Frank Harvey (22 December 1885 – 10 October 1965) was a British-born actor, producer and writer best known for his work in Australia.

Biography

Frank Harvey was born Harvey Ainsworth Hilton, in 1883 in

Earls Court Earl's Court is a district of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London, bordering the rail tracks of the West London line and District line that separate it from the ancient borough of Fulham to the west, the ...

, London, son of John Ainsworth Hilton and Elizabeth Hilton. His occupation in the British 1911 Census was "actor" and was married with Grace Hilton, . He had 3 sisters, named Maria, Cora and Caroline according to the British 1891 Census. Caroline Gladys Hilton was married to Hanns Wyldeck and from that union was born in 1914 Harvey Martin Wyldeck, also an actor, who died in England in 1989. He was the cousin to Frank Harvey, Harvey Ainsworth Hilton's son from Grace Hilton. Martin Wyldeck's son Christopher Wyldeck also moved to Australia in the 1970s and became a TV director. Harvey's father was also a writer, under the pen name Frank Harvey .

Early career

Harvey studied acting under

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (17 December 1852 – 2 July 1917) was an English actor and theatre manager. Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre in the West End, winning praise for adventurous progr ...

and played Shakespearean parts in the Lyceum Theatre in London. In 1914 he was engaged by J. C. Williamson to play in Australia with Nancye Stewart, and did not return to Britain until 1926. In 1922 and 1923 he played the leading man in a number of J & N Tait productions with the

Emélie Polini Emélie Adeline Polini, generally written as Emelie, (24 March 1881 – 31 July 1927) was an English stage actress with a considerable career in Australia. Polini was born in Steyning, Sussex, a daughter of theatrical manager Giovanni Marie ...

troupe and toured Australia and New Zealand. When Harvey returned to Britain, it took him several months to re-establish himself there, but was cast in ''The Transit of Venus'' and then had little difficulty finding work, being particularly well regarded for a role in ''Jew Suss''. Acting in this saw him have a nervous breakdown and he was ordered to take three months off. Harvey also had two plays produced, ''The Last Enemy'' and ''Cape Forlorn''.

Return to Australia

By 1931 he was back in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

to appear in a series of plays for J. C. Williamson, including ''On the Spot'' and a production of his own ''Cape Forlorn''. Harvey said he preferred working on stage to screen:

An actor on the screen is not an actor at all, but a robot. In the days of the silent films, an actor could have a distinct screen personality; but now that speech has come, all that is ended. After the novelty has worn off, talking films will settle down here, as they have abroad, into a mere substitute for the silent films, and will not interfere in any way with the prosperity of the legitimate theatre. The screen should stick to the sphere in which it is really capable – the sphere of spectacular production, such as Iies outside the ambit of the legitimate stage. It is really a glorified sideshow.

Harvey returned to London in October 1931, but was back in Australia in 1933 to work for F. W. Thring at Efftee Productions as an actor and screenwriter. In 1935 he moved to Sydney and began writing and acting for ABC radio. This involvement later led to full-time appointment as senior drama producer in 1944, directing such stars as

Queenie Ashton Ethel Muriel Ashton (11 November 190321 October 1999), known professionally as Queenie Ashton, was a character actress, born in England, who had a long career in Australia as a theatre performer and radio personality, best known for her radio ...

(in early episodes of Blue Hills), Lyndall Barbour and

Nigel Lovell Nigel Tasman Lovell (27 January 1916 – 13 December 2001) was an Australian stage, radio, film and television actor, and producer of opera and both stage and radio drama. History Lovell was born in Sydney, a son of Tasman Lovell, Professor of ...

. He appeared as ''Nestor the story-teller'' in the Argonauts Club for most of the '40s. His play ''False Colours'' was staged by

Doris Fitton Dame Doris Alice Lucy Walkden Fitton, (3 November 18972 April 1985) was an Australian actress of stage and film and theatrical director and producer who founded and for 35 years headed The Independent Theatre Ltd. in Sydney, New South Wales. ...

