| Let George Do It | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ken G. Hall |
| Produced by | Ken G. Hall |
| Written by | George Wallace Frank Harvey |
| Based on | Hal Carleton (original story) |
| Starring | George Wallace |
| Cinematography | George Heath |
| Editing by | William Shepherd |
| Studio | Cinesound Productions |
| Release date(s) | 17 June 1938 (Australia) 1940 (UK) |
| Running time | 79 mins (Australia) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ₤21,000[1] |
Let George Do It is a 1938 comedy starring popular stage comedian George Wallace. It was the first of two films Wallace made for Ken G. Hall at Cinesound Productions, the other one being Gone to the Dogs (1939). Hall later called Wallace "in my opinion, easily the best comedian that this country as produced."[2]
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The plot concerns a man, Joe (Wallace), who works as a stage hand in a vaudeville theatre headlined by Mysto the magician (Alec Kellaway). When he finds out that the girl he is in love with, Molly (Gwen Munro), is getting married, he gets drunk with his friend (Joe Valli) and decides to commit suicide. He offers to leave all his possessions to a gangster, Zilch (Harry Abdy), if Zilch will arrange a painless death for Joe. The next day Joe finds out he has received an inheritance and wants to live, but Zilch and his men, including Unk (George Lloyd), abduct Joe and demand half his money. Joe escapes with the help of Clara (Letty Craydon), a woman who has a crush on him, resulting in a wild speedboat chase across Sydney harbour.
On this film, as with most Cinesound comedies of the late 1930s, Hall employed a team of comedy writers to help with the script along with credited screenwriters Wallace and Frank Harvey. This consisted of Hall, cartoonist Jimmy Bancks[3], Bill Maloney and Hal Carleton.[4]
The male romantic lead was played by Neil Carlton, a Melbourne-born actor who had appeared in films in England. "I've been searching for a juvenile of Carlton's type ever since I have been directing," said Hall during production. "He's handsome, a good actor, and possesses a fine singing voice; stands 6 ft 1 in. in his socks, weighs 14 St., and is a splendid all-round athlete."[5]
Filming commenced on January 30, 1938[6] and finished on March 22.[7] During the shooting of a speedboat chase scene on Sydney Harbour, the boat crashed into a racing eight near Double Bay, cutting it in half and injuring three rowers.[8]
There were several musical numbers which demonstrated Wallace's ability to sing and dance.[9] A water ballet, choreographed by Leon Kellaway, brother of Cecil Kellaway, was shot but was mostly cut in the interests of keeping the film at a fast pace.[10]
Hall later wrote that the two films he made with Wallace "were very substantial hits".[11] The famous tenor Richard Tauber saw the movie when touring Australia.[12] It was released in Britain in 1940 as In the Nick of Time, to avoid confusion with the 1940 George Formby film Let George Do It.