AustLit logo

AustLit

image of person or book cover 9205005727009906218.jpg
Lotus Thompson in the same year in which she appeared in Townies and Hayseeds, Sunday Times, 1 April 1923, p.17
form y separately published work icon Townies and Hayseeds single work   film/TV  
Issue Details: First known date: 1923... 1923 Townies and Hayseeds
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'When Hayseeds come to the city they are reputed to do, or say, some funny things, and city dwellers laugh heartily at them. But when Townies go to the country they are equally as funny to bush people.

'In fact Beaumont Smith shows them as greater comedians than the Hayseeds ever were in his new and original film satire, Townies and Hayseeds.

'The City Family consists of Pa Townie, Ma, and the bunch of children named after Australia's capital cities — Masters Sydney, Melbourne, Miss Adelaide (named Adelaide because she was so cultured), Brissy, and the youngest kids, Hobart and Perth. They stay with Dad Hayseed for a month as 'paying guests,' and afterwards Dad and Mum go to town to stay with them at Potts Point. The humor Is original and quaint, and the film is one of unusually witty titles, clever topical illusions, and it has been made to be laughed at.

'One of the main comedy situations is the attempted suicide of Pa Townie at the Gap; of course the 'suicide' is frustrated, but it is one of the funniest scenes put on the screen for many a day.'

Source:

'Townies and Hayseeds', Sunday Times, 8 July 1923, p.23.

Exhibitions

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • c
      Australia,
      c
      :
      Beaumont Smith's Productions ,
      1923 .
      image of person or book cover 4396361536944131873.jpg
      Advertisement, Sunday Times, 8 July 1923, p.23
      Extent: 5000 feetp.
      Description: Silent; black-and-white
      Series: form y separately published work icon The Hayseeds Beaumont Smith , Australia : Beaumont Smith's Productions J. C. Williamson's Ltd , 1917-1933 7703561 1917 series - author film/TV

      A series of films written and directed by Beaumont Smith and featuring 'The Hayseeds', a rural family. The films range from rural comedy to science fiction.

      The films were very much marketed as a series in the early days, with newspapers identifying each new film by their number in the series.

      After the first four films, there was a pause of some years before the next two 'Hayseed' films were released. The comparative lack of box-office success of these two led to another hiatus, before the release of the comedy-musical The Hayseeds (essentially a re-boot of the series, and the only 'talkie' among them) in 1933.

      Number in series: 5
Last amended 15 Aug 2014 10:22:42
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X