Grandad Rudd
Encyclopedia
Grandad Rudd is a 1935 comedy featuring the Dad and Dave characters created by Steele Rudd
and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to On Our Selection
, and was later followed by Dad and Dave Come to Town
and Dad Rudd, MP
.
: Dad has become a prosperous farmer and member of Parliament, while Dave has married Lily and become a father. Dad tries to bully Dave and his other son Joe (who has also married), but their wives encourage them to rebel against their father. There were subplots involving a love triangle between Dad's granddaughter Nell, handsome Tom Dalley, who has invented a potato harvester, and unscrupulous produce agent Henry Cook; the return of a prodigal son, Dan Rudd, keen to claim Dad's estate, and his romance with Amelia Banks; and their neighbours, Mrs Regan and the Banks family.
The original production was presented by Bert Bailey
and Julius Grant, and saw Bert Bailey
and Fred MacDonald
repeat their stage roles as Dad and Dave respectively. Making it's debut on 22 September 1917, it ran for seven weeks in that city, only ending because the theatre had to vacate for another production. It then toured around the country over the next few years, although it was never as successful as On Our Selection.
As in the play, there is a serious subplot about Dad's grandchild Betty (Elaine Hamill) who becomes engaged to a corrupt neighbour, Henry Cook (John D’Arcy), despite the true love of another farmer, Tom Dalley (John Cameron). The climax involves a comic cricket
game involving the Rudds.
(1932) saw Cinesound announce plans to make Gran'dad Rudd as a follow up almost immediately, but Steele Rudd
issued a statement claiming that since he wrote the play, no movie could be made without his permission.
On this and the other two Dad Rudd sequels, Cinesound paid Bert Bailey £150 a week plus 25% of the profits.
It was originally reported that Bert Bailey and Ken G. Hall would write the script, as they had done for On Our Selection, but eventually the job of adaptation went to Vic Roberts
and George D. Parker
.
Shooting took place over five weeks.
Although Grandad Rudds production had been planned prior to making Strike Me Lucky
(1934), it's importance to Cinesound grew when that earlier film failed at the box office and the new studio needed a hit.
Steele Rudd
Steele Rudd was the pseudonym of Arthur Hoey Davis an Australian author, best known for On Our Selection.-Early life:...
and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to On Our Selection
On Our Selection (1932 film)
On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
, and was later followed by Dad and Dave Come to Town
Dad and Dave Come to Town
Dad and Dave Come to Town is a 1938 Australian comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall, the third in the 'Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey.-Synopsis:...
and Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, M.P. is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and Frank Harvey....
.
Original Play
The play Gran'dad Rudd was first produced in 1917, being based on the stories Grandpa's Selection and Our New Selection. The story is set twenty years after the events of the 1912 play, On Our SelectionOn Our Selection (1912 play)
On Our Selection is a 1912 Australian play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan based on the stories of Steele Rudd. Bailey played Dad Rudd in the original production....
: Dad has become a prosperous farmer and member of Parliament, while Dave has married Lily and become a father. Dad tries to bully Dave and his other son Joe (who has also married), but their wives encourage them to rebel against their father. There were subplots involving a love triangle between Dad's granddaughter Nell, handsome Tom Dalley, who has invented a potato harvester, and unscrupulous produce agent Henry Cook; the return of a prodigal son, Dan Rudd, keen to claim Dad's estate, and his romance with Amelia Banks; and their neighbours, Mrs Regan and the Banks family.
The original production was presented by Bert Bailey
Bert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
and Julius Grant, and saw Bert Bailey
Bert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
and Fred MacDonald
Fred MacDonald
Fred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
repeat their stage roles as Dad and Dave respectively. Making it's debut on 22 September 1917, it ran for seven weeks in that city, only ending because the theatre had to vacate for another production. It then toured around the country over the next few years, although it was never as successful as On Our Selection.
Plot
The movie's plot is similar to that of the play: Dad Rudd (Bert Bailey) has become a successful father but is very tight with his money and oppresses his sons Dave (Fred MacDonald), Joe (William McGowan) and Dan (George Lloyd). The sons eventually stand up to their father and manage to persuade him to give them a wage increase - but he increases their rent by an equal amount.As in the play, there is a serious subplot about Dad's grandchild Betty (Elaine Hamill) who becomes engaged to a corrupt neighbour, Henry Cook (John D’Arcy), despite the true love of another farmer, Tom Dalley (John Cameron). The climax involves a comic cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
game involving the Rudds.
Production
The box office success of On Our SelectionOn Our Selection (1932 film)
On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
(1932) saw Cinesound announce plans to make Gran'dad Rudd as a follow up almost immediately, but Steele Rudd
Steele Rudd
Steele Rudd was the pseudonym of Arthur Hoey Davis an Australian author, best known for On Our Selection.-Early life:...
issued a statement claiming that since he wrote the play, no movie could be made without his permission.
On this and the other two Dad Rudd sequels, Cinesound paid Bert Bailey £150 a week plus 25% of the profits.
It was originally reported that Bert Bailey and Ken G. Hall would write the script, as they had done for On Our Selection, but eventually the job of adaptation went to Vic Roberts
Vic Roberts (writer)
Vic Roberts was an English-born writer worked in theatre, film and radio. He is best known for writing vaudeville sketches for Roy Rene in the 1920s and 30s although there is some debate as to the exact extent of his contribution. He had a background in English musical hall and was hired to work...
and George D. Parker
George D. Parker
George D. Parker was an American-born actor, writer and director who worked extensively in Australian theatre during the 1920s and 30s, mostly for J.C. Williamson Ltd. He was later employed by Cinesound Productions as a dialogue director and screenwriter , as well as running the Cinesound Talent...
.
Shooting took place over five weeks.
Although Grandad Rudds production had been planned prior to making Strike Me Lucky
Strike Me Lucky
Strike Me Lucky is a 1934 comedy starring popular stage comic Roy Rene in his first and only film.-Synopsis:‘Mo’ McIsaac and his sidekick Donald try to find work to support a young orphan girl he finds dancing for pennies in the street, Miriam , unaware she is really the missing daughter of rich...
(1934), it's importance to Cinesound grew when that earlier film failed at the box office and the new studio needed a hit.
Reception
According to Hall the film was successful "but it was not in the [On Our Selection class as a money-spinner". Soon after production, Cinesound stopped making features for several months in 1935 to enable Hall to travel to Hollywood and research production methods.Cast
- Bert BaileyBert BaileyAlbert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
as Dad Rudd - Fred MacDonaldFred MacDonaldFred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
as Dave Rudd - George Lloyd as Dan
- William McGowan as Joe
- Kathleen Hamilton as Madge
- Lilias Adeson as Lil
- Les Warton as Regan
- Elaine Hamill as Betty
- John Cameron as Tom
- John D'Arcy as Henry Cook
- Molly Raynor as Amelia Banks
- Bill Stewart as Banks
- Marie D'Alton as Mrs. Banks
- Marguerite Adele as Shirley Sanderson
- George Blackwood as School-Master
- Ambrose Foster as Young Dave
- Peggy Yeoman as Mum Rudd
External links
- Grandad Rudd 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...
- Grandad Rudd at Australian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen Online is an on-line database operated by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. It provides information about and excerpts from a wide selection of Australian feature films, documentaries, television programs, newsreels, short films, animations, and home-movies. It also...