Clara Gibbings is a 1934 Australian film directed by F.W. Thring about the owner of a London pub who discovers she is the daughter of an earl. It was a vehicle for stage star Dorothy Brunton.[3]
Clara Gibbings is the straight-talking owner of a London dockland public-house who discovers she is the legitimate (but abandoned) daughter of the Earl of Drumoor. She launches herself in high society but soon becomes disillusioned with their morals. In the process "she manages to get home some clever thrusts against the shams and hypocrisy of the life of elegance that she had thought so wonderful".[4][5] Clara falls in love with a young aristocrat, Errol Kerr, who proposes, and they go off to live in Australia.
The script was one of a number of play adaptations from F.W. Thring.[7]
It was based on a 1928 English play which had originally been called The Broken Line.[8] The original London production starred Violet Lorraine. The Observer declared it was "not an admirable play."[9]The Guardian said "Miss Lorraine acts with the utmost effect."[10]
The play was produced on Broadway under the title of Lady Clara starring Florence Nash.[11]Variety wrote the play "won't ring any fire alarms here. For most part of Its three acts it's a stitlted affair, relieved only by the wisecracks of Clara Gibbings."[12]
1933 Thring stage production
Thring produced a version of the play in Melbourne starting 26 August 1933 with Ruby May in the title role.[13] It was part of a policy by Thring to show plays which could be adapted for the screen. (Clara Gibbings would be followed by Rope starring Frank Harvey).[14] Thring would produce shows at the Garrick and the Princess Theatres - the former would be for dramas and comedies while the latter would be for musicals.[15]
Many of the cast in the stage play of Clara Gibbings would reprise their roles in the film version. The director was Gregan MacMahon.[16]
One of the cast, Beatrice Day, collapsed during the dress rehearsal and died later in hospital.[17] She was replaced by Nellie Mortyne.
The Age called Thring's stage production "an unqualified success".[18]The Bulletin wrote "there is rippling comedy in the play, together with sound drama and genial satire of war-time aristocratic London... The keynote of the McMahon production was the general excellence of the characterisation of the local players."[19]The Australasian said the play "won the instantaneous appreciation it deserves."[20]
Cast
Ruby May as Clara Gibbings
Campbel Copelin
Noel Boyd as Yolande Probyn
Lyle Christian as Justin
Harold Mead as Earl of Drumoor
Beatrice Day/Nellie Mortyne as Countess of Drumoor
Marshall Crosby as butler
Frederick Hughes
Production
In January 1934 it was announced Thring would make a film of the play for Efftee, along with a movie from another British play The Streets of London. This was a change of departure from Efftee, which had traditionally only used Australian source material. (Efftee insisted it would continue to film some Australian stories such as Collitts' Inn, Sheepmates and Ginger Murdoch.)[21][22]
The film was shot at Efftee's St Kilda studios in March 1934.[23]
Although Thring was credited as director, it is likely Frank Harvey did most of the actual direction on set.[24] A scene set at Lords was shot at St Kilda's Oval.[25]
Even before shooting, Thring announced he would close the studios after making the movie due to difficulties in getting his product released outside Melbourne.[26][27][28][29]
Filming finished by April.[30] Thring did make another film before shutting down the studio, The Streets of London (1934), and announced plans to revive production, but died before he was able to.[31]
"I took one look at myself in the 'rushes' – and looked away", admitted Brunton. "I simply could not bear to see myself any more. I thought I looked terrible."[32]
Reception
The film was previewed on 31 August 1934 at the Liberty Theatre.[33] The Truth called it "an excellent exemplification of what can be done in Australia with English material, and the critic feels no need for the apologetic addenda, 'good for an Australian production'."[34]
September and released in Melbourne at the Mayfair Cinema on 13 October[35] where it was reported as "recording excellent business".[36][37] Reviewers commented on the fact it was basically a filmed play.[38]
It won third prize (amounting to £750) in a competition held by the Commonwealth government in 1935.[39] The judges said the film "contained sparkling dialogue supported by competent acting, although the adaptation of the English play on which it was based was inadequate."[40] However, as of 1936 the film had not been seen on Sydney screens.[41] It was released in England but received poor reviews.[42]
Peter Fitzpatrick, biographer of Thring, later described the movie as looking "like a run-of-the-mill British B-picture, and that is at once a badge of proficiency and a mark of its remoteness from everything that Effree stood for."[43]
Notes
Fitzpatrick, Peter The Two Frank Thrings, Monash University, 2012
↑ "Stage and Screen". The Herald. No.17, 555. Victoria, Australia. 19 August 1933. p.33. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "MUSIC AND DRAMA". The Age. No.24, 454. Victoria, Australia. 28 August 1933. p.10. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Sundry Shows", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 30 August 1933, nla.obj-610921944, retrieved 20 September 2025– via Trove
↑ "Stage & Screen". The Australasian. Vol.CXXXV, no.4, 417. Victoria, Australia. 2 September 1933. p.17. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "ENGLISH PLAYS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No.29, 961. New South Wales, Australia. 12 January 1934. p.6. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "TO END". The Sun. No.7525. New South Wales, Australia. 12 February 1934. p.7 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "EFFTEE SURPRISE". The Sun. No.7696. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1934. p.12 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "The Show's the Thing". Truth. No.2330. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1934. p.29. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ ""CLARA GIBBINGS" PREMIERE". The Herald. No.17, 899. Victoria, Australia. 27 September 1934. p.37. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Clara Gibbings at Hit at Mel Mayfair", Everyone's 24 October 1934 p 30
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