Come Up Smiling

An example of Australian film making before anyone knew that films were made in Australia and when a Hollywood-style studio system - although small by Hollywood standards - operated Down Under. Ants in His Pants may not be sophisticated but it has an innocence and brightness that makes it a great little "B" movie. It is also a piece of Australian movie history. This was also the last Australian movie made by the Aussie's number one female movie star of the time Shirley Ann Richards. Ms. Richards was given "Hollywood" style star build up in her country before she was "discovered" by Hollywood and braved a wartime sea voyage to reach the US. Her career (as Ann Richards) in Hollywood although marked by some good movies (e.g.:Sorry, Wrong Number) never clicked. Ants in His Pants also stars Aussie movie and stage comedian George Wallace who was a sensation in his country. Others in the cast are the American husband-wife team of Will Mahony and Evie Hayes who found enormous success in theater and some films in Australia and, later, Miss Hayes became Australia's "Ethel Merman" appearing in Australian productions of Merman's Broadway hits.