Bonzer Words!: Sisters In Film
Paula Wilson tells of three Australian sisters who between 1926 and 1933 co-wrote, directed, starred in and handled the behind the scene workings that were required to produce movies.
Paula writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
During the first three decades of the twentieth century Australia had a strong film industry that was dominated by men and influenced by American interests. Into this came three sisters operating under the name McD Productions.
Isabel, Phyllis and Paulette McDonagh's father was the honorary surgeon for J C Williamson's theatres. As teenagers they spent many hours watching Hollywood films. Paulette in particular sat in darkened theatres studying how American films were made and why they were so popular.
Between 1926 and 1933 the sisters co-wrote, directed, starred in and handled the behind the scene workings that were required to produce movies. Paulette, as director, and Phyllis, production manager, wrote scenarios that highlighted the talents of Isabel who had the lead role. They created an active heroine who was not adverse to a spot of breaking and entering or safe cracking, far different than the stereotype usually depicted.
Isabel whose film name was Marie Lorraine had already established herself as an actor in a number of earlier films. She had been described as 'the most promising female lead in Australia' after her debut in the film Joe.
Paulette attended P J Ramster's Acting School to enhance what she had learnt studying American films. When the sisters decided to make Those Who Love (1926), they hired Ramster as director but soon realised he was not required and Paulette took control.
The sisters felt it important that for Australian films to succeed they needed an overseas market. To this end their first three films were in the Hollywood style, namely society dramas.
Being financially independent enabled the sisters to self-fund their films, and the family home, Drummoyne House, with its antique furnishing was used as the setting. The family was well connected and this gave them privileges not readily available to others, like the time they had access to the governor's train. Instead of employing professional actors in all of the roles everyday people were used. The governor's daughters had a small part in one film, a real doctor the role of the screen doctor in Those Who Love.
Their first production was successful enough to finance the next, The Far Paradise (1928.) Again Isabel had the lead role, as she did in all their films. This one has been rated as one of the best-directed Australian features before sound due mainly to the high standard of Paulette's directing. To top this off Universal Pictures purchased The Far Paradise for distribution in England.
Mc D Productions third film was The Cheaters (1930.) It was originally silent, but sound was added so it could compete with the new American talkies, and also to improve its chances in the 1930 Commonwealth Film Competition. However the sound was of inferior quality and the whole venture was a failure.
After The Cheaters McD Productions made a series of sporting documentaries featuring prominent identities of the era – swim champion 'Boy' Charlton, cricket great Sir Donald Bradman, the legendary Phar Lap.
In 1930 the sisters attended a performance of Leslie Hayden's play Two Minutes Silence. It was named the 'Best Australian Play of the Year'; they were so impressed their company immediately brought the film rights.
This film was a break from subjects normally adapted by Australian producers. Instead of the usual Australian bush style or 'Dad and Dave' films, as Paulette called them, it had a theme of international appeal. An anti-war story told in flash back, and the first Australian sound film to tackle a theme with social concerns.
Paulette considered this to be their best film and upon its release in 1933 Prime Minister Hughes along with a number of influential critics gave it their praise. Although a well-crafted film that impressed some sections of the public it was not a great success. The general public was not ready for such a strong storyline, preferring comedies and romances.
Paulette attempted to set up another feature but this did not go ahead and McD Productions' partnership was dissolved. Isabel married and went to London; Phyllis became a journalist with a New Zealand paper. As a solo, independent, filmmaker not affiliated with the large studios Paulette found it impossible to continue.
Nothing more was heard from the McDonagh sisters until the early 1970's when their two surviving films, The Far Paradise and The Cheaters were once again screened. And in 1978 Phyllis accepted the Australian Institute's Raymond Longford award for their contribution to Australian filmmaking.
© Paula Wilson
