William Freshman
Encyclopedia
William Freshman was an Australian-born actor, writer and director. He moved to England as a child and worked in the British film industry, writing over 20 screenplays and working as an associate producer at British International Pictures. He also wrote the play 'The Last of the Ladies'.
In 1939 Freshman returned to Australia with his screenwriter wife Lydia Hayward under contract to Cinesound Productions
for whom he directed Come Up Smiling
(1939). It was announced that he and Hayward would make two more films for the studio, an adaptation of the books Overland Telegraph and Robbery Under Arms
, but during World War II
feature film production at Cinesound came to a halt and the films were not made. It was reported that he did some work in Dad Rudd, MP
(1940). He and his wife returned to England shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
In 1939 Freshman returned to Australia with his screenwriter wife Lydia Hayward under 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...
for whom he directed 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...
(1939). It was announced that he and Hayward would make two more films for the studio, an adaptation of the books Overland Telegraph and Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms is a classic Australian novel by Rolf Boldrewood . It was first published in serialised form by The Sydney Mail between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in London in 1888...
, but during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
feature film production at Cinesound came to a halt and the films were not made. It was reported that he did some work 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). He and his wife returned to England shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
Selected filmography
- Eileen of the Trees (1928) - actor
- A Broken Romance (1929) - actor
- The Scarlet PimpernelThe Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film)The Scarlet Pimpernel is a 1934 adaptation of The Scarlet Pimpernel, the classic adventure novel by Baroness Orczy. It was produced by Alexander Korda, directed by Harold Young and stars Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, along with Raymond Massey.-Plot:...
(1934) - actor - Come Up SmilingCome Up SmilingCome 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...
(1939) - director, writer - Teheran (1947) - director
External links
- William Freshman 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...
- William Freshman at IMDB