It Isn't Done

Cinesound Productions

Industry	Film production
Founded	1930s
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Products	Films

It Isn't Done is a 1937 Australian comedic motion picture focusing on Hubert Blaydon (Cecil Kellaway), an Australian pastoralist who comes into possession of a noble estate in England.

Synopsis

Hubert Blaydon, a farmer from Australia, inherits a noble estate and relocates to England accompanied by his wife and their daughter Patricia, who is attending university. He finds it difficult to adjust to the traditions of the upper class and encounters condescension from Lord Denvee as well as difficulties dealing with his butler, Jarms. Meanwhile, Patricia develops romantic feelings for Peter Ashton, a writer who is also the heir presumptive to the estate and title.

Feeling homesick for Australia, Hubert ultimately fabricates proof establishing Peter as the rightful heir. He also forms a connection with Lord Denvee through their mutual loss of sons in World War I. Hubert and his wife return to Australia with Jarms, while Patricia weds Peter.

Cast

• Cecil Kellaway as Hubert Blaydon
• Shirley Ann Richards as Patricia Blaydon
• John Longden as Peter Ashton
• Frank Harvey as Lord Denvee
• Harvey Adams as Jarms
• Nellie Ferguson as Mrs Blaydon
• Campbell Copelin as Ronald Dudley
• Bobby Hunt as Lady Denvee
• Leslie Victor as Potter
• Harold Meade as Lady Addersley
• Rita Paucefort as Mrs Dudley
• Douglas Channell as Harry Blaydon
• Sylvia Kellaway as Elsie Blaydon
• Hilda Dorrington as Mrs Ashton
• Ronald Whelan as Perroni

Development

The concept originated from an original narrative by Cecil Kellaway, created during his theatrical engagements in White Horse Inn. Hall appreciated the storyline but observed that Kellaway had difficulty completing the screenplay.

To adapt it into a feature-length script, Hall enlisted American writer Carl Dudley from Los Angeles, who intended to remain in Australia for a year. Playwright and actor Frank Harvey, recently appointed as dialogue director at Cinesound, collaborated with Hall to further refine the screenplay. Hall recalled, "Harvey and I shaped it into a script while preserving all his core ideas... Harvey was very English, having been educated at Winchester where ‘Manners maketh the man’ was the guiding principle." Harvey went on to write all of Hall’s Cinesound productions, with Hall also providing substantial input.

Hall characterized the film as a lighthearted cultural exchange between English and Australian characters, free of hostility and maintaining a pro-British tone, which contributed to its favorable reception in both countries.

Kellaway mentioned that the protagonist was inspired by an actual New South Wales grazier: "He is cheerful, endearing, embodying the easygoing democratic spirit of a sunny land... representative of many of our rural compatriots."

Initially titled Something in Common, the project was retitled It Isn't Done shortly before filming commenced.

Casting

This production marked the feature film debut of Shirley Ann Richards, an alumna of Cinesound's Talent School overseen by Harvey and George Parker. Despite her limited prior experience, she quickly became popular and secured a long-term contract with Cinesound, appearing in multiple films thereafter.

Shooting

Although the story is set in England, the entire production was filmed in Australia at Cinesound's Bondi studios and Camden locations, commencing on October 26, 1936. Director Hall utilized rear projection techniques to incorporate English scenery, which had been captured by British International Pictures specifically for Cinesound. The film's sets were crafted by Eric Thompson, who had recently returned to Australia following his tenure in Hollywood.

Reception

Critical response was favorable. The Motion Picture Herald lauded Cinesound’s advancing production capabilities, describing the movie as a milestone for Australian filmmaking. Variety acknowledged its strong entertainment qualities despite the absence of internationally renowned stars, pointing out its popularity in Australia and New Zealand, with prospects for success in England and the United States as a secondary feature. Filmink underscored the film’s cultural importance, recognizing its depiction of social issues and exploration of Australian identity in relation to Britain.

Box office

The movie achieved substantial commercial success within the United States and United Kingdom markets. Everyone's regarded it as "undoubtedly the best film produced by an Australian company."

Legacy

Subsequent to this film, Cecil Kellaway received and accepted a long-term contract offer from Hollywood’s RKO studio. He returned to Australia only once more to work on Mr. Chedworth Steps Out before pursuing his career primarily in America. According to Filmink, Kellaway never found a role that suited him better than the one in It Isn’t Done.

After production wrapped, John Longden departed Australia for England after spending four years there, accompanied by Carl Dudley, who later played a role in assisting Shirley Ann Richards with her relocation to Los Angeles.

In the film, Shirley Ann Richards played a character whose brother died during World War I; notably, Richards’ own brother perished as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during World War II.

External links

• It Isn't Done on the Internet Movie Database
• It Isn't Done at Australian Screen Online
• It Isn't Done at Oz Movies