Ralph Smart

Ralph Foster Smart OAM (27 August 1908 – 12 February 2001) was a film and television producer, director, and writer, born in England to Australian parents.

Ralph Smart
BornRalph Foster Smart
(1908-08-27)27 August 1908
Chingford, England, UK
Died12 February 2001(2001-02-12) (aged 92)
Bowen, Queensland, Australia
OccupationDirector, screenwriter and television producer.
Period1927–1973
GenreComedy, drama, adventure, science fiction
Spouses
  • Leonie Estcourt Barrett (née Martin)[1]
  • Meg Smart
Children1 child
RelativesPatsy Smart (sister)

Biography

Smart found work in Britain with Anthony Asquith and later alongside the film director Michael Powell, whom he assisted with 'quota quickies': low-budget B-pictures to meet a legal commitment to the British film industry under the Cinematograph Films Act 1927.

During the Second World War, Smart joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942 and served until 1945.[2] Afterward he worked for the Rank Organisation and Ealing Studios, returning to Australia to direct several films beginning with The Overlanders and including Bitter Springs (1950), addressing the mistreatment of young Aborigines.

Back again in Britain, he became an influential figure in ITC television, producing, directing or writing a number of television series and films, including the 1950s series The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Invisible Man. Later he created and produced the highly successful spy series Danger Man (also known as Secret Agent in the United States).

In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for "services to the development of the Australian film industry".

He retired to Australia, and died on 12 February 2001, in Bowen, Queensland.[3]

Selected filmography

Writing credits
Production Notes Broadcaster
The Woodpigeon Patrol
  • Feature film (co-written and directed with F.R. Lucas, 1930)
 N/A
The Star Reporter N/A
Hotel Splendide
  • Short film (co-written with Philip MacDonald, 1932)
 N/A
C.O.D
  • Feature film (co-written with Philip MacDonald, 1932)
 N/A
His Lordship
  • Feature film (1932)
 N/A
Born Lucky
  • Feature film (1933)
 N/A
The Night of the Party N/A
The Phantom Light N/A
Crime Unlimited N/A
Convict 99 N/A
Alf's Button Afloat
  • Feature film (co-written with Marriott Edgar and Val Guest, 1938)
 N/A
The Good Old Days N/A
Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt
  • Feature film (co-written with Marriott Edgar and J. O. C. Orton, 1940)
 N/A
Bush Christmas
  • Feature film (also directed, 1947)
 N/A
Eureka Stockade N/A
Bitter Springs N/A
Where No Vultures Fly
  • Feature film (co-written with W. P. Lipscomb and Leslie Norman, 1951)
 N/A
Never Take No for an Answer N/A
Always a Bride
  • Feature film (co-written with Peter Jones, 1953)
 N/A
The Adventures of Robin Hood
  • 8 episodes (1956–1957)
 ITV
The Flying Scot
  • Feature film (co-written with Norman Hudis and Jan Read, 1957)
 N/A
The Adventures of William Tell
  • 12 episodes (also producer, 1958–1959)
 ITV
The Invisible Man
  • 6 episodes (also producer, 1959)
 ITV
Danger Man
  • 27 episodes (1960–1962)
 ITV
Danger Man (Secret Agent)
  • 14 episodes (also executive producer, 1964–1966)
 ITV
Koroshi
  • Television film (1968)
 N/A
The Champions
  • "To Trap a Rat" (1968)
  • "Get Me Out of Here!" (1969)
 ITV
Riptide
  • 8 episodes (1969)
 Seven Network
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ITV
The Protectors
  • "The Numbers Game" (1972)
 ITV
Elephant Boy
  • 13 episodes (co-written with Tony Morphett, Ted Roberts, David Whitaker and Ian Stuart Black, 1973)
 Seven Network

References
  1. Divorce Papers for Ralph Smart and Leonie Estcourt Barrett (nee Martin)
  2. War records of Ralph Smart
  3. David Anthony, 'Bowen boasts movie heritage', Townsville Bulletin, 16 June 2007
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