AustLit

'There are four films, the first two being devoted to a day's life of the Hayseed family, and the second two deal with Joe Hayseed's wooing of Pansy Duggan, a neighbour's daughter. The photography, which was in the capable hands of Mr. H. Krishock, is most creditable, and the film is splendidly put together. It contains but little plot, most of the scenes presenting incidents of everyday life. Some of the scenes, however, are a little drawn-out, particularly the fight between the Hayseed and Duggan families, as the result of the encroachment of the Hayseeds' cattle on the Duggans' farm. This incident leads up to a bushfire on the Duggans' property, and the end of the fend between the families, as Dad Hayseed quickly resolves to help a neighbour in distress. 'Pansy's Wooing' is the title of the last two reels, which are quite as good as the first two. The hoydenish love making^ of Joe culminates in marriage festivities, and then along come twins. This interesting event is overdrawn, and would be improved by cutting out certain parts.'

Source:

'Australian Motion Pictures', The Mail, 3 February 1917, p.6.

'Dad has decided to blow up a bit of the £5000 sweep that he has won and he takes his family — the whole mob of them— together with relatives, to the city. Cousin Harold promised to show them round and he led them into scrapes. The Hayseeds go bathing at Manly, and Dad nearly gets drowned. ' My word, that was a big waterhole,' he said, when be recovered his breath. They got into the hands of spielers, who learned the lesson that The Hayseeds were no mugs. They went to the gardens, the barber, the shops, the theatres, the zoo, and every other place till Joe wrote down from the selection to say that Spotty, the cow had a calf and Mum's chickens were hatching. Then all got homesick and hurried back.'

Source:

'Empire Pictures', The Southern Mail, 26 July 1918, p.2.

'It is a story of back blocks life and the rough and ready characters are free-hearted, and bubbling with health and active spirits. It has a peculiarly appealing force to an Australian audience, and episode after episode evoked hearty laughter. Dad Hayseed conceives the idea of an agricultural show, and when he gets the committee together' they decide to go ahead. It is resolved unanimously to invite the Governor, and in order to make sure of him, a deputation travels to Brisbane. They get inside the vice-regal residence, after a lot of trouble, and the Governor decides to open the show. Before the deputation departs the Governor drives them around the capital, which admits of some fine scenic views of Brisbane and its environs. The day of the show arrives at last, and Dads, [sic] his family, and neighbours, for miles around, are in attendance. There is everything that goes to make up the usual country show, and a lot more besides. The Governor and his wife are met with a "brass band," while Dad, in his silk tall hat does the honours. There is a lot of good-natured rivalry and jealousy in the exhibits and the racing, and Stony Creek certainly did put up a fine assortment of jams, and other products, while its live stock is something extra good. The side shows did a roaring business, and the '"spielers" plied their trade. Every minute was full of wholesome fun, or unalloyed pleasure, and there was a tired Governor, and a tired crowd when the day ended. There was also a pretty love story, in which the right man won the right girl. It is a film worth seeing.'

Source:

'Herbert's Pictures', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 20 November 1917, p.6.

' Dad bought a racehorse and she turned out a world beater. Cornstalk was her name and she cleaned up all the prizes round the country race meetings and finally Dad and Jim took her to Melbourne and bunged her in the Melbourne Cup. Dad said he'd go to Melbourne to look after the horse and Mum said alright and I'll go to look after you, so of course the whole dashed family went. Crooks and shady bookmakers tried to nobble the horse, but what happens to those crooks and books is good to see. Cousin Harold had a tough time getting his weight down. He says that every time he looked at a beef steak and kidney pudding, his weight would fly up half a stone. One night in Melbourne Dad came across Jim taking an actress to.supper, "strewth!" said Dad, "that boys goin' it, first he takes on racehorses, now actresses. Next thing he'll be drinkin' shandy gaffe." But come and renew old acquaintances with all the Hayseeds at the Picture Theatre to-night.'

Source:

'The Hayseeds Melbourne Cup', The Muswellbrook Chronicle, 7 September 1918, p.2.

'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.

'The story is novel in conception. A young man, fresh from the university, and cast off by his ladylove in the hour of his misfortune, goes into the distant bush to search for remains of prehistoric man. He Is shown by Dad Hayseed a patch of rough cave country which the old settler believes will reward his labors. And it does, but not in the manner anticipated. A primitive tribe is discovered. Indeed, one of the searchers is of opinion that they have stumbled on the garden of Eden. Diamonds are plentiful amongst these cave dwellers, and a golden girl soon casts the spell of her charms over the town dweller. The wild scenes of the outlying scrub country air exchanged for life in Sydney, and the council of the prehistoric hayseeds at this centre of civilisation supplies a rapid succession of curious and comic incidents. Dad Hayseeds [sic] and the head of the Prehistoric Hayseeds drink "not wisely, but too well" in a Sydney bar-room, and this adds to the strangeness of their behaviour, glimpses of scenery in and round Sydney are graphically introduced, and there are a few views of the harbor. Primitive instincts in some of the men from the cave country supply the material for some humorous and dramatic situations. But the Golden Girl acquires the manners and deportment of the fashionable city dweller with astonishing rapidity. Love themes are interwoven into the story, which, although comedy pure and simple, partakes strongly of the character of a dream.'

Source:

'Prehistoric Hayseeds', The Advertiser, 24 December 1923, p.11.

'The story opens on "Dad's" farm, when a crowd of hikers enter his pastures and disturb his cattle, on a Sunday. After "roaring" them up, Dad strikes up a friendship with "Pa" Townleigh, who before leaving invites Dad and the family to spend a holiday with them in Sydney. Joe and Pansy get married, and the whole family come to town with them on their honeymoon, and then the fun becomes fast and furious. Dad is amazed that such a "bonzer" grazing paddock as Hyde Park is not fenced off, and that such a grand G.P.O. is built "just by selling penny stamps." The picture is complete with music and elaborate settings in bush and city, and is really first-class entertainment.'

Source:

'Alpha Theatre', Queensland Times, 9 March 1934, p.4.