's Independent Theatre. In 1936 he founded a school of voice production and dramatic art with

Claude Flemming Claude Flemming (1884–1952) was an Australian actor, writer, producer and director of theatre and film whose varied stage career spanned the first half of the 20th century. He performed in Shakespeare and other drama, as well as opera, and bec ...

Cinesound

That year Harvey also went to work for

Ken G. Hall Kenneth George Hall, AO, OBE (22 February 1901 – 8 February 1994), better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film producer and director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry. ...

Cinesound Productions Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was an Australian feature film production company, established in June 1931, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred on Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from produ ...

as a studio dialogue director and in-house screenwriter. Starting with '' It Isn't Done'' (1937), Harvey wrote or co-wrote nine produced feature film scripts for Cinesound over the next four years, often playing small roles in them as well. According to one observer, Harvey's work as an actor and writer showed his bias towards the theatrical: "his scripts tend towards fulsome dialogues with witty repartee and epigram-matical statements, and his acting, particularly in Tall Timbers (1937), tends to exploit dramatic gestures and facial expressions far more intensively than was then required for screen 'naturalism'. Under Hall's direction, Harvey's dialogues were simplified and images allowed to express more of the script's content; his acting too became increasingly restrained as he adjusted to the demands of the film medium."

Radio

During World War II, Harvey served in the Volunteer Defence Corps until 1944, when he left the army and went under contract to ABC as a radio actor and producer. He eventually became ABC's head of radio drama. By the time Harvey retired in 1952 he had directed many hundreds of radio plays. He was appreciated by actors for his wit and communication skills.

Personal

He married Grace Ackerman in 1910 and divorced her in 1923 on grounds of desertion. On 3 April 1924 he married Helen Rosamond "Bobbie" McMillan, an actress with the

troupe and daughter of Sir William McMillan, Minister for Railways in New South Wales, Australia. A son (1912–1981) by his first marriage, also called Frank Harvey, was a British playwright and novelist who wrote the play ''Saloon Bar'' and screenplays for British movies including ''

Seven Days to Noon ''Seven Days to Noon'' is a 1950 British drama/thriller film directed by John and Roy Boulting. Paul Dehn and James Bernard won the Academy Award for Best Story for their work on the film. Plot In 1950, the British Prime Minister receives ...

'' (1950) and '' I'm Alright Jack'' (1960). He had a daughter, Helen, by his second wife.

Plays

As writer

* '' The Last Enemy'' (1929) (later played by a young Laurence Olivier) * ''

Cape Forlorn ''Cape Forlorn'' is a 1931 British drama film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Fay Compton, Frank Harvey and Ian Hunter. It was the English-language version of a British International Pictures multiple-language production with Fr ...

'' (1930) *''Ann Chisolm'' (1933) * ''False Colours'' (1935) * ''

Murder Tomorrow ''Murder Tomorrow'' is a 1938 British crime film directed by Donovan Pedelty and starring Gwenllian Gill, Jack Livesey and Molly Hamley-Clifford. It was made at Cricklewood Studios as a quota quickie for release by Paramount Pictures.Chibnall p.29 ...

'' (1937)

As actor

* '' Joseph and His Brethren'' (1914) w/ Nancye Stewart (her debut) * '' The Man Who Stayed at Home (1915 in Australia and New Zealand) * ''Within the Law'' (1915)w/ Muriel Starr * ''The Marriage of Kitty'' (1916) w/

Marie Tempest Dame Mary Susan Etherington, (15 July 1864 – 15 October 1942), known professionally as Marie Tempest, was an English singer and actress. Tempest became a famous soprano in late Victorian light opera and Edwardian musical comedies. Later, s ...

