Mr. Chedworth Steps Out
Encyclopedia
Mr. Chedworth Steps Out is a 1939 Australia
n film directed by Ken G. Hall
. The film is a comedy about a mild-mannered clerk (Cecil Kellaway
) who is dominated by his wife and gets fired from his job after years of service. Finding employment as a night watchman, he stumbles upon some money hidden by gangsters.
(1937) but agreed to come back to Australia especially to make the film at the request of Ken G. Hall. "He was getting much more money than we had offered him but he felt that he owed us something," said Hall.
The part of Cecil Kellaway's youngest daughter was played by Jean Hatton
, a young singer who was brought to the attention of Ken G. Hall
after she won a Deanna Durbin
talent quest. She was signed by Cinesound Productions
to a long-term contract, later appearing in Come Up Smiling
.
There is a line in the film where Cecil Kellaway scolds his son (Peter Finch
) for betting on horses. During filming this caused the crew to burst out laughing because Kellaway was known as a keen gambler. "He had his mind on the racetrack all the time," said Hall. IAs soon as I'd say 'Cut!' he'd be off like a rabbit up a bank and out the back to the radio to hear what had won the last. He was a mad punter."
The costumes were designed by Thelma Afford
, wife of top Australian writer Max Afford.
Joan Deering, who plays the ingenue, had never acted on screen before but had a strong theatrical background, having toured with revue companies in England and South Africa. She was English and moved to Australia in 1935 after touring with Frank Neil's pantomine company. Ken G. Hall had met her socially and suggested she screen test. Peter Finch was cast after the impression he made in Dad and Dave Come to Town
(1938).
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 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 film is a comedy about a mild-mannered clerk (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...
) who is dominated by his wife and gets fired from his job after years of service. Finding employment as a night watchman, he stumbles upon some money hidden by gangsters.
Production
Cecil Kellaway had been working in Hollywood following the success of It Isn't DoneIt Isn't Done
It Isn't Done is a 1937 comedy about an Australian grazier who inherits a baronacy.-Production:The film was based on an original story by Kellaway which he had written in between acts while performing in White Horse Inn on stage. Hall liked the basic idea but said Kellaway was unable to put it...
(1937) but agreed to come back to Australia especially to make the film at the request of Ken G. Hall. "He was getting much more money than we had offered him but he felt that he owed us something," said Hall.
The part of Cecil Kellaway's youngest daughter was played by Jean Hatton
Jean Hatton
Jean Hatton was an Australian singer and actor who was under contract to Cinesound Productions in the 1930s. She was discovered in a Deanna Durbin talent quest and cast as Cecil Kellaway's daughter in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out , singing several songs. She was subsequently cast in Come Up Smiling...
, a young singer who was brought to the attention of 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:...
after she won a Deanna Durbin
Deanna Durbin
Deanna Durbin is a Canadian-born, Southern California-raised retired singer and actress, who appeared in a number of musical films in the 1930s and 1940s singing standards as well as operatic arias....
talent quest. She was signed by 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...
to a long-term contract, later appearing in Come Up Smiling
Come Up Smiling
Come Up Smiling is a 1939 Australian comedy starring popular US stage comedian Will Mahoney.-Synopsis:Barney O'Hara is a performer in a touring carnival who tries to raise money to save the voice of his talented singer daughter Pat Come Up Smiling is a 1939 Australian comedy starring popular US...
.
There is a line in the film where Cecil Kellaway scolds his son (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...
) for betting on horses. During filming this caused the crew to burst out laughing because Kellaway was known as a keen gambler. "He had his mind on the racetrack all the time," said Hall. IAs soon as I'd say 'Cut!' he'd be off like a rabbit up a bank and out the back to the radio to hear what had won the last. He was a mad punter."
The costumes were designed by Thelma Afford
Thelma Afford
Thelma Afford was an Australian costume designer, theatre performer, and fashion journalist who worked in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.- Early years :...
, wife of top Australian writer Max Afford.
Joan Deering, who plays the ingenue, had never acted on screen before but had a strong theatrical background, having toured with revue companies in England and South Africa. She was English and moved to Australia in 1935 after touring with Frank Neil's pantomine company. Ken G. Hall had met her socially and suggested she screen test. Peter Finch was cast after the impression he made in Dad and Dave Come to Town
Dad and Dave Come to Town
Dad and Dave Come to Town is a 1938 Australian comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall, the third in the 'Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey.-Synopsis:...
(1938).
Cast
- Cecil KellawayCecil KellawayCecil 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...
as George Chedworth - Rita Pauncefort as Julia Chedworth
- Jean HattonJean HattonJean Hatton was an Australian singer and actor who was under contract to Cinesound Productions in the 1930s. She was discovered in a Deanna Durbin talent quest and cast as Cecil Kellaway's daughter in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out , singing several songs. She was subsequently cast in Come Up Smiling...
as Susie Chedworth - Sidney Wheeler as Leon Fencoff
- Cecil Perry as MacGuire
- 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 Arthur Jacobs - James RaglanJames Raglan-In Australia:Early in 1935 he was brought out to Australia with the Gabriel Toyne company by J. C. Williamson, playing Laburnum Grove and Michael Egan's The Dominant Sex. During this time he had appeared in the radio serials The Scarlet Pimpernel and Khyber by Edmund Barclay, in both series...
as Brian Carford - Joan Deering as Gwen Chedworth
- Harvey Adams as Mason
External links
- Mr Chedworth Steps Out 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...