Wherever She Goes
Encyclopedia
Wherever She Goes is a 1951 Australian feature film that tells the early part of the life story of pianist Eileen Joyce
.
) play a mouth organ. When her parents (Nigel Lovell and Muriel Steinbeck
) decide to move the family to the Kalgoorlie goldifelds Eileen sees a piano and resolves to play it. Her father's mine fails as the family has to live in a tent. She is given an old piano as a Christmas gift and soon becomes a child prodigy. She enters a local music carnival and wins. The story ends when she leaves Kalgoorlie to go to Perth, then flashes forward to Joyce playing in a concert.
Joyce herself is shown at the start and end of the film, performing the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
, but her role was primarily played by Suzanne Parrett, who never made another film. Eileen Joyce's hand double was Pamela Page.
The bulk of the movie was shot at Pagewood Studios in Sydney with some location filming in Kalgoorlie and the Huon Valley
.
It features the last screen performance of comedian George Wallace
, who plays a stage manager. The cast also includes Tommy Drysdale, young brother of Australian artist Russell Drysdale
.
. It was one of the few Australian films of the time to receive a cinema release in the USA as well as the UK, but box office receipts were poor and critical reception mixed although Suzanne Parrett's performance was praised.
Eileen Joyce
Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years....
.
Synopsis
Eileen Joyce (Suzanne Parrett) is born on the Tasmanian coast and becomes fascinated with music after hearing a man named Daniel (John WiltshireJohn Wiltshire
John Wiltshire was an Australian actor and producer who worked extensively in stage, radio and television, notably at the ABC. He produced some of Noel Coward's shows in Australia in 1940, helped establish the Mercury Theatre with Peter Finch and produced a number of films with Cecil Holmes...
) play a mouth organ. When her parents (Nigel Lovell and Muriel Steinbeck
Muriel Steinbeck
Muriel Steibeck was an Australian actor who worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. She is best known for her performance as the wife of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in Smithy and for playing the lead in Autumn Affair , Australia's first television serial.-Selected Filmography:*...
) decide to move the family to the Kalgoorlie goldifelds Eileen sees a piano and resolves to play it. Her father's mine fails as the family has to live in a tent. She is given an old piano as a Christmas gift and soon becomes a child prodigy. She enters a local music carnival and wins. The story ends when she leaves Kalgoorlie to go to Perth, then flashes forward to Joyce playing in a concert.
Production
The movie has been accused of being fictionalised, a claim also levelled at the book on which the script was based.. The director Michael Gordon, an English documentary maker, had given a copy of the book to his children and his wife suggested that it would make a good film.Joyce herself is shown at the start and end of the film, performing the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
Piano Concerto (Grieg)
The Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, composed by Edvard Grieg in 1868, was the only concerto Grieg completed. It is one of his most popular works and among the most popular of all piano concerti.-Structure :The concerto is in three movements:...
, but her role was primarily played by Suzanne Parrett, who never made another film. Eileen Joyce's hand double was Pamela Page.
The bulk of the movie was shot at Pagewood Studios in Sydney with some location filming in Kalgoorlie and the Huon Valley
Huon Valley
The Huon Valley Council is a Local Government Area of Tasmania. It is the southern-most local government area in Australia.It encompasses the town of Huonville, on the Huon River, some surrounding towns, and many protected areas and forestry plantations...
.
It features the last screen performance of comedian George Wallace
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:...
, who plays a stage manager. The cast also includes Tommy Drysdale, young brother of Australian artist Russell Drysdale
Russell Drysdale
Sir George Russell Drysdale, AC was an Australian artist. He won the prestigious Wynne Prize for Sofala in 1947, and represented Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1954...
.
Reception
The movie had its Australian premiere in HobartHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. It was one of the few Australian films of the time to receive a cinema release in the USA as well as the UK, but box office receipts were poor and critical reception mixed although Suzanne Parrett's performance was praised.
Cast
- Suzanne Parrett as young Eileen Joyce
- Muriel SteinbeckMuriel SteinbeckMuriel Steibeck was an Australian actor who worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. She is best known for her performance as the wife of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in Smithy and for playing the lead in Autumn Affair , Australia's first television serial.-Selected Filmography:*...
as Mrs Joyce - Nigel Lovell as Will Joyce
- 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 the stage manager - Eileen JoyceEileen JoyceEileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years....
as herself (non-speaking role) - Tim Drysdale as John Joyce
- Rex Dawe as Mr James
- Syd Chambers
- John WiltshireJohn WiltshireJohn Wiltshire was an Australian actor and producer who worked extensively in stage, radio and television, notably at the ABC. He produced some of Noel Coward's shows in Australia in 1940, helped establish the Mercury Theatre with Peter Finch and produced a number of films with Cecil Holmes...
as Daniel
External links
- Wherever She Goes 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...
- Wherever She Goes at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...