“Dad and Dave Come To Town”

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

“Dad and Dave Come To Town”

A top hat, morning coat and fainttly checked trousers—have transformed Bert Bailey into a very 1938 version of “Dad” in Cinsesound’s riotous comedy, “Dad and Dave Come to Town,” but the indomitable Rudd spirit is still there. For nearly thirty years, Bert Bailey has interpreted the famous Australian character, and the numerous attacks in the past few »ears have failed to convince this great old trouper that “Dad” is not typical of the Australian farmer. t “It is all very well for a city dweller to pass these comments,” he says. “How many of them have toured Australia visiting every country town and village? ... I have. I’ve spent a life-time studying the small farmer. He knows me—and I’m proud to say I know : him. His splendid c ourage, tenacity and humour are attributes upon l which I have built my characterisation. ' -i.-' ‘

“His isolation, and in spite of the. fact that I have been told that the modern farmer is actively in touch these days with the outside world, I still say, his isolation has made him the quaint yet lovable character that has been broadened by Steele Rudd.

“Wireless has helped to bring the Australian farmer in touch with the city. I admit that, but there sire still thousands of country people who cannot afford a wireless. ‘Dad’ is modelled on the small, farmer—not the squatter—who has his swimming pool and , cocktail parties guaranteed to even show the city socialites a thing or two.

“In ‘Dad . and Dave Come to Town’ we have modernised ‘Dad and Dave,’ but I think audiences will find the humour of these characters is still typical.” The success of “On Our Selection” over the years has been built up on the fact that it is the country folk who have always flocked to see it. They have recognised a similiarity to people they know. And it has not been an unkind cut at the Australian farmer. Any unkindness does not live. It is

an. affectionate remembrance that lingers In spite of the famous whiskers that have flourished since “On Our Selection” was made nearly seven years ago, Bert Bailey, with his clear skin and keen blue eyes is a splendidly vigorous figure. He carries his sixty years lightly, and to give him the “elderly spread” he does not possess, a specially padded vest was made. “Not. so comfortable under the heat of the

lights,” he complains with a twinkle in his eye. His wonderful sense of humour is a delight to the studio staff. No one finds the day tiring if they are fortunate enough to be entertained by Bert Bailey. ‘‘So you really have met Dad in your many tours,” he was asked on the set the other day. He chuckled. “Why, I met him not forty miles out of Sydney hot long ago. He was seventy and bad just made his first trip to Sydney. Someone asked him what he thought of the Harbour Bridge. ‘l’d like to put it over the back creek in flood time before I gave an opinion,’ was the old chap’s canny reply. “I’ve met him up north, too,” Bert Bailey continued. “This time ‘Dad’ was proudly telling a crowd of men that his particular country town had sent the youngest soldier to the war—a lad of 15 years. He was contradicted immediately bya man who informed him that the youngest soldier was a four-teeri-year-old boy from Victoria. ‘Dad’ looked disgusted. ‘I wasn’t talkin’ about any so and so furriners,’ he complained.”.

“Dad and Dave Come to Town” is a typical Australian comedy romance in up-to-the-minute settings, and you can imagine the fun when “Dad” inherits an ultra-modern ladies’ lingerie salon and the Rudds come to town to run it!