The Laugh on Dad

The Laugh On Dad is a 1918 comedy Australian silent film. It is considered a lost film.[3]

The Laugh on Dad
Directed byA.C. Tindsale
Written byA.C. Tinsdale
Production
company
Release date
2 March 1918 (premiere)
28 July 1919 (commercial release)[1]
Running time
5 reels[2]
CountryAustralia
LanguageSilent film
English intertitles
Budget£1,000[3]

Plot

John Forrest, aka Dad, is an ostrich farmer. His daughter Jean wants to marry Ralph Bond but Dad is opposed, so he devises a scene where a farmhand will dress as Jean and pretend to marry Ralph. Jean outwits him and the marriage goes ahead.

Cast
  • Netta Lawson as Jean Forrest
  • Johnson Weir as John Forrest
  • May Morton as May
  • Mrs Tinsdale as Mrs Dumpling
  • Jules Olaff as Arthur Elliott
  • Alwyn West as Jim
  • Olaf Jensen as Ralph Bond
  • Charles Clarke

Production

The film was the first production of the Austral Photoplay Company, run by film importer and entrepreneur A.C. Tinsdale. Finance was raised by means of public subscription, offering two shilling shares to the public; buying one hundred shares got you free motion picture tuition and a part in the film. Most of the cast paid to appear in the movie.[3][4]

The movie was shot at a real life ostrich farm in South Head.[5]

Release

The film had trouble securing bookings but the same method of raising finance was used to find production of a sequel, Dad Becomes a Grandad (1918).[3]

Tinsdale was later sued by an investor for not paying out his obligations under the film and settled out of court.[6]

References
  1. "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 29 July 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. "Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 8 January 1921. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 75
  4. "AUSTRAL PHOTOPLAY COMPANY". The Ballarat Courier. Vic.: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1914. p. 12 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. "AUSTRALIAN-MADE FILMS". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 13 November 1920. p. 11. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  6. "DISTRICT COURT". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 4 October 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
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