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Clip description
Billy Austin (played as a boy by Leo Meagher) and his pals march out of school after a reluctant day inside. Billy picks a fight with a schoolmate when he sees the boy talking to Gladys, the girl he wishes was his girlfriend. The fighting is interrupted by a local policeman. Back home, Billy lies to his mother (Gwen Sherwood) about the cause of the fight.
Curator’s notes
These scenes appear to have been shot in the Northern beaches area of Sydney. The school is the Narrabeen Public School, as can be seen from the name plaque on the schoolhouse wall. That school is now called Narrabeen Lakes Public, and the building is still in use. The tram line we see had only recently been opened.
The film was shot by Jack Fletcher, a professional cameramen, which may account for some of the unexpected qualities in the construction of the film. It is confidently put together, with up-to-date techniques, including close-ups, shade vignettes, establishing shots and a smooth editing style. The mention of Tiger Kelly in the last title is curious. Tiger Kelly was a character in the Ginger Meggs comic strips, which were wildly popular in Australia from their inception in 1921. The character of Billy Austin appears to be directly based on the mischievous Ginger, which is perhaps why he mentions Tiger Kelly. The audience would have understood the joke.
The film also bears some resemblance to another Australian classic, The Kid Stakes, which opened in June 1927. The scenes of fighting, children running in packs, the black eye and the colourful language (‘a smack on the smeller’) all suggest a passing familiarity with The Kid Stakes.
