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Smiley Gets a Gun
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Wikipedia article
'Smiley Gets a Gun' is a 1958 Australian comedy-drama film in CinemaScope directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Sybil Thorndike and Chips Rafferty. It is the sequel to the 1956 film 'Smiley'.
Synopsis
A young boy named Smiley desperately wants a gun. A deal is made between him and Sergeant Flaxman that if he gets 8 nicks (marks on a certain tree) for his good deeds he will get a .22 caliber 2 rifle. He has several adventures and is accused of stealing some gold. Smiley runs away but the real thief is caught and Smiley is rewarded with a gun.
Cast
* Keith Calvert as Smiley Greevins
** Alexander ( Bruce) Thomas as Smiley Greevins on horse
* Bruce Archer as Joey
* Sybil Thorndike as Granny McKinley
* Chips Rafferty as Sergeant Flaxman
* Margaret Christensen as Ma Greevins
* Reg Lye as Pa Greevins
* Grant Taylor as Stiffy
* Guy Doleman as Mr Quirk
*Leonard Thiele as Mr Scrivens
*Verena Kimmins as Miss MacCowan
*Bruce Beeby as Dr Gasper
*Ruth Cracknell as Mrs Gaspen
*John Fegan as Tom Graham
*Brian Farley as Fred
*Janice Dinnen as Jean Holt
*Barbara Eather as Elsie
*William Rees as Mr Protheroe
*Gordon Chater as Reverend Galbraith
Production
The novel 'Smiley' had been so popular that author Moore Raymond followed it up with 'Smiley Gets a Gun' in 1947.
The actor who first played 'Smiley', Colin Petersen, had moved to England, meaning a replacement had to be found. Anthony Kimmins looked at over 4,000 other applicants before finding Keith Calvert. Moore Raymond also had returned to England, writing Smiley comics for 'Swift' Comics. Kimmins' daughter Verena who helped the young actors in the first 'Smiley' movie had a featured role in the film.
Filming took eight weeks towards the end of 1957. Shooting took place at Camden and Pagewood Studios.
Release
The film was less successful than its predecessor and a proposed third film, 'Smiley Wins the Ashes', was never made.Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, 'Australian Film 19001977: A Guide to Feature Film Production', Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998 p226
References
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