Mr. Chedworth Steps Out
| Mr. Chedworth Steps Out | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Ken G. Hall |
| Produced by | Ken G. Hall |
| Written by | Frank Harvey |
| Based on | novel Mr Chedworth Hits Out by Francis Morton Howard |
| Starring |
Cecil Kellaway Rita Pauncefort Peter Finch |
| Music by | Hamilton Webber |
| Cinematography | George Heath |
| Edited by | William Shepherd |
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Production
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| Distributed by | British Empire Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ₤21,000 |
Mr. Chedworth Steps Out is a 1939 Australian comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall starring Cecil Kellaway. Kellaway returned to Australia from Hollywood to make the film, which features an early screen appearance by Peter Finch.
It was the fifteenth feature film from Hall and Cinesound Productions.
A mild-mannered clerk, George Chedworth, is married to the snobbish, nagging Julie, and has four children: gambling addict Arthur, beautiful Gwen, teenage singer Susie and young Fred. Chedworth lends money to Arthur to cover his gambling debts to a bookmaker, and is persuaded by the bookmaker on a long-shot wager. Chedworth is then fired from his job after 24 years of service. He is given a compensatory employment as a night watchman, and stumbles upon some money hidden by gangsters and an old printing press.
Chedworth uses the money to improve his situation. He wins a fortune from an accidental racing bet and from some apparently worthless gold mining shares sold to him by some crooks, including Arthur's boss Leon Fencott. Chedworth moves into a large house, unaware the money he discovered was counterfeit. Fencott is the head of the forgers.
When Arthur tries to pass off one of his forged bank notes to Fencott, the gangsters come after the money and kidnap Chedworth. They are arrested by Brian Carford, a federal agent who has been romancing Gwen and watching Chedworth to see if he is a forger. Chedworth gets to keep his legitimate fortune and Susie wins a singing competition.
The script was based on the English novel, Mr Chedworth Hits Out (1936) by F Morton Howard.
It was intended as the first of a projected £200,000 five-film program by Cinesound Productions, the others being Gone to the Dogs (1939), Robbery Under Arms, The Further Adventures of Dad and Dave (which became Dad Rudd, MP 1940), and The Haunted House.Robbery Under Arms and The Haunted House were never made.
The film was specifically designed as a vehicle for Cecil Kellaway. He had been working in Hollywood following the success of It Isn't Done (1937) but agreed to come back to Australia especially to make the film at the request of Ken G. Hall. "He was getting much more money than we had offered him but he felt that he owed us something", said Hall.
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