film Let George Do It
Let George Do It
Let George Do It is a 1940 British, black-and-white, comedy musical war film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, with Ronald Shiner as the clarinetist...
.
Cast
- George WallaceGeorge Wallace (Australian comedian)George Wallace , was an Australian comedian, vaudevillian and film star. He was one of the most famous and successful Australian comedians on stage and screen in the twentieth century.-History:...
as Joe Blake - Gwen MunroGwen MunroGwen Munro was an Australian actor best known for playing the female lead in Orphan of the Wilderness .-Biography:Munro grew up in privileged circumstances in Toorak, Melbourne and was partly educated in Switzerland and a finishing school in Paris. On returning to Australia she entered a beauty...
as Molly - Harry Abdy as Elmer Zilch
- Letty Craydon as Clara
- 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 Mysto the Great - Joe ValliJoe ValliJoe Valli was a Scottish actor, who worked for many years in Australian vaudeville and film. He had a long-running vaudeville partnership with Pat Hanna, Chic and Joe.- Selected filmography :* Diggers * Waltzing Matilda...
as 'Happy' Morgan - Neil Carlton as John Randall
- George Lloyd as Unk
External links
- Let George Do It in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Let George Do It 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...