The Hayseeds

The Hayseeds
Contemporary advertisement for film
Directed by	Beaumont Smith Raymond Longford (associate)[1]
Written by	Beaumont Smith
Produced by	Beaumont Smith
Starring	Cecil Kellaway
Cinematography	Tasman Higgins
Edited by	Frank Coffey
Music by	Alf Lawrence Fred Chapple
Production company	J.C. Williamson Picture Productions
Distributed by	British Empire Films[2]
Release date	8 December 1933 (1933-12-08)[3]
Running time	98 mins
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	£4,500[4][5][6] or £6,000[7]
Box office	£20,000[7][8] or £16,000[6] [5]

The Hayseeds is a 1933 Australian musical comedy from Beaumont Smith. It centres on the rural family, the Hayseeds, about whom Smith had previously made six silent films, starting with Our Friends, the Hayseeds (1917). He retired from directing in 1925 but decided to revive the series in the wake of the box office success of On Our Selection (1932).^[9] It was the first starring role in a movie for stage actor Cecil Kellaway.

It was also known as The Hayseeds Come to Town.

Wealthy Mary Townleigh gets lost in the bush and hurts her ankle, but is rescued and stays with the Hayseed family. She starts a romance with their neighbour, Englishman John Manners. When Joe Hayseed and his girlfriend Pansy Regan decide to get married, the Hayseeds and John visit Sydney to stay with the Townleighs. John is accused of being a fugitive of justice but is eventually proved innocent and he and Mary get married.^[10]

• Cecil Kellaway as Dad Hayseed
• Kenneth Brampton as Mr. Townleigh
• Arthur Clarke as John Manners
• Shirley Dale as Mary Townleigh
• Bryan Kellaway as Billy
• John Moore as Henry Westcott
• Tal Ordell as Joe Hayseed
• Vincent Pantin as Lord Mornington
• Molly Raynor as Pansy Ragen
• Phyllis Steadman as Polly
• Stan Tolhurst as Sam
• Katie Towers as Mum Hayseed
• the J.C. Williamson Chorus (singing hikers)
• the Richard White Girls
• Jimmy Coates and his Orchestra

The movie was part financed by the theatrical firm JC Williamsons, who leant many of their regular actors and crew to the film. Frank Tait, managing director of Williamsons, said "We have had films in mind for some time. The Hayseeds will give us some definite experience to work on. With so many players available to us and plays of which we hold' the rights, we regard film-making as a definite adjunct to our business."^[11]

The movie was offically announced in July 1933.^[12] That month Kellaway said "I was handed the script this morning for 'Hayseeds.' It all seems very con- fusing to me; it is so disjointed. Evidently, the producer has a lot to do."^[13]

The movie was shot at Cinesound's studios in Rushcutter's Bay in August and September 1933, with location work near Pymble (this was where the hiking scenes were shot).^[14] Many of the cast, including Kellaway, John Moore and Shirley Dale, were appearing in the play Music in the Air during filming.^[15]

The movie was a semi musical with a number of songs and dance sequences. The latter were produced by Richard White, who ran a dance academy in Sydney.^[16]

Cecil Kellaway's son, Brian, made his film debut alongside his father.^[17]

There is some debate as to the true director of the film. While some sources say that Beaumont Smith both scripted and directed the picture, Smith himself announced that Raymond Longford would direct the picture,^[18] and newspapers of the era also gave the credit to Longford.^[19] He is credited on the film as "associate director".

• "Let's Call It a Day" - lyrics Edmund Barclay^[20]
• "Night in the Bush" - lyrics Edmund Barclay music Frank Chapple - sung by Shirley Dale
• “The Song of the Hikers”
• “By the Camp Fire”
• “The Hikers Ballet” by Richard White^[21]

The film opened in Sydney in December 1933.^[22]

Reviews for the film were mixed.^[23]

The Sun called it "a fresh note in Australian picture— a blend of musical comedy, country life, farce, and romance."^[24]

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote "a good deal of new material has been interpolated; but the antiquated sentiment and the absurdly stilted dialogue of the original come staring all too plainly through... There are humorous passages on the screen; but, somehow or other, the farce has become toned down, and often subordinates itself to an element of deadly serious drama. Unfortunately, the production as a whole does not suggest Australian characters, or the basic qualities of Australian life."^[25]

Everyone's said "from the sole viewpoint of entertainment value, the picture measures up to around average merit, but it is disappointing to see such experienced players as John Moore and Shirley Dale put forward the uninspired and stilted performances they do. Cecil Kellaway is satisfactory. Acting honors are easily won by the two players interpreting the burlesque caricature characterisations, Molly Rayner and Tal Ordell."^[26]

The Bulletin wrote "No doubt such characters are meant for caricatures, but even a caricature should have some re-semblance to truth. It is time such films as “The Hayseeds” and “On Our Selection” were dropped, even though the producers and exhibitors may be able to claim, like the old-time vaudeville singer, that “it’s getting them the money.” These libels on our up-country folk may not do much damage here, but they are likely to create a disastrous impression of Australians in Britain and the U.S.A."^[27]

The film proved popular with audiences on release in Australia and New Zealand.^[28]

By the end of 1934 it was estimated to have earned £16,000 in Australia and an overall profit of £5,900.^[5][6] A 1938 article said the film had earned more than £30,000.^[29]

The film was still screening in cinemas in 1950.^[30]

In late 1933 Frank Tait expressed interest in Williamsons making more movies.^[31] However this did not happen.

• The Hayseeds at IMDb
• The Hayseeds at Australian Screen Online
• The Hayseeds at National Film and Sound Archive
• The Hayseeds at Oz Movies