Smiley (1956 film)

Plot

Smiley (Colin Petersen) is a mischievous boy who lives in the small country town of Murrumbilla. His father is an alcoholic drover and he is always getting into trouble with his best friend Joey (Bruce Archer). He decides to save up enough money to buy a bicycle.

Smiley takes on various odd jobs but keeps getting involved in pranks. He unwittingly helps the local publican, Jim Rankin (John McCallum), sell opium to aborigines who live in a camp near the town.

Smiley's father steals his savings to pay gambling debts. Smiley accidentally knocks him out and runs away to the bush, where he is bitten by a snake. His life is saved by the swagman, Bill McVitty (Guy Doleman). Rankin is arrested and the townspeople chip in to buy Smiley a bike.

Production

The film is based on the popular 1945 novel Smiley by Moore Raymond, who was born in Queensland but worked as a journalist in Britain. The book was hailed as an Australian Huckleberry Finn and film rights were bought immediately by Sir Alexander Korda. Korda sent Raymond to Australia in 1946 to find a possible child actors and locations over three months. However Korda said he could not find an appropriate director and shelved the project.

Korda eventually assigned the project to Anthony Kimmins, who had served in Australia in World War II. Kimmins arrived in Australia in March 1950 to begin preproduction and announced he would make the film near Augathella for £100,000. However, after actually inspecting the site he doubted it would be useful and he was unable to find a lead actor he was happy with. Plans to make the movie were delayed again.

Kimmins returned to Australia September 1955 to begin preproduction. After interviewing over 2,000 boys, he cast Colin Peterson as Smiley and Bruce Archer as Joey. Part of the budget was provided by 20th Century Fox, who had money frozen in Australia due to currency restrictions. Apart from Ralph Richardson, the entire cast was Australian.

Filming started in late October, with the township of Murrumbilla being created on an estate at Camden Park,Gundy NSW, and finished eight weeks later. Post production work was done at Pagewood Studios.

Release

The film was very popular and led to a sequel, Smiley Gets a Gun. It also swapped a hit single, 'A Little Boy Called Smiley', composed after the film was completed by Clyde Collins.

Colin Petersen moved to Britain and enjoyed a successful career as a child actor and musician.

Musical

The novel inspired Smiley The Musical with music by Clyde Collins, David Cocker, Mark Jones and Lance Strauss. The 2004 studio cast recording was performed by John Watson, Jason Barry-Smith, James King, Leisa Barry-Smith, Justine Anderson, Renae Bedford, Samantha Hardgrave, Gabriella Leibowitz, David Irvine, David Cocker, Darryl Weale and Simon Burvill-Holmes.