Ken G. Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken G. Hall
Hall in 1950
Born	Kenneth George Hall (1901-02-22)22 February 1901 Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Died	8 February 1994(1994-02-08) (aged 92) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Film producer, film director, Studio executive
Spouse(s)	Irene Addison (1925–1972) (her death)

Kenneth George Hall (born February 22, 1901 – died February 8, 1994), known as Ken G. Hall, was a very important film producer and director in Australia. He is seen as one of the most important people in the history of the Australian film industry. Ken G. Hall was also the first Australian to win an Academy Award.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Ken G. Hall was born in Paddington, Sydney, Australia, in 1901. He was the third child of Charles and Florence Hall. He went to North Sydney Boys' High School.

When he was 15, Ken started working at the Sydney Evening News newspaper. Two years later, he became a publicist for Union Theatres. A publicist helps promote movies and shows. He worked his way up to become the national publicity director, which was a very important job in Australian film at the time.

In 1924, Hall joined an American film company called First National Pictures. He visited Hollywood the next year to learn more about filmmaking.

Becoming a Director

First Films: 1928–1930

Ken Hall started making films in 1928. His first job was to re-edit a German movie about the Battle of Cocos called Our Emden. He also filmed new parts for it. The new movie, called The Exploits of the Emden, was very popular in Australia.

After this, Hall went back to Union Theatres. He helped promote their State Theatre in Sydney. He also worked to fight against a proposed entertainment tax. Eventually, he became an assistant to Stuart F. Doyle, who was the managing director of the company.

Starting Cinesound Productions: 1931–1934

Stuart F. Doyle decided to create a new company called Cinesound Productions to make Australian films. He asked Ken Hall to direct several short films. These included Thar She Blows! (1931), which was about whaling, and That's Cricket (1931).

Then, Doyle gave Hall a big job: directing a film based on the popular play On Our Selection. This play was about an Australian farming family, the Rudds, and the characters 'Dad and Dave'. Hall convinced Bert Bailey, who wrote the play, to play Dad Rudd in the movie. The film, On Our Selection (1932), was a huge success! It was one of the most popular films in Australia and New Zealand in 1932.

Hall and Cinesound then made another film based on a play by Bert Bailey, called The Squatter's Daughter (1933). This was a drama set in the Australian bush. It starred Jocelyn Howarth, who Hall discovered. She later became a Hollywood actress. This film was also successful. During this time, he also made a short documentary called Ghosts of Port Arthur (1933).

Hall's third major film was The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934). This was another drama based on a play. It starred an English actor named John Longden. Even though there were some issues with censorship, the film was very popular. Dean Maitland was shown with Cinesound Varieties (1934), a short musical film also directed by Hall.

His fourth film, Strike Me Lucky (1934), was a comedy starring Roy "Mo" Rene, a very popular Australian comedian. This was Hall's first film that wasn't based on a play or book. However, the film was not very popular, and Hall later said it was the only one of his movies that didn't make a profit.

Mid-Career Success: 1935–1937

To ensure a hit, Hall convinced Bert Bailey to play Dad Rudd again in Grandad Rudd (1935). This film was also popular, though not as big as On Our Selection.

In 1935, Cinesound stopped making films for a few months. This allowed Hall to travel to Hollywood. He wanted to learn new filmmaking methods and bring them back to Australia.

Hall returned with new film equipment and an American screenwriter, Edmond Seward. Seward wrote Thoroughbred (1936), a horse racing drama. It starred Hollywood actress Helen Twelvetrees and was a success.

Seward also wrote Hall's next film, Orphan of the Wilderness (1936). This was a story about a boxing kangaroo.

Hall then returned to comedy with It Isn't Done (1937). This film was based on an idea by its star, Cecil Kellaway. It was also the first film Hall made with a script by Frank Harvey, who would write most of his future movies. This film was the debut of young actress Shirley Ann Richards.

