347:
The original plan was to cast one child from each of the six states of
Australia, and one from New Zealand. The children who were cast had a variety of experience – Mary McGrown, Ron Rousel and Sandra Jacque had a background in amateur theatre and radio; sisters Janet and Nancy Gleeson were pantomime
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The script updated the story from 1894 to the 1930s. "Although the story has been modernised " said
Collins, "we have made every effort to retain the same freshness and vivacity that has made the book such a definite part of Australian fiction."
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Despite announcements of Fuller's involvement, the film was eventually produced by O.B. Pictures, a Sydney company headed by businessman Edward O'Brien. They announced plans to make a series of other films with
Collins.
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It was originally announced the movie would be made by noted theatre producer Sir
Benjamin Fuller, his first exercise into movie making. Fuller said it would be part of a slate of projects, also including the story of
344:, who had directed several Hollywood films arrived in May 1939 to begin preproduction. Collins later said he was visiting Sydney on holiday when he read the book and decided to turn it into a film.
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Seven children live with their tyrannical father, Captain McCallum, and step mother Esther. The children can never make their father happy. The second oldest girl, Judy, is sent to boarding school.
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Shooting started in August 1939 and took place on location at Camden and in the studios of the
Commonwealth Film Laboratories in Sydney. It took five weeks in all.
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Judy runs away and falls ill. She is found by her father who allows her to go on holiday in the country to recuperate. The other children come along with her.
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Judy is killed by a falling branch. The
Captain becomes aware of how he has mistreated his family.
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Critical reaction was generally poor and the film was not a financial success.
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Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to
Feature Film Production
608:. 2 December 1939. p. 50 Supplement: The Movie World
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and starring
Charles McCallum. It is an adaptation of
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533:, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p186
552:. Hobart, Tas. 23 September 1939. p. 5
672:– via National Library of Australia.
644:– via National Library of Australia.
616:– via National Library of Australia.
588:– via National Library of Australia.
560:– via National Library of Australia.
516:– via National Library of Australia.
485:– via National Library of Australia.
457:– via National Library of Australia.
429:– via National Library of Australia.
401:– via National Library of Australia.
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747:Films directed by Arthur Greville Collins
664:. Hobart, Tas. 13 January 1940. p. 5
348:and radio veterans at the age of seven.
656:""Little Australians" On Screen Parade"
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197:is a 1939 Australian film directed by
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233:Charles McCallum as Captain Woolcot
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762:Australian films based on novels
732:Australian black-and-white films
340:. Fuller hired English director
299:Nellie Lamport as school teacher
704:National Film and Sound Archive
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580:. Qld. 8 August 1939. p. 3
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508:. 30 November 1939. p. 28
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449:. 14 December 1939. p. 29
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263:Harold Meade as Colonel Bryant
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636:. 18 December 1939. p. 7
605:The Australian Women's Weekly
529:Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper,
421:. Qld. 6 June 1939. p. 4
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311:Richard Dowse as Major Martin
757:1930s English-language films
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296:Connie Martyn as Mary Hassel
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293:Carl Francis as Fred Hassel
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209:in a contemporary setting.
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260:Donald Tall as the General
150:15 December 1939
633:The Sydney Morning Herald
577:Townsville Daily Bulletin
505:The Sydney Morning Herald
474:The Sydney Morning Herald
446:The Sydney Morning Herald
418:Townsville Daily Bulletin
308:Margaret Roussel as Doris
278:Edna Montgomery as Aldith
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699:Seven Little Australians
688:Seven Little Australians
477:. 31 May 1939. p. 8
441:"ANTIDOTE TO NERVE-WARS"
330:Father Damien of Molokai
266:Nan Taylor as Mrs Bryant
194:Seven Little Australians
24:Seven Little Australians
342:Arthur Greville Collins
284:Letty Craydon as Martha
281:Howard Craven as Andrew
275:John Fernside as doctor
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199:Arthur Greville Collins
76:Arthur Greville Collins
47:Arthur Greville Collins
752:1930s Australian films
737:Australian drama films
500:"CLASSIC STORY FILMED"
314:Norman Wait as Mr Hill
254:Ronald Rousel as Bunty
332:and an adaptation of
317:Eve Wynne as Mrs Hill
290:Nesta Tait as Bridget
287:George Doran as groom
257:Nancy Gleeson as Baby
251:Janet Gleeson as Nell
248:Mary McGowan as Judy
242:Sandra Jaques as Meg
18:1939 Australian film
302:Mary Swan as Marion
385:"PRODUCTION PLANS"
305:Jean Hart as Betty
245:Robert Gray as Pip
136:Universal Pictures
544:"The Film Parade"
469:"FILM PRODUCTION"
237:Patricia McDonald
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113:Nellie Weatherill
96:George D. Malcolm
79:Edward H. O'Brien
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742:1939 drama films
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390:The Examiner
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203:Ethel Turner
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166:Running time
143:Release date
66:Ethel Turner
15:
661:The Mercury
549:The Mercury
72:Produced by
43:Directed by
36:Film poster
727:1939 films
721:Categories
371:References
323:Production
154:1939-12-15
119:Production
53:Written by
363:Reception
336:'s novel
272:as Gillet
239:as Esther
178:Australia
102:Edited by
64:novel by
668:22 March
640:22 March
612:22 March
584:22 March
556:22 March
512:22 March
481:22 March
453:22 March
425:22 March
397:22 March
213:Synopsis
205:'s 1894
183:Language
110:Music by
84:Starring
61:Based on
338:Redheap
186:English
175:Country
170:63 mins
152: (
121:company
207:novel
693:IMDb
670:2012
642:2012
614:2012
586:2012
558:2012
514:2012
483:2012
455:2012
427:2012
399:2012
227:Cast
702:at
691:at
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156:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.