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'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.
Notes
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Contemporary news reports indicate that the bushfire scene did not run according to plan:
When Beaumont Smith was taking his film production, Our Friends — The Hayseeds, near Adelaide (S.A.), he nearly succeeded in burning his company to death in a bushfire. He arranged to burn-off the side of a hill at Campbelltown, near Adelaide. The scene was to represent the Hayseeds and their friends the Duggans beating out a terrific bushfire and saving their home. The company was placed and a piece of burning kerosene rag was run along the ground. The fire raced round them like an express train, and they were in the middle of it. They came out of that fire black as coal heavers, almost blind with smoke, and singed badly. Their faces were a study of horror and fear, and that heartless photographer turned the handle all the time But he got a most realistic picture.
'Burning Up the Hayseeds', Sunday Times, 4 March 1917, p.28.
