Hapenny Breeze

Plot

David and his Australian friend Johnny return to a Suffolk village after the war to find the community completely dispirited. Gradually by their enthusiasm they win support for a scheme to enter a boat designed by David in a race.

Production

Australians Don Sharp and Frank Worth met in England and wrote the story together over a three-month period. They formed their own production company with Darcy Conyers and George N. Gregory and succeeded in raising finance with William Freshman attached as executive producer.

Associated British Pathe offered to distribute on the understanding that everyone would be paid ten pounds a week. A Leeds auctioneer chipped in a few thousand pounds and the filmmakers provided money themselves.

The film was shot in Pin Mill, a small fishing village in East Anglia.

Reception

The critic from The Scotsman said the film had "too much of the naivete and the emotion of the amateur shine through... often the dialogue is trite and for most of the film the tempo is depressingly perambulatory" but praised the "cameras mobility and many a good character sketch by" the actors. "Has both charm and talent" said the Sunday Times.