Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Saturday 8 September 1923, page 18


"TOWNIES AND HAYSEEDS." When Hayseeds come to the city they are reputed to do or say funny things, and city dwellers laugh heartily at them. But when Townies go to the country they are equally as funny to bush people. In fact, Beaumont Smith shows them as greater comedians than the Hayseeds ever were in his new and original film satire, "Townies and Hayseeds", which will be shown at the York to-day. The city family consists of Pa Townie, Ma, and the bunch of children named after Australia's capital-cities — Masters Melbourne and Syd-ney. Miss Adelaide (named Adelaide be-cause she was so cultured), Brissy, and the youngest kids (Hobart and Perth). They stay with Dad and Mum Hayseed for a month as "paying guests," and after-wards Mum and Dad go to stay with them at Toorak. The humour is original and quaint, and the film is one of unusually witty titles and clever topical allusions, and it has been made to be laughed at. One of the comedy situations is the at-tempted suicide of Pa Townie at The Gap in Sydney. Of course the "suicide" is frustrated, but it is one of the funniest scenes ever put on the screen. Many of the most important scenes have been made in Adelaide— some in the chief city streets, others at Toorak, and one or two on the Torrens. "The Grand Larceny," the second attraction, is a Goldwyn offering that presents a phase of modem life that many are all too familiar with. It tells the story of a social parasite who carries on his depredations outside the pale of the law. The robber of property can be put in prison, and the men he has injured can obtain some legal satisfac-tion; but what balm is there for the man who has been robbed of his wife's love ?

That is the situation raised in "Grand Larceny," and superbly presented by an excellent cast of players, including Claire Windsor and Elliott Dexter. Miss Lillian Graham, the Melbourne soprano, will make her farewell appearance. The big sup-sorting programme will include Al. St. John in the Fox special comedy, "The Author."