''Spur of the Moment'' is a 1931 Australian film directed by

A. R. Harwood Alexander Roy Harwood (1897–1980), better known as A. R. Harwood, or Dick Harwood, was an Australian film director and producer who also worked in exhibition. He was inspired to become a filmmaker when he was posted to Tahiti to work for an insu ...

. It was one of the first Australian talking movies.

Plot

A wealthy socialite, Claire Rutherford (Beatrice Touzeau), visits her former lover, Tony Iredale (James Alexander), one night. The next day Tony is arrested for the murder of a bookmaker the night before. In order to protect Claire's reputation, Tony remains silent. However a Scotland Yard detective in Melbourne on holiday (William Green) manages to trap the killer.

Production

Harwood had attempted to make Australia's first talking movie, ''

Out of the Shadows Out of the Shadows may refer to: Films * ''Out of the Shadows'' (unfinished film), an unfinished 1931 film * ''Out of the Shadows'' (2012 film), a documentary film *'' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows'', a 2016 film Music * ''Out o ...

'' in 1931 but been unable to complete it. However he managed to secure backing from a Melbourne businessman to fund two low-budget films, this and '' Isle of Intrigue'' (1931) made in an old factory at 61 Stanley St West Melbourne which had been converted into a sound studio. The story was written by Melbourne playwright

Betty Roland Betty Roland (22 July 1903 – 12 February 1996) was an Australian writer of plays, screenplays, novels, children's books and comics. Early years Betty Roland was born Mary Isobel Maclean at Kaniva, Victoria, the daughter of Roland and Matilda ...

using the name "Betty Davies".Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, ''Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production'', Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998 p154 Filming began in June 1931 after a rehearsal period.

Reception

A contemporary review said the script "leaves several matters unexplained, and the eventual confession of the murderer is scarcely convincing... tdepends almost entirely upon dialogue, and scarcely at all upon action." The cast included Helene Best, daughter of Australian politician, Sir Robert Best.

Cast

* James Alexander as Anthony Iredale * William Green as Inspector Perry * Guy Hastings as Chief of C.I.B. * Darcy Kelway as Joe * Syd Hollister as Alf * Fred Patey as Pop * Charles Bradley as Rutherford * William Ralston as Burton * Norman Balmer as Noble * Russell Cramer as Detective * Herb Moylan as Clerk of Courts * Helene Best

References

External links

''Spur of the Moment''
at

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''Spur of the Moment''
at

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national co ...

''Spur of the Moment''
at Oz Movies 1931 films Australian black-and-white films Australian drama films 1931 drama films Works by Betty Roland {{Australian-film-stub