* ''Annabelle'' (1916) w/

* ''A Pair of Silk Stockings'' (1917) w/

and Nancye Stewart * ''The Easiest Way'' (1918) w/ Muriel Starr * ''The Silent Witness'' (1919) w/ Muriel Starr * ''Adam and Eva'' (1921) w/ Maud Hannaford * ''Scandal'' (1922 in New Zealand) w/

* ''My Lady's Dress'' (1923 in New Zealand) w/

* ''The Flaw'' (1923 in New Zealand) w/

* ''De Luxe Annie'' (1923 in New Zealand) w/

* ''The Bird of Paradise'' (1923) w/ Muriel Starr * ''The Garden of Allah'' (1924) w/ Muriel Starr * ''A Royal Divorce'' (1925) w/ Muriel Starr * ''So This Is London'' (1925) w/ Muriel Starr and Mayne Lynton * ''Secrets'' (1925) * ''Within the Law'' (1925) * '' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1925) w/ Mary Hinton * ''Seventh Heaven'' (1925) w/ Remy Carpen * ''The Silver King'' (1926) w/ Remy Carpen and Mayne Lynton * ''

East Lynne ''East Lynne'' is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood, writing as Mrs Henry Wood. A Victorian best-seller, it is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centring on infidelity and double identities. There have ...

'' (1929) in New Zealand w/ Muriel Starr *''The Transit of Venus'' – in London *''Jew Suss'' as the Duke *''Cape Forlorn'' (1930) in London * ''The Calendar'' (1931) w/

Campbell Copelin Campbell Copelin (1901–1988) was an English actor, who moved to Australia in the 1920s and worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. He had a notable association with J.C. Williamson Ltd and frequently collaborated with F. W. ...

and Coral Brown (her debut) * '' On the Spot'' (1931) in Melbourne w/

* ''Cape Forlorn'' – start 29 August 1930 – Criterion Theatre, Sydney – w/

Harvey Adams Harvey Adams (1889, Warrington, England – 1960, Australia) was an English actor and director who worked extensively in film, stage and radio. He moved to Australia in 1924 for work after a long career, played leading man for Muriel Starr from 19 ...

and Charles Wheeler * ''My Lady's Dress'' (1931) playing seven different roles w/ Iris Darbyshire *''The Man with a Load of Mischief'' (November 1931) – Haymarket, London * ''

Rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similar ...

'' (1932) w/

* ''Mother of Pearl'' (1934) starring

Alice Delysia Alice Henriette Lapize (3 March 1889 – 10 February 1979), better known by her stage name, Alice Delysia and sometimes Elise Delisia, was a French actress and singer who made her career in English musical theatre. After performing in the cho ...

and

, (also written and directed by him) * ''Her Past'' (1934) starring

and

(also directed) * ''Black Limelight'' (1939) w/

Henry Mollison Evelyn Henry Mollison (21 February 1905 – 19 July 1985) was a British theatre and film actor. He was the brother of the actor Clifford Mollison. During World War II, he was held as a Prisoner of War for five years by the Nazis, after hi ...

and

Lina Basquette Lina Basquette (born Lena Copeland Baskette; April 19, 1907 – September 30, 1994) was an American actress. She is noted for her 75-year career in entertainment, which began during the silent film era. Talented as a dancer, she was paid as a gi ...

at newly opened Minerva Theatre

Filmography

* ''

Within Our Gates ''Within Our Gates'' is a 1920 American silent film by the director Oscar Micheaux that portrays the contemporary racial situation in the United States during the early twentieth century, the years of Jim Crow, the revival of the Ku Klux Kla ...

'' (1915) – director * ''

'' (1931) – original play, actor * ''

The Mayor's Nest ''The Mayor's Nest'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Claude Hulbert and Al Bowlly. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.75 A trombonist becomes mayor of a small town, but he struggles to co ...

'' (1932) actor * ''

The Love Contract ''The Love Contract'' is a 1932 British musical film directed by Herbert Selpin and starring Winifred Shotter, Owen Nares and Sunday Wilshin. The screenplay concerns a young woman who becomes the driver of a wealthy stockbroker who lost her f ...

'' (1932) actor * '' Up for the Derby'' (1933) actor * '' The Streets of London'' (1934) – actor * '' A Ticket in Tatts'' (1934) – actor * ''

Sheepmates ''Sheepmates'' was a proposed Australian film from director F. W. Thring based on a 1931 novel by William Hatfield. Development Thring bought the rights to Hatfield's novel in mid 1933. He paid a reported £300."Counting the Cash in Australian ...

'' (1934) (abandoned) – actor * ''

Clara Gibbings ''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.Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, ''Australian Film 190 ...