Richards was also the main female star in Hall's next film, Tall Timbers (1937). This was an adventure story set in a logging area.

Popular Comedy Films: 1938–1940

Hall made two films with the famous comedian George Wallace: Let George Do It (1938) and Gone to the Dogs.

In between these, he made a third Rudd family film, Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938). This movie featured a performance from a young actor named Peter Finch.

Hall gave Peter Finch a bigger role in Mr Chedworth Steps Out (1939), which starred Cecil Kellaway. Hall also produced and helped write Come Up Smiling (1939), which starred Will Mahoney.

He made a fourth and final Rudd film, Dad Rudd, M.P. (1940). This film introduced actor Grant Taylor.

World War II and Kokoda Front Line

When World War II began, Cinesound stopped making feature films. However, Ken Hall stayed busy. He produced and directed many newsreels and documentaries during this time. These included Road to Victory (1941) and Anzacs in Overalls (1941).

His most famous newsreel was Kokoda Front Line (1942). This film won an Oscar! It was the first time an Australian film or documentary received this award.

After the War

Smithy (1946)

After the war, Hall returned to making feature films. He had a big success with Smithy (1946). This film was a biography of Australia's famous aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Hall produced, co-wrote, and directed it. This film was funded by Columbia Pictures. Its star, Ron Randell, was even offered a long-term contract in Hollywood.

However, Hall found it hard to make more feature films. The Greater Union cinema chain, which had supported Cinesound's films in the 1930s, was no longer keen on investing in local movies. Also, the Australian government made it difficult to raise enough money for films. For example, a plan to make two films with Ealing Studios, including a version of Robbery Under Arms, was not approved by the government. Hall later said Robbery Under Arms was "the film I wanted to make more than any other."

He continued to make short films like Can John Braund Cure Cancer? (1948) and Fighting Blood (1951). His last documentary was The Kurnell Story (1957).

Television Career

In 1956, Ken Hall became the first general manager for Channel Nine in Sydney. He worked there until 1966. He started the practice of showing feature films on TV without cutting them. Before this, films were often cut to fit TV schedules in Australia.

Later Years and Legacy

On January 1, 1972, Ken Hall received the Order of the British Empire for his great work in the Australian film industry. The Australian Film Institute also recognized his talent for showing the unique Australian character in his films. In 1976, he received the Raymond Longford Award for his "Lifetime Achievement." In 1985, he was added to the Logie Hall of Fame.

Hall passed away in Sydney on February 8, 1994. He wrote an autobiography called Directed by Ken G. Hall (1977). His wife, Irene Addison, had passed away in 1972. Hall never remarried.

In 1995, the Australian National Film and Sound Archive started the annual Ken G. Hall Award. This award is given each year to a person or group who has done amazing work in preserving Australian films.

Stage 3 at Fox Studios in Sydney is named after him, honoring his contributions to film.

Filmography

Feature Films Directed by Ken G. Hall

• The Exploits of the Emden (1928)
• On Our Selection (1932)
• The Squatter's Daughter (1933)
• The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934)
• Strike Me Lucky (1934)
• Grandad Rudd (1935)
• Thoroughbred (1936)
• Orphan of the Wilderness (1936)
• It Isn't Done (1937)
• Tall Timbers (1937)
• Lovers and Luggers (1937)
• The Broken Melody (1938)
• Let George Do It (1938)
• Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938)
• Gone to the Dogs (1939)
• Mr. Chedworth Steps Out (1939)
• Dad Rudd, MP (1940)
• Smithy (1946)

Selected Short Films Directed by Ken G. Hall

• Thar She Blows! (1931)
• That's Cricket (1931)
• Cinesound Varieties (1934)
• 100,000 Cobbers (1942)
• Kokoda Front Line! (1942)
• South West Pacific (1943)

Books by Ken G. Hall

• Birthday Book for First National (1927) Ed. Ken G Hall
• Directed by Ken G. Hall (1977)