Frank Beaumont (Beau) Smith (1885-1950), was an Australian film director, producer and exhibitor, best known for making low-budget comedies. After a career in theatre production, including managing a midget circus, he made his first film in 1917, Our Friends, the Hayseeds. He went on to become one of the most prolific and popular Australian filmmakers of the silent era. Among his films were adaptations of the works of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson. His 1933 comedy The Hayseeds featured the first screen appearance of Cecil Kellaway.
Smith was famous for making his films quickly - sometimes he would complete shooting and post production within one month. He was sometimes known as "One Shot Beau" or "That'll Do Beau".[1]