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National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaNational Film and Sound Archive
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Articles

Smithy turns 70

We celebrate the 70th anniversary of Charles Kingsford Smith biopic 'Smithy'

We celebrate the 70th anniversary of Charles Kingsford Smith biopic 'Smithy' with a look at Billy Hughes' cameo in the film.

Written by Beth Taylor
14 February, 2016
3 minute read

Ken G Hall’s film about the life of aviator Charles Kingsford Smith turns 70 this year.

With Ron Randell in the title role of Smithy, there are two other notable stars of the film: The Southern Cross, Kingsford Smith’s plane, and former Prime Minister the Right Honourable William Morris (Billy) Hughes (1862-1952), playing himself.

In the clip below we see Smithy talking with Billy Hughes. In 1919 a £10,000 prize (equivalent to three quarters of a million dollars today) for the first Australian to fly a British plane from England to Australia was announced and Hughes, as prime minister, insisted on interviewing all the prospective candidates.

Twenty seven years later Hughes, now in his mid-80s, was able to reprise his interview with the real Smithy, and does so with great relish.

In the script (written by Alec Coppel and John Chandler), Hughes was required to switch off his hearing aid while Kingsford Smith is protesting his decision. Hughes did not want his deafness revealed and asked for that to be removed from the script.

Director, Ken G Hall, talking with Billy Hughes on the set of 'Smithy'

This meant that director of photography George Heath had to film Hughes only from his left side to conceal his hearing aid.

Hughes, whose forthrightness and charm is evident in this clip, was the longest-serving member of Australian Parliament. He was serving as the member for Bradfield when he died in 1952 aged 90.

Known for features including On Our Selection (Australia, 1932) and The Silence of Dean Maitland (Australia, 1934), this was Ken G Hall’s last full-length feature. Hall, who led Cinesound Productions from 1931-56 and brought home Australia’s first Academy Award for Kokoda Front Line! (Australia, 1942), went on to concentrate on documentaries, and in 1957 became the Chief Executive of TCN 9.

The film was a major success at the Australian box office. In the US it was released as Pacific Adventure.

Pacific Adventure and Adventura sul Pacifico lobby cards

Lobby cards were displayed in cinemas to entice moviegoers. The monotone lobby cards for Pacific Adventure and tri-tone fotobuste (Italian lobby cards) for Avventura sul Pacifico below show scenes from the movie in sequence. They also show how differently a film can be marketed in two different territories.

Made right after the Second World War the producers were keen to market the film in the United States as a romantic adventure so the pictures chosen for the lobby cards highlight the romantic storyline, exotic locations and Smithy’s swashbuckling bravery. The tag line on one of the cards overtly reads ‘Not a war picture!’. The Italian photobustas take a different tack, highlighting the domestic drama and romance angles of the film.

Lobby cards for Smithy are also known to exist for the UK release (where it was called Southern Cross).

Collection highlight: Smithy

Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) flying in the Southern Cross with Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith). NFSA title 1064365.
Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) dancing with Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith). NFSA title 1064361.
Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) receiving a knighthood. NFSA title 1064364.
Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) kissing Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith). NFSA title 1064323.
Crowd waving to the Southern Cross. NFSA title 1064338.
Close up of the Southern Cross. NFSA title 1064360.
Crowds welcoming Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) and his companions in Honolulu. NFSA title 1064399.
Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) standing with four men in front of the Southern Cross. NFSA title 1064362.

Collection highlight: Smithy Italian lobby cards

Crowds welcoming Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) and his companions in Honolulu. NFSA title 1465670.
Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith) unmasking Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith). NFSA title 1465683.
Nan Taylor (Nan) and an elderly man listening to a radio set in a lounge room with others gathered round. NFSA title 1465691.
Two men and two women listening to a wireless on a patio. NFSA title 1465725.
Crowd of people behind Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) with a man holding out a microphone to him. NFSA title 1465742.
Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith) seated at a table with Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) and others. NFSA title 1465745.
Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith) and Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) seated at a dining table talking with another man. NFSA title 1465750.
Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith) passing a telephone to Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith). NFSA title 1465753.
Muriel Steinbeck (Mary Kingsford Smith) on the telephone with Ron Randell (Charles Kingsford Smith) holding her hand. NFSA title 1465755.
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