SPLENDID FELLOWS

Australia, 1934, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Frank Leighton, Leo Franklyn.
Directed by Beaumont Smith.

Splendid Fellows was directed and co-written by Beaumont Smith who had made a number of silent films including The Man from Snowy River. He also made half a dozen films, variations on Dad and Dave and On Our Selection. The Hayseeds were the characters – most of the films were silent but he made a talkie film of the Hayseeds in 1933.

Splendid Fellows takes up a theme popular with Beaumont Smith, the typical Englishman – this time Montmorency Ralston with monocle, plus fours and a valet. However, when he arrives in Australia he teams up with a dinkum Aussie from outback Australia. He also meets a famous flying padre (portrayed by Ronald Colman’s brother, Eric). The film then goes on to trace some drama in the centenary air race from London to Melbourne. Kingsford Smith himself appears in a cameo role during these sequences.

Despite some favourable comments, the film was not a success. Beaumont Smith then worked in publicity and distribution until his death fifteen years later.

1. Tone of the title - English! (And the film's admiration for but critique of 'the Poms '!) The New Zealand title The Hayseeds at the Melbourne Centenary - with tremendous business!

2. An enjoyable film of the '30s? For its own time? Later? The English focus? Presuppositions about Australia's relationship with England? Yet the critique of the English? Loyalty ... but! Australia better than England? The emphasis on Australian spirit and nationalism? Echoing the '30s? In retrospect?

3. The creation of English atmosphere? The contrast with Australia -both the city and Outback? Desert? The flavour of English wealth and country society? The black and white photography? The authenticity of the '30s - centenary celebrations? Kingsford Smith? Royal visits? The atmosphere and the score?

4. The focus on English tradition - and the comedy send-up? The father and his wealth? Country mansion? Servants? The son and his silly-ass style? Drinking, chorus girls, his valet? The old 19th. century remittance-man story? The father taking control of his son's life? The boat?

5. The satire on the establishment son? The manservant? The voyage out - sickness? Work? Troubles in Australia? The making of a man in Australia? The arrival in Sydney, on the town, the two-up. the song and dance show., gaol. home? And the influence of the Parson?

6. The contrast with Australia: the family, the bush, the hayseed style? Father and mother and the traditional Australian bush settlers? Eileen as the attractive heroine of the '30s? The solid praise of the bush style? The transition to Sydney -with its dangers? Two-up. the play. the police? Enjoying Sydney? A holiday?

7. The sub-plot with the Parson - the air ace and his not talking about it, the heroism of the past? His parish work? Building the plane? Going to Sydney - the help of his mate? Self-sacrifice? His taking Ted for the search for the reef? The crash? Survival? The image of the Church of England parson? Expectations? Births, deaths and marriages? The miracle? The happy ending - and the Parson as a splendid fellow? The comment on religion in Australia in the '30s?

8. The property, wealth, country life? Home life in the country? Eileen and her friendship with Monty? Being cobbers? Monty at home on the farm? The plane, building it. the flight and the tests?

9. The background of the competition? The training? The cable and money getting money from his father? The return, the papers. the stops? Darwin and news? The heroism in trying to find the lost Padre? Personal success and heroism - and the awarding of the medals? The Australian love for heroes and royal acclamation?

10. The love story and the emotional style of the '30s? Gallantry? Suspense and Eileen's concern? Conventional ways of creating suspense and anxiety?

11. The film's reliance on the beauty of the countryside? Its presentation of the city stereotypes - the slightly wild life of Sydney with two-up, the theatre, gaols. boarding houses?

12. The portrait of Jim McBride? and his being a typical Australian? The contrast with the city men? The landlady? The theatre girls? The police?

13. The atmosphere of flying in the '30s? Sydney? The Centenary Air Race? The presence of Kingsford-Smith?

14. The atmosphere of optimism - and naivety in the entertainment of the '30s?