Donald Swanson - Revision history

Fogterop at 11:42, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T11:42:32Z

Fogterop at 11:39, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T11:39:53Z

Fogterop at 17:37, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T17:37:28Z

Fogterop at 13:21, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:21:53Z

Fogterop at 13:20, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:20:52Z

Fogterop at 13:19, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:19:39Z

Fogterop at 13:04, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:04:03Z

Fogterop at 13:01, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:01:28Z

Fogterop at 13:00, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T13:00:04Z

Fogterop at 12:59, 16 August 2021

2021-08-16T12:59:10Z

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 After moving to Johannesburg, he directed two short features that became milestones in the South African film industry.  Both had all-African casts and were made outside the commercial framework.  The first was ''[[Jim Comes to Jo'burg]]'' (1949), made for [[Eric Rutherford]]’s Warrior Films.  It had its premiere at the Rio Theatre in Market Street, Johannesburg at which the guest speaker was Dr. A.B. Xuma, then President of the African National Congress.   For screenings overseas the title was changed to ''[[African Jim]]''.  The second film was ''[[The Magic Garden]]'', also known as ''[[The Pennywhistle Blues]]'' (1951), made for Swanson’s own [[Swan Film Productions]].  This was based on a story by [[James Ambrose Brown]], received an excellent review from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times and was shown at the 1951 Edinburgh Film Festival.
-In 1951 there was a report that Swanson would be joining Italian explorer/filmmaker [[Attilio Gatti]] as scriptwriter on a film project, but it is not known what became of this.  Before and after his two semi-features he made some more documentary shorts for [[Gaumont-British Africa]], as well as for his own company, but eventually he found more permanent employment with [[African Film Productions]], both as writer and director.  In 1955 he worked on the feature film ''[[Paul Krüger]]'', but had to abandon his involvement because he had committed himself to the production of a television series for Dominion Films for Associated-Rediffusion in Great Britain.  One of the episodes featured a young [[Miriam Makeba]].
+In 1951 there was a report that Swanson would be joining Italian explorer/filmmaker [[Attilio Gatti]] as scriptwriter on a film project, but it is not known what became of this.  Before and after his two semi-features he made some more documentary shorts for [[Gaumont-British Africa]], as well as for his own company, but eventually he found more permanent employment with [[African Film Productions]], both as writer and director.  In 1955 he worked on the feature film ''[[Paul Krüger]]'', but had to abandon his involvement because he had committed himself to the production of a television series by Dominion Films for Associated-Rediffusion in Great Britain.  One of the episodes featured a young [[Miriam Makeba]].
 After 1955 he devoted himself entirely to scriptwriting, including a number of features.  Writing seems to have been his first love and back in 1942 he had read his short story ''Blackout at Sea'' on the BBC Home Service, a tale probably based on his experiences in the Merchant Navy, including two trips to Murmansk.  He also found time to write the autobiographical ''Assignment Africa'' (1965), as well as a number of novels, one of which was banned by the [[Publications Control Board]].  In 1949 he married Gertrude Cravos (born Newport) in Roodepoort.  Usually known as Gene, she often handled continuity on his early films.  He died in November 1977 and his wife in April 1990.

