While the Billy Boils

While the Billy Boils
Original poster advertising the film
Directed by	Beaumont Smith
Produced by	Beaumont Smith
Written by	Beaumont Smith
Based on	the stories of Henry Lawson adapted for the stage by Beaumont Smith
Starring	Tal Ordell
Production company	Beaumont Smith's Productions
Distributed by	Beaumont Smith Union Theatres
Release date	17 September 1921
Running time	5,800 feet
Country	Australia
Language	Silent

While the Billy Boils is a 1921 Australian film from director Beaumont Smith which adapts several stories from Henry Lawson. It is considered a lost film.

Bob Brothers (Tal Ordell) is a bushman who quarrelled with his father ten years earlier, left him and changed his name. He returns to his father's station and takes a job there, eventually becoming the union representative of the station hands. His younger brother Dick (Robert MacKinnon) is being blackmailed by the evil Tessie (Lorna Lantaur) into stealing money. Bob takes the blame to protect his brother.

Dick and Bob both fall in love with Ruth. Bob tries to forget her by going out back and almost dies in the desert, but is rescued by an Afghan camel driver. He returns home and is blamed for another robbery, but is cleared of the charges and is united with Ruth.

Beaumont Smith had previously adapted Lawson's for the stage in 1916, and it toured Australia for that and the following year. Members of the cast for the play appeared in Smith's debut feature, Our Friends, the Hayseeds (1917).

Smith shot and edited the film from July to August 1921 in and around Windsor and Redclay in New South Wales. His assistant director was Phil K. Walsh, who later directed two Australian films. Lawson himself appears in a brief prologue.

Commercial results were strong.