Waltzing Matilda (1933 film) explained

Waltzing Matilda
Director:Pat Hanna
associate
Raymond Longford[1]
Producer:Pat Hanna
Cinematography:Arthur Higgins
Studio:Pat Hanna Productions
Distributor:Universal Pictures[2]
Runtime:77 mins
Country:Australia
Language:English
Gross:£8,000[3]

Waltzing Matilda is a 1933 Australian film directed by and starring Pat Hanna.[4] It features Coral Browne.[5]

Plot

Chic Williams and his friend James Brown wrongly believe they have injured a policeman in a drunken fight. Fleeing a private detective who is following them, they head for the bush.

Chic and James find work as drovers at Banjaroo Station, where his old army mate Joe works as an overseer. James falls in love with the station owner's daughter. The detective arrives and tells James he has inherited money. James and his girlfriend announce their engagement and Chic sets off alone as a swagman, accompanied by a chorus of "Waltzing Matilda".[6]

Cast

Production

Pat Hanna held a competition for the name of the film. A prize of £10 was shared amongst the 20 people who suggested "Waltzing Matilda".[8]

The character of Chic William was well established on stage and in Pat Hanna's previous movies but changed for this film- he is poor, drinking heavily and drifting from job to job.[9]

The movie was shot at Efftee Studios in Melbourne in mid 1933.[10]

The romantic male lead, Norman French, was a casting director for Efftee and Hanna.[11]

Reception

The film only ran for a short time in the cities but enjoyed more popularity in the country.[9] Reviews were mixed.[12] It was classified as a "middle grade" success at the box office.[3]

Hanna was frustrated at the financial return he was getting for his efforts and this was his last film.[13] However, in 1950 he said he was still making money by re-releasing his films.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Raymond Longford", Cinema Papers, January 1974 p51
  2. News: "WALTZING MATILDA.". . . Perth . 22 September 1933 . 9 August 2012 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  3. "Counting the Cash in Australian Films"', Everyones 12 December 1934 p 19
  4. News: FILM REVIEWS. . . 19 February 1934 . 2 June 2012 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: CAROL COOMBE RETURNS TO LONDON. . . Perth . 26 March 1935 . 9 August 2012 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: AUSTRALIAN COMEDY. . . Melbourne . 4 December 1933 . 9 August 2012 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: PAT HANNA'S "DISCOVERY". . . Perth . 28 September 1933 . 9 August 2012 . 6 Edition: LATE CITY . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Title for New Film. . . Melbourne . 28 June 1933 . 9 August 2012 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  9. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 163.
  10. News: FILM WORLD. . . Perth . 4 March 1938 . 9 August 2012 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: ENTERTAINMENTS. . . Hobart, Tas. . 18 July 1933 . 9 August 2012 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: FILM REVIEWS. . . 19 February 1934 . 9 August 2012 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: AUSTRALIAN FILMS. . . 24 February 1934 . 9 August 2012 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: He still collects on "Digger" films. . . Melbourne . 14 March 1950 . 9 August 2012 . 3 . National Library of Australia.