Grandad Rudd
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Comedy film |
Grandad Rudd is a 1935 comedic film featuring the characters Dad and Dave, originally created by Steele Rudd and adapted from his theatrical work. It acts as a follow-up to On Our Selection and precedes the films Dad and Dave Come to Town and Dad Rudd, MP.
Plot
The narrative centers on Dad Rudd (Bert Bailey), who has become a prosperous yet stingy patriarch exerting control over his sons Dave (Fred MacDonald), Joe (William McGowan), and Dan (George Lloyd). When the sons challenge their father for higher wages, he responds by increasing their rent by the same amount.
A more serious storyline involves Dad’s granddaughter Betty (Elaine Hamill), who is engaged to the dishonest neighbour Henry Cook (John D’Arcy), despite her genuine affection for farmer Tom Dalley (John Cameron). The film concludes with a humorous cricket game featuring the Rudd family.
Cast
- Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd
- Fred MacDonald 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
Original play
The theatrical piece Gran'dad Rudd, first staged in 1917, draws from the stories Grandpa's Selection and Our New Selection.
Plot
Set two decades after the 1912 play On Our Selection, Dad Rudd has become a wealthy farmer and serves as a member of Parliament. Dave, who is married to Lily and has children, endures his father’s domineering behaviour along with his brother Joe, though their wives encourage them to stand up for themselves. Additional plotlines include a romantic triangle involving Dad’s granddaughter Nell, inventor Tom Dalley, and produce agent Henry Cook; the return of the wayward son Dan seeking control of the family estate and his courtship of Amelia Banks; plus interactions with neighbours Mrs Regan and the Banks family.
Original production
Produced by Bert Bailey and Julius Grant, the original staging featured Bailey and Fred MacDonald reprising their roles as Dad and Dave. It premiered on 22 September 1917, ran for seven weeks, then toured nationally, although it did not achieve the same level of success as On Our Selection.
Development
After the commercial triumph of On Our Selection in 1932, Cinesound intended to produce Gran'dad Rudd as its sequel. However, Steele Rudd maintained control over the film rights due to his authorship of the original play. Although Bert Bailey and Ken G. Hall initially worked on the screenplay, final writing responsibilities were assigned to Vic Roberts and George D. Parker. The project gained greater significance for Cinesound following the poor box office performance of Strike Me Lucky in 1934.
Shooting
The filming process spanned five weeks. For this installment and other Dad Rudd sequels, Cinesound paid Bert Bailey £150 weekly plus 25% of the profits.
Reception
Ken G Hall acknowledged that while the film achieved success, it did not reach the same level of financial triumph as On Our Selection. Bert Bailey attributed the diminished audience interest partly to a modification in his character's look, particularly the decision to portray him with a clean-shaven upper lip. In the United Kingdom, the film was distributed under the title Ruling the Roost.
Cinesound originally planned to produce Robbery Under Arms as a subsequent project but abandoned this due to a ban imposed by the New South Wales government on bushranger-themed films. In 1935, production was temporarily halted to enable Hall to travel to Hollywood and study advanced cinematic techniques.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1935 films
- 1910s Australian plays
- Plays by Bert Bailey
- Australian plays adapted into films
- 1935 comedy films
- Films based on works by Steele Rudd
- Films directed by Ken G. Hall
- Australian comedy films
- Australian black-and-white films
- 1930s Australian films
- 1930s English-language films
- Cinesound Productions films
- Australian films based on plays