'' (1934) – writer * ''

Heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset is a preexisting thing of value today ** Cultural heritage is created by humans ** Natural heritage is not * Heritage language Biology * Heredity, biological inheritance of physica ...

'' (1935) – actor * '' White Death'' (1936) * '' It Isn't Done'' (1937) cowriter Carl Dudley, actor * '' Tall Timbers'' (1937) – writer, actor * ''

Lovers and Luggers ''Lovers and Luggers'' is a 1937 Australian film directed by Ken G. Hall. It is an adventure melodrama about a pianist ( Lloyd Hughes) who goes to Thursday Island to retrieve a valuable pearl. It was retitled ''Vengeance of the Deep'' in the US a ...

'' aka ''Vengeance of the Deep'' (1937) – writer, actor * '' The Broken Melody'' aka ''The Vagabond Violinist'' (1938) – writer, actor * ''

Dad and Dave Come to Town ''Dad and Dave Come to Town'' is a 1938 Australian comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall, the third in the ' Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey. It was the feature film debut of Peter Finch and is one of the best known Australian ...

'' (1938) – writer, actor * '' Let George Do It'' (1938) – writer, actor * ''

'' (1938) - original play * '' Mr. Chedworth Steps Out'' (1939) – writer * '' Gone to the Dogs'' (1939) – writer, actor * ''

Dad Rudd, MP ''Dad Rudd, M.P.'' is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and ...

'' (1940) – writer, actor

Unproduced projects

*musical version of ''

Robbery Under Arms ''Robbery Under Arms'' is a bushranger novel by Thomas Alexander Browne, published under his pen name Rolf Boldrewood. It was first published in serialised form by ''The Sydney Mail'' between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes i ...

'' (1934) *film version of '' Collits' Inn'' (circa 1934)

Radio credits

;As actor * '' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1935) * ''Scandal''(1935) * ''My Lady's Dress'' (1935) * ''Dead or Alive'' by

Edmund Barclay Edmund Piers Barclay (2 May 1898 – 26 August 1961) was an English-Australian writer known for his work in radio drama. Radio historian Richard Lane called him "Australian radio's first great writer and, many would say, Australian radio's gr ...

(1936) * '' The Fire on the Snow'' (1941 original production by Frank Clewlow) as

Robert Falcon Scott Captain Robert Falcon Scott, , (6 June 1868 – c. 29 March 1912) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the ''Discovery'' expedition of 1901–1904 and the ill-fated ''Terra Nov ...

;As director * '' Macbeth'' (1948) with

Lloyd Berrell Lloyd Berrell (13 February 1926 – 30 December 1957) was a New Zealand actor who played Reuben "Roo" Webber in the original Sydney production of ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll''. He worked extensively in Australian radio and theatre, appearin ...

and

Lyndall Barbour Lyndall Harvey Barbour (19 May 1916 – 10 October 1986) was an Australian actress, primarily of radio, although she also added stage and television work (both series and made-for-television movies) to her repertoire. Born in Egypt to Australian p ...

* ''Waterloo Bridge'' (1948) with

Max Osbiston Maxwell Hamilton Osbiston (7 August 1914 – 12 March 1981) was an Australian actor, active in radio, stage, film and television. Biography Osbiston was born in Sydney, the son of Frank and Iolanthe Osbiston (née Margoliouth) of Cremorne, New So ...

Sources

*''The Golden Age of Australian Drama'' Richard Lane, Melbourne University Press 1994
Biography by Stephen Vagg
*
Frank Harvey Australian theatre credits
at

AusStage AusStage: The Australian Live Performance Database is an online database which records information about live performances in Australia, providing records of productions from the first recorded performance in Australia (1789, by convicts) up unt ...

Frank Harvey
at the National Film and Sound Archive

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvey, Frank (radio producer) 1885 births 1965 deaths Australian male stage actors Australian male film actors Australian screenwriters Australian male radio actors Australian radio producers 20th-century Australian male actors Australian film studio executives 20th-century Australian screenwriters Volunteer Defence Corps soldiers British emigrants to Australia