Come Up Smiling
Encyclopedia
Come Up Smiling is a 1939 Australian comedy starring popular US stage comedian Will Mahoney
.
) is a performer in a touring carnival who tries to raise money to save the voice of his talented singer daughter Pat (Jean Hatton
. To do this he agrees to fight a boxer known as 'The Killer' (Alec Kellaway
), and is helped in his training by dancer Kitty Katkin (Evie Hayes
). Barney defeats the Killer and wins the money to enable Pat to have her operation.
not directed by Ken G. Hall
. The writer-director, William Freshman
, was born in Australia but had been working in the British film industry. Freshman was hired to give Hall time to prepare for other projects.
"We are now planning bigger things, as we are well able to do, by reason of the additional time at my disposal," said Hall at the time. "Opportunity will be taken to find big subjects from which to make big pictures — like Robbery Under Arms, which I expect to direct personally, Overland Telegraph, Eureka Stockade, and others of that calibre, though not all necessarily historic.". (NB None of these movies ended up being made.)
Hall later wrote that Freshman "seemed to lack the vital comedy sense we needed, but he was a good constructor in a general way of screenplay writing. The boxing ring sequence was, I think, one of the funniest things we did at Cinesound."
The lead role was played by American vaudevillian Will Mahoney
who was very popular in Australia. `During filming, Mahoney said, "I think I'll be a big success in this film, but don't get me wrong. It's only because I'm playing myself and I feel I know me pretty well." He was joined in the film with his wife and regular stage co-star Evie Hayes
.
The romantic leads were played by Shirley Ann Richards and John Fleeting. Fleeting had previously appeared in Gone to the Dogs
(1939).
During filming, Jean Hatton was injured falling down two flights of stairs but managed to recover.
Will Mahoney
William James Mahoney , better known as Will Mahoney, was an American-born vaudevillian best known for his stage success in Australia. He had extensive experience on the vaudeville circuit in the US, becoming the highest paid variety star in the country by the early 1930s. In 1938 he married Evie...
.
Synopsis
Barney O'Hara (Will MahoneyWill Mahoney
William James Mahoney , better known as Will Mahoney, was an American-born vaudevillian best known for his stage success in Australia. He had extensive experience on the vaudeville circuit in the US, becoming the highest paid variety star in the country by the early 1930s. In 1938 he married Evie...
) is a performer in a touring carnival who tries to raise money to save the voice of his talented singer daughter Pat (Jean Hatton
Jean Hatton
Jean Hatton was an Australian singer and actor who was under contract to Cinesound Productions in the 1930s. She was discovered in a Deanna Durbin talent quest and cast as Cecil Kellaway's daughter in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out , singing several songs. She was subsequently cast in Come Up Smiling...
. To do this he agrees to fight a boxer known as 'The Killer' (Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
), and is helped in his training by dancer Kitty Katkin (Evie Hayes
Evie Hayes
Vina Evelyn Hayes , better known as Evie Hayes, was an American-born actor best known for her stage success in Australia. Born in Seattle, she appeared on stage from an early age and worked steadily in vaudeville, radio and nightclubs. She was leading lady for Will Mahoney, to whom she was later...
). Barney defeats the Killer and wins the money to enable Pat to have her operation.
Production
It was the only film from Cinesound ProductionsCinesound Productions
Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was one of Australia's first feature film production companies. Established in June 1932, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred around Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from production, to distribution and...
not directed by Ken G. Hall
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
. The writer-director, William Freshman
William Freshman
William Freshman was an Australian-born actor, writer and director. He moved to England as a child and worked in the British film industry, writing over 20 screenplays and working as an associate producer at British International Pictures...
, was born in Australia but had been working in the British film industry. Freshman was hired to give Hall time to prepare for other projects.
"We are now planning bigger things, as we are well able to do, by reason of the additional time at my disposal," said Hall at the time. "Opportunity will be taken to find big subjects from which to make big pictures — like Robbery Under Arms, which I expect to direct personally, Overland Telegraph, Eureka Stockade, and others of that calibre, though not all necessarily historic.". (NB None of these movies ended up being made.)
Hall later wrote that Freshman "seemed to lack the vital comedy sense we needed, but he was a good constructor in a general way of screenplay writing. The boxing ring sequence was, I think, one of the funniest things we did at Cinesound."
The lead role was played by American vaudevillian Will Mahoney
Will Mahoney
William James Mahoney , better known as Will Mahoney, was an American-born vaudevillian best known for his stage success in Australia. He had extensive experience on the vaudeville circuit in the US, becoming the highest paid variety star in the country by the early 1930s. In 1938 he married Evie...
who was very popular in Australia. `During filming, Mahoney said, "I think I'll be a big success in this film, but don't get me wrong. It's only because I'm playing myself and I feel I know me pretty well." He was joined in the film with his wife and regular stage co-star Evie Hayes
Evie Hayes
Vina Evelyn Hayes , better known as Evie Hayes, was an American-born actor best known for her stage success in Australia. Born in Seattle, she appeared on stage from an early age and worked steadily in vaudeville, radio and nightclubs. She was leading lady for Will Mahoney, to whom she was later...
.
The romantic leads were played by Shirley Ann Richards and John Fleeting. Fleeting had previously appeared in Gone to the Dogs
Gone to the Dogs (1939 film)
Gone to the Dogs is a 1939 comedy vehicle starring George Wallace. It was the second of two films he made for director Ken G. Hall, following Let George Do It .-Synopsis:...
(1939).
During filming, Jean Hatton was injured falling down two flights of stairs but managed to recover.
Reception
The film was not an immediate success at the box office so Hall had it re-cut and re-released as Ants in His Pants, adding a new song to explain the title. The movie performed much better on re-release.Cast
- Will MahoneyWill MahoneyWilliam James Mahoney , better known as Will Mahoney, was an American-born vaudevillian best known for his stage success in Australia. He had extensive experience on the vaudeville circuit in the US, becoming the highest paid variety star in the country by the early 1930s. In 1938 he married Evie...
as Barney O'Hara - Shirley Ann Richards as Eve Cameron
- Evie HayesEvie HayesVina Evelyn Hayes , better known as Evie Hayes, was an American-born actor best known for her stage success in Australia. Born in Seattle, she appeared on stage from an early age and worked steadily in vaudeville, radio and nightclubs. She was leading lady for Will Mahoney, to whom she was later...
as Kitty Katkin - Jean HattonJean HattonJean Hatton was an Australian singer and actor who was under contract to Cinesound Productions in the 1930s. She was discovered in a Deanna Durbin talent quest and cast as Cecil Kellaway's daughter in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out , singing several songs. She was subsequently cast in Come Up Smiling...
as Pat - Sidney Wheeler as Worthington Howard
- Alec KellawayAlec KellawayAlec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
as 'The Killer' - Guy Hastings as Colonel Cameron
- John Fleeting as John Wynyard
- Ronald Whelan as Max
- Harry Abdy as Sharkey
- Lou Vernon as Signor Rudolpho
- Harold Meade as Sir James Hall
- Charles Zoli as Rudolpho's valet
- Bob Geraghty as pressman
- Jack Dunleavy as referee
- George Lloyd as men in crowd
- Chips RaffertyChips RaffertyChips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
as an extra - Charles TingwellCharles TingwellIn 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
as extra - Owen Weingott as extra
External links
- Come Up Smiling in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...