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 After moving to Johannesburg, he directed two short features that became milestones in the South African film industry.  Both had all-African casts and were made outside the commercial framework.  The first was ''[[Jim Comes to Jo'burg]]'' (1949), made for [[Eric Rutherford]]’s Warrior Films.  It had its premiere at the Rio Theatre in Market Street, Johannesburg at which the guest speaker was Dr. A.B. Xuma, then President of the African National Congress.   For screenings overseas the title was changed to ''[[African Jim]]''.  The second film was ''[[The Magic Garden]]'', also known as ''[[The Pennywhistle Blues]]'' (1951), made for Swanson’s own [[Swan Film Productions]].  This was based on a story by [[James Ambrose Brown]], received an excellent review from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times and was shown at the 1951 Edinburgh Film Festival.
-In 1951 there was a report that Swanson would be joining Italian explorer/filmmaker [[Attilio Gatti]] as scriptwriter on a film project, but it is not known what became of this.  Before and after his two semi-features he made some more documentary shorts for [[Gaumont-British Africa]], as well as for his own company, but eventually he found more permanent employment with [[African Film Productions]], both as writer and director.  In 1955 he worked on the feature film ''[[Paul Krüger]]'', but had to abandon his involvement because he had committed himself to the production of a television series for Dominion Films and Associated-Rediffusion in Great Britain.
+In 1951 there was a report that Swanson would be joining Italian explorer/filmmaker [[Attilio Gatti]] as scriptwriter on a film project, but it is not known what became of this.  Before and after his two semi-features he made some more documentary shorts for [[Gaumont-British Africa]], as well as for his own company, but eventually he found more permanent employment with [[African Film Productions]], both as writer and director.  In 1955 he worked on the feature film ''[[Paul Krüger]]'', but had to abandon his involvement because he had committed himself to the production of a television series for Dominion Films for Associated-Rediffusion in Great Britain.  One of the episodes featured a young [[Miriam Makeba]].
 After 1955 he devoted himself entirely to scriptwriting, including a number of features.  Writing seems to have been his first love and back in 1942 he had read his short story ''Blackout at Sea'' on the BBC Home Service, a tale probably based on his experiences in the Merchant Navy, including two trips to Murmansk.  He also found time to write the autobiographical ''Assignment Africa'' (1965), as well as a number of novels, one of which was banned by the [[Publications Control Board]].  In 1949 he married Gertrude Cravos (born Newport) in Roodepoort.  Usually known as Gene, she often handled continuity on his early films.  He died in November 1977 and his wife in April 1990.
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 * - ''South Africa’s Lifeline'' / ''Die Slagaar van Suid-Afrika'' (documentary short) (Script with [[Frank Secker]]) (no director credited) ([[African Film Productions]] for Caltex?)
-– ''By an African Campfire'' (British TV series) (Associate Producer) (Director: Darcy Conyers) (Dominion Film Productions for Associated-Rediffusion)
+– ''By an African Campfire'', Episode ''Rogue Elephant'' (British TV series) (Associate Producer) (Director: Darcy Conyers) (Dominion Film Productions for Associated-Rediffusion)
 – ''[[Lokval in Venesië]]'' (feature) (Uncredited Script Contributor) (Director: [[Ivan Hall]]) ([[Kavalier Films]])

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 – ''[[Call me Kelly]]'' (TV series) (Contributing Scriptwriter) (Directors: [[Bernard Buys]], [[Percival Rubens]] & [[David Shreeve]]) ([[Heyns Films]] for [[SABC]])
-Besides the titles mentioned above, [[Swan Film Productions]] was responsible for the production of a number of other shorts, but with no surviving prints accessible it is not possible to check the credits.  These include ''Tropical Forest Village'' (documentary short) (1948), ''Everyone Likes to Smoke'' (advertsing film) (1950), ''I’ll Leave it to You'' (documentary short) (1950) and ''Black Diamonds'' (1953).  In addition a project called ''Coon Carniva''l, which started shooting in 1950, may not have been completed, though footage survives in the [[NFVSA]].
+Besides the titles mentioned above, [[Swan Film Productions]] was responsible for the production of a number of other shorts, but with no surviving prints accessible it is not possible to check the credits.  These include ''Tropical Forest Village'' (documentary short) (1948), ''Everyone Likes to Smoke'' (advertsing film) (1950), ''I’ll Leave it to You'' (documentary short) (1950) and ''Black Diamonds'' (1953).  In addition a project called ''Coon Carnival''l, which started shooting in 1950, may not have been completed, though footage survives in the [[NFVSA]].  Interestingly, [[Swan Film Productions]] was also responsible for the sound on the [[Jamie Uys]] film ''[[Daar Doer in die Bosveld]]'' (1951).
 == Sources ==

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 Swanson, Donald - ''Assignment Africa'' (1965)
-'''Assignment Africa': Donald Swanson's Colonial Imaginary and ''Chisiko the African'''' (1949) - Paper by [[Jacqueline Maingard]] (2013)
+''Assignment Africa': Donald Swanson's Colonial Imaginary and ''Chisiko the African'' (1949)'' - Paper by [[Jacqueline Maingard]] (2013)
 ''Journal of Southern African Studies'', 39(3):701-719.

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 == Sources ==
-Sunday Times, 24 October 1948
+''Sunday Times'', 24 October 1948
-Rand Daily Mail, 30 June 1955
+''Rand Daily Mail'', 30 June 1955
-Swanson, Donald - Assignment Africa (1965)
+Swanson, Donald - ''Assignment Africa'' (1965)
-'Assignment Africa': Donald Swanson's Colonial Imaginary and ''Chisiko the African'' (1949) - Paper by Jacqueline Maingard (2013)
+'''Assignment Africa': Donald Swanson's Colonial Imaginary and ''Chisiko the African'''' (1949) - Paper by [[Jacqueline Maingard]] (2013)
 ''Journal of Southern African Studies'', 39(3):701-719.

