MR CHEDWORTH STEPS OUT

Australia, 1939, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Cecil Kellaway, Joan Deering, Rita Pauncefort, Jean Hatton, Peter Finch.
Directed by Ken G. Hall.

Mr Chedworth Steps Out was one of the last of the Cinesound features of the '30s. It is an interesting and entertaining comedy drama, set in contemporary Sydney, and illustrating the perennial theme of the timid henpecked husband who eventually rebels and branches out.

Cecil Kellaway is Mr Chedworth. The South African stage actor had appeared in Ken Hall's comedy It Isn't Done and had contributed the basic story. After this he was invited to Hollywood where he had a successful career but he returned in the late '30s for this film. The young Peter Finch who had appeared in Dad And Dave Come To Town has a supporting role as Kellaway's son. Rita Paunceford portrays one of the most obnoxious characters on the Australian screen - Kellaway's nagging wife.

The film portrays the way of life in suburban Sydney with the ambition for affluence of the Australian wife and her expectations and pressures on the husband. One of the daughters is a clear imitation of Deanna Durbin and the film imitates the style of her musicals, so popular at the time. Direction is by Ken G. Hall, who showed so much versatility in the range of features he directed at Cinesound in the '30s.

1. The quality of Ken Hall's films during the '30s? Range of interests? Audience response? Qualities and techniques?

2. A popular story? Its universal application? its Australian style? Audience response to this kind of domestic comic drama? The work of Cecil Kellaway and Peter Finch? The influence of overseas styles as well as local styles e.g. the Deanna Durbin musical films and the musical climax?

3. Sydney in the period, the Australian city, costumes and sets? An authentic contemporary atmosphere of the '30s?

4. Cecil Kellaway's presence as George Chedworth? Seeing him at work, the small meek man and the reaction of his bosses? His being dispensable? His place in the family? His age? The incessant nagging of his wife and his silence? An ironic image of the Australian husband? Meek and repressing his anger? His relationship with his wife? His exasperation with Arthur and his gambling, supporting his son? His attitude towards Gwen and Perce and their possible marriage? Suzy and her singing? Fred the young boy? His prospects? His getting the sack unexpectedly?

5. Mr. Chedworth and the atmosphere of the Depression? The experience of the '30s? Difficulties for work? The attitude of those in authority? The business world? The relevance of this drama for a '30s audience?

6. The contrasts with society, snobbery? The comparisons between classes in the Australian cities of the '30s?

7. The irony of Arthur's betting and George Chedworth's disapproval? The irony of the bet and the way it was communicated to the audience? The work as caretaker? The forgery? The discovery of the money? Hiding the money? Arthur's taking it?

8. The business world and rivalries, crooked dealings? The hiring of criminals? The strange blend of the harsh and the kind?

9. Mr. Chedworth and the money, his keeping of accounts? His bet? His new job? His enjoying his holiday - the kind of tourist brochure holiday that can be advertised? The encounter with Brian and their friendship? His double life? Money? His wife and the bailiff and her hysterics -letting out his repressions?

10. The melodrama of Arthur and the money? The pressure put on him? His desperation? Discovery of the hidden money? His being used? The build-up to melodramatics?

11. The family and the change, the party, the hiring of the bailiff to scare his wife? Perce and his abandoning Gwen? The ironic comment on poverty and wealth and friendship and love?

12. The build-up to the climax? The taking of Mr. Chedworth and his being bashed? His refusal to give information? The neatness in the melodrama for the information to be communicated? Suzy singing? The arrival of everyone to save George Chedworth?

13. The happy ending? Reconciliation with Arthur? His wife learning her lesson? The romance between Gwen and Brian? Suzy and her singing?

14. An Australian serio-comic look at the little man? The Australian family, husband-wife relationships, wealth and poverty, honesty? Dreams and reality?