BROKEN MELODY

Australia, 1938, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Lloyd Hughes, Diana Du Cane, Frank Harvey, Rosalind Kennerdale, Alec Kellaway, Rita Pauncefort, Harold Meade, June Munro, Ronald Whelan, Lionello Cecil, Letty Craydon, Marshall Crosby, Gough Whitlam.
Directed by Ken G. Hall.

The Broken Melody was one of Cinesound's most ambitious productions, coming in 1938. By this time Ken G. Hall had made a number of successful features from the Rudd Family comedies to Mo's (Roy Rene's) comedy Strike Me Lucky and the very successful Squatter's Daughter. There were action film like Thoroughbred, Tall Timbers, Lovers and Luggers. This film attempts greater sophistication. It is an adaptation and reshaping of a novel by F. J. Thwaites (which initially involved drugs rather than drink and the setting was a Catholic high school).

Lloyd Hughes, a silent actor from the U.S., had come out for Lovers and Luggers and remained for this film. He is a pleasant lead. Hall assembled many of his regular cast for supporting roles, including Alec Kellaway effective as Joe Larkin. Hall's regular screenwriter in the late '30s, Frank Harvey, has the role of the opera singer's manager. There is an atmosphere of the '30s: from high society and regattas, the nightclubs, to a collage of the Depression, the dole people living near Sydney Harbour. There is also the international scene with opera. The film has all kinds of coincidences, hidden identities, romance and the fulfilment of dreams. The hero is a violinist (the American title was The Vagabond Violinist) and the film concludes with excerpts from an operetta called The Broken Melody. The music was composed by noted Australian composer Alfred Hill.

1. The film as popular entertainment? A more sophisticated film from the '30s? Comparisons with international film of the time? The melodrama, comedy? The ingredients of soap opera? The importance of the music, the title theme, the operetta? The ingredients for popular success?

2. The original novel and the adaptation? The heightening of problems - with the sensational touch (though less sensational, perhaps, than the novel? Dreams and their fulfilment? American models? British models? The pathos of the title? (The alternate title for England: The Vagabond Violinist?)

3. The American star and his effectiveness in the Australian setting? The black and white photography, the picture of Sydney and nightclubs, regattas? The contrast with the city streets and the Depression? The country properties? The international flavour with the opera? The contribution of the staging of the operetta? The contribution of composer Alfred Hill?

4. The atmosphere of the opening: university, the regatta, high spirits and the '30s? Tossing the cox into the river etc.? The popularity of the rowing club and interstate rivalries? The filming of the regatta? The nightclub, the songs? 'Thirties society? Anne and her singing, her place in the nightclub? John playing his composition? Dancing? The build-up to the confrontation, the fight? The encounter with John and Anne - setting the scene, the basis for further developments?

5. The fighting, John and his moods? How convincing? The complaints and his disgrace? Expulsion? His’ return home, the difficulty of confrontation with his father? The support of his sister? The clash about issues, money, his career, composition, his father wanting him to take over the business, money difficulties? His leaving home, disgrace, giving himself to music?

6. The effectiveness of the Depression collage? John and his destitution, no jobs? The bar and the drinks with his friends? Joe Larkin as pick-pocket? meeting with Nibs? His father disowning him?

7. The chance encounter with Anne at the bridge and the harbour? Saving her? Meeting Joe Larkin? The invitation to join in pickpocketing? The colony of those on the dole near the harbour? Their style of life, code? Friendships? John and his music - the chance encounter with the Harrises? Sam's support? Bella's support? The jobs in the restaurant?

8. The change in John's life? Hopes? The encounter with the impresario? The growing love for Anne? Joe Larkin and his decision to change his lifestyle, his trying to give himself up to the police and their rejection of him? His disappointed return?

9. The entrepreneur, the influence of Sam and Bella? Deals for overseas career? Bella persuading Anne to disappear? The irony that the entrepreneur would let Anne go? Her disappearance? Her note?

10. John's success, change of name, composition of operas, conducting orchestras? The background of the international opera scene? The warmth and humour of Joe Larkin becoming his valet? The encounters with Rosalind and her quality of singing, temperamental? The clashes with the entrepreneur? The composing of The Broken Melody? The possibility of returning to Australia, the news of his father's illness?

11. The return, his not being recognised, his buying the property? His meeting with his sister? The rehearsals and his being called to his father's deathbed? The sentiment of son being reconciled to father?

12. Henrietta and her temperament, the exasperation of the entrepreneur, her selfishness especially as regards John's father's illness, her refusing to compromise? Her walking off? Joe Larkin tying her up? The irony of the entrepreneur marrying her?

13. The importance of the reconciliation for John? His success as a musician? His vindicating himself for his father and supporting him?

14. Anne and her rediscovery of Joe, the proposals about the rehearsals, the coincidence of her singing career, her being ready to go on, her appearance in The Broken Melody and John's response?

15. The appropriateness of the happy ending? The blend of romance, comedy, soap opera? As reflecting Australian romanticism of the late '30s?