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 == Sources ==
 ''Journal of Southern African Studies'', 39(3):701-719.
-Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
+https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0841779/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1
 == Return to ==

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 – ''The Mystery of the Snakeskin Belt'' (children’s serial) (Script with Mary Cathcart Borer) (Director: Frank Cadman) ([[Gaumont-British Africa]] for Children’s Entertainment Films),
-– ''[[Jim Comes to Jo’burg]]'' / ''[[African Jim]]'' (semi-feature) (Director) (Warrior Films),
+– ''[[Jim Comes to Jo'burg]]'' / ''[[African Jim]]'' (semi-feature) (Director) (Warrior Films),
 – ''Mining Centre, Johannesburg'' (documentary short) (Directed with S.G. (Guy) Fergusson) (G-B Instructional),

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 Donald Andrew Swanson was born on 27 January 1917 in Willesden, Middlesex, the son of Charles Swanson, a sometime actor and theatre dresser, and his wife Orpah Bailey.  According to the 1939 Register, he was a farm assistant in Oxfordshire, but during World War II he served in the Merchant Navy and upon discharge found employment with Gaumont-British Instructional, working in various capacities on a number of documentaries. In 1949 he was seconded to [[Gaumont-British Africa]] and directed ''Chisoko the African'' for the Roan Antelope Copper Mines in what was then Northern Rhodesia.
-After moving to Johannesburg, he directed two short features that became milestones in the South African film industry.  Both had all-African casts and were made outside the commercial framework.  The first was ''[[Jim Comes to Jo’burg]]'' (1949), made for [[Eric Rutherford]]’s Warrior Films.  It had its premiere at the Rio Theatre in Market Street, Johannesburg at which the guest speaker was Dr. A.B. Xuma, then President of the African National Congress.   For screenings overseas the title was changed to ''[[African Jim]]''.  The second film was ''[[The Magic Garden]]'', also known as ''[[The Pennywhistle Blues]]'' (1951), made for Swanson’s own [[Swan Film Productions]].  This was based on a story by [[James Ambrose Brown]], received an excellent review from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times and was shown at the 1951 Edinburgh Film Festival.
+After moving to Johannesburg, he directed two short features that became milestones in the South African film industry.  Both had all-African casts and were made outside the commercial framework.  The first was ''[[Jim Comes to Jo'burg]]'' (1949), made for [[Eric Rutherford]]’s Warrior Films.  It had its premiere at the Rio Theatre in Market Street, Johannesburg at which the guest speaker was Dr. A.B. Xuma, then President of the African National Congress.   For screenings overseas the title was changed to ''[[African Jim]]''.  The second film was ''[[The Magic Garden]]'', also known as ''[[The Pennywhistle Blues]]'' (1951), made for Swanson’s own [[Swan Film Productions]].  This was based on a story by [[James Ambrose Brown]], received an excellent review from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times and was shown at the 1951 Edinburgh Film Festival.
 In 1951 there was a report that Swanson would be joining Italian explorer/filmmaker [[Attilio Gatti]] as scriptwriter on a film project, but it is not known what became of this.  Before and after his two semi-features he made some more documentary shorts for [[Gaumont-British Africa]], as well as for his own company, but eventually he found more permanent employment with [[African Film Productions]], both as writer and director.  In 1955 he worked on the feature film ''[[Paul Krüger]]'', but had to abandon his involvement because he had committed himself to the production of a television series for Dominion Films and Associated-Rediffusion in Great Britain.

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 '''Donald Swanson''' (1917 – 1977) was a film director, producer and writer.
--- Biography --
+== Biography ==
 Donald Andrew Swanson was born on 27 January 1917 in Willesden, Middlesex, the son of Charles Swanson, a sometime actor and theatre dresser, and his wife Orpah Bailey.  According to the 1939 Register, he was a farm assistant in Oxfordshire, but during World War II he served in the Merchant Navy and upon discharge found employment with Gaumont-British Instructional, working in various capacities on a number of documentaries. In 1949 he was seconded to [[Gaumont-British Africa]] and directed ''Chisoko the African'' for the Roan Antelope Copper Mines in what was then Northern Rhodesia.
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 After 1955 he devoted himself entirely to scriptwriting, including a number of features.  Writing seems to have been his first love and back in 1942 he had read his short story ''Blackout at Sea'' on the BBC Home Service, a tale probably based on his experiences in the Merchant Navy, including two trips to Murmansk.  He also found time to write the autobiographical ''Assignment Africa'' (1965), as well as a number of novels, one of which was banned by the [[Publications Control Board]].  In 1949 he married Gertrude Cravos (born Newport) in Roodepoort.  Usually known as Gene, she often handled continuity on his early films.  He died in November 1977 and his wife in April 1990.
--- African Credits --
+== African Credits ==
 – ''Chisoko the African'' (documentary short) (Director) (G-B Instructional / [[Gaumont-British Africa]] for Roan Antelope Copper Mines),