Come Up Smiling
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Come Up Smiling, also released under the title Ants in His Pants, is a 1939 Australian comedy film featuring American stage entertainer Will Mahoney alongside his wife Evie Hayes. It stands out as the sole feature from Cinesound Productions that was not helmed by Ken G. Hall.
Synopsis
Barney O'Hara, together with his daughter Pat and former Shakespearean thespian Horace Worthington Howard, performs in a traveling carnival sideshow, facing financial difficulties. Pat’s vocal performances serve as the main draw for their act.
Pat receives an invitation to sing at Colonel Cameron’s gathering but unfortunately loses her voice. A specialist recommends a costly surgical procedure.
To raise the necessary funds, Barney consents to fight a boxer known as 'The Killer' and undergoes training with dancer Kitty Katkin. During the bout, ants are secretly placed inside Barney’s shorts, helping him to overcome the Killer and secure the money needed for Pat’s operation.
Production
This film was created primarily as a showcase for the well-known comedian Will Mahoney, an American vaudeville performer who had toured Australia successfully in 1938. Ken G. Hall also brought on board Mahoney’s frequent collaborators, including his wife Evie Hayes and manager Bob Geraghty. Prior to this, Mahoney had appeared in the British production Said O'Reilly to MacNab.
Hall anticipated that Mahoney’s popularity would enhance the film’s prospects internationally:
This contract represents the most significant signing at Cinesound to date, as Mahoney is the highest-paid star we have engaged. The improved budget is a direct result of recent legislative advancements benefiting the Australian film industry. If any performer can carry an Australian picture overseas, it is Will Mahoney.
Mahoney characterized his role as portraying "a decent fellow striving to better himself," essentially playing a confident version of himself.
By June 1939, the project was titled Come Up Smiling and marked Cinesound’s first feature not directed by Hall. Instead, writer-director William Freshman, an Australian working in Britain, was appointed along with his wife Lydia Hayward, who contributed as scriptwriter.
At that period, Hall indicated intentions to focus on larger-scale films such as Robbery Under Arms, Overland Telegraph, and Eureka Stockade, though none of these projects came to fruition under his direction.
The Freshmans arrived in Australia in April 1939 and finished the screenplay by June. Hall later remarked that while Freshman "did not possess the essential comedic instinct we required, he was proficient at constructing screenplays." He also commended the boxing ring scene as among Cinesound’s most humorous moments.
Casting
The romantic leads were portrayed by Cinesound regular Shirley Ann Richards and John Fleeting, who had previously appeared in Gone to the Dogs (1939). Vocalist Jean Hatton featured in her second cinematic role following Mr. Chedworth Steps Out (1938).
This film is recognized for being the debut appearance of future Australian star Chips Rafferty, albeit uncredited as an extra. Although Ken G. Hall claimed he cast Rafferty initially in Dad Rudd MP and later included him during reshoots for Come Up Smiling, Rafferty himself stated that his first role was here as a "hayseed," assigned by the assistant casting director.
Shooting
Production commenced in late June 1939, mainly at Cinesound's Bondi studios, with the carnival sequences filmed at the Sydney Showground. The shoot involved roughly 16,000 extras.
Early in filming, Jean Hatton suffered an injury but made a swift recovery. A pivotal fight sequence required ten consecutive nights of shooting, each performed before audiences of about one thousand spectators.
In August, Paramount executive Adolph Zukor visited the production site and expressed admiration for both Cinesound’s facilities and Hall’s directorial approach, noting that Cinesound was on par with Hollywood standards.
Filming concluded on 1 September 1939. To promote the movie, a thirty-minute radio special aired on 17 September, featuring the patriotic tune "It's Up To You It's Up to Me."
The film debuted in Tasmania in November 1939.
Ants in His Pants
Hall revealed that the initial box office response was underwhelming, which led to the film being re-edited and re-released under the new title Ants in His Pants, accompanied by an additional song designed to clarify the new name. This update was publicized in mid-November.
In December, Hall explained that such title changes were common practice, particularly among American films upon release. The comedic musical number "I've Got Ants In My Pants," performed by Mahoney, gained significant popularity and was highlighted in the revised title.
A journalist observed that although "Come Up Smiling" was an effective title, the new one could potentially generate greater audience interest. The retitled version premiered on 29 December.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald remarked, "There is nothing in 'Ants in His Pants' that a boy of twelve could fail to appreciate.... Will Mahoney on stage used to be colossal fun.... But on screen he provides only meandering entertainment."
The Sun characterized the film as pure slapstick lacking substantial contribution to Australian cinema, primarily functioning as a variety showcase for Mahoney.
Smith's Weekly praised the film’s technical polish reminiscent of Hollywood productions—although not particularly strong—and attributed this quality more to Cinesound’s technical crew than to its theatrical cast, with Mahoney being a notable exception.
The Bulletin criticized the movie for its lack of cohesion and tendency to overload its content, arguing that comedy, villainy, musical numbers, dance, and storyline should integrate smoothly but here appeared as separate components merely stretched to fill running time.
Variety described it as "happy hokum."
Hall noted that the film experienced improved success following its re-release. He also mentioned its positive reception on television owing to its humor, specifically citing the fight scene between Alec Kellaway and Mahoney as a highlight.
Songs
External links
- Come Up Smiling at Oz Movies
- Come Up Smiling at AustLit