The life of a happy-go-lucky 10-year-old boy is the focus of this quirky children's film written and directed by Anthony Kimmins. Set in the Australian outback, the film features Colin Petersen (later the Bee Gees' drummer during their late '60s purple patch) as the title character, a cheeky lad trying to save up for a new bike. With an assist from his neighbors, Smiley begins to fill his piggy bank - but drug-running and gambling threaten to undo his efforts. Filmed in widescreen Technicolor (though aired recently in pan and scan on Fox Movie Channel) and co-starring Ralph Richardson, Chips Rafferty, and Charles Tingwell, Smiley was shot on location in New South Wales, and was popular enough to spawn a sequel, Smiley Gets a Gun. Oh, those wacky Australians.
