A NIGHT AT CINESOUND

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 8 (Supplement)

A NIGHT AT CINESOUND

WITH OLD MAN KANGAROO. MAKING A NEW FILM.

(By JOHN STORM.)

When I woke this morning I little thought I should be a film star by night, but —almost rolling in the sawdust of a circus tent—so it turned out. A waiting message when I reached home in the evening took me back to the city and out to Cinesound, where some shots were being made for a forthcoming, picture the company thought I might like to see.

A circus scene was in full swing when I reached the studios at 7.30. Many creamy ochred-looking individuals had been on the job since eight in the morning, not all the while at the circus, of Course. No joke making films! I

always thought the groans that came from Hollywood from time to time to say so, were! But it seems true that when the mood is on, the whole company will work with the tenacity of tigers stalking their prey threugh miles of jungle.

The first I wiught sight of was the gay and modest Ronald Whelan, whose brilliant performance as the rascally Portuguese in "Thoroughbred," has sounded his name through these Southern States. "Sit where you like," says this gentle-man-of-all-work in the studio, for he is, at the moment, assistant director, "down near the opening, of the tent would be the best view. You'll see everything coming out!" My thoughts ran, "Which came first, the lady or the tiger?" as I watched the canvas opening opposite me. On the far side of it T could see some handsome little ponies, a row of liveried attendants, as in any circus, and behind these moved to and fro members of tile company.

The players for this film will be all

Australian, headed by Gwen Munro, a winsome maiden discovered in Sydney some two years ago in search for film stars, who, with Colin Tapley and others, went to Hollywood. Whether she has learnt a great deal by her sojourn or whether she knew it all before, she is a little lady with a happy turn in the direction of pictured things. The scene is a simple one —for every circus tent, whether in the old world or in Australia, is just a slice cut from everyday life—but it contains one feature essentially Australian. To complete it the aid of all the guests, young and old, is invoked.

Take a look into the tent where such serious fooling is going 011! Mr. Ken Hall, the director, moves among his men with a calm and camaraderie instantly shared by his audience of supers. The camera- man and his assistants wheel the machine into place. The huge cumbersome thing stands as high as a tractor and looks like the inner side of its bonnet. Round the camera man stand a bodyguard of seven who support, standard like, seven arc lights about lift from the ground, each as powerful as a small tropic sun. Ten or fifteen such lights depend from the roof. In this sweltering heat everyone turns pink in contrast with the ochre-coloured make-up of the players.

First of all Miss Owen Munro, looking a rather shv circus queen, canters round the ring. She keeps her seat with ease and grace, though there is nothing but a decorative girth 011 the grey. The finest horse of its kind must have been found for the purpose. No old nags need apply!

The circus queen then changes her gossamer frock for a neat little coat and riding breeches anil reappears to stage manage two perfect little animals more like minute'horses than ordinary ponies. But the cream of the evening is a boxing act between a man and a kangaroo. Once before I saw such a performance as a divertissement in the old days of silent films. On that occasion a weak little animal, scarcely more than a baby, patted the head of the man in the ring with a pair of little leather gloves on his paws. But the Cinesound pugilist is a genuine grown kangaroo who if he has not yet won his spurs is in a fair way to do so. He works with grit and intelligence and in the ring seems to demand the right to fight French fashion, with his feet as well as his "hands." A blow from a kangaroo's hind leg is dangerous, hence the little drama made with the help of the supers. When we have watched with considerable pleasure the performance of the lady and the ponies Mr. Hall steps out into the ring and asks a, little spontaneous co-operation from the tiers of cheery spectators. In the picture the scene is to be one of mad excitement. The big kangaroo in the story turn--; nasty and really fights his man. If this should happen in real life the boxer would stand a good chance of death according to the custom of a Samurai hero.

Mr. Whelan explains this rather graphically in good Australion idiom, which being translated runs in this fashion:— "Be serious now," says he; "remember what will happen to the boxer if the rescue does not come in time!"

In the picture the men in_ the audience are to rush to the aid of'the boxer, and close in round the fight in the ring, while everyone else is to register consternation and horror.

The people did. Australians are very spontaneous, -I saw more truly scared expressions than.l have seien in years. In reality this animal delights in the fun and, is playful with his boxer. They are on such terms the man can grab the animal by one heel and he appears to arch his back in rage. It is the signal for the men to rush down the sawdust aisle and surround the two, and the shouts from the supers do the? rest. In spite of the tropic heat and glare wliiclr nearly overpowered strong men as well as "women and children," I added two or three good yells of my own to my looks of horror —I thought of Karloff, Bella Lugosi, and of missing the Lyttelton ferry, these three made me an actor of the first, water in a breath.

Although this seems a game, in reality it is serious to us all. These people are pioneering an industry even as their grandparents pioneered a country. They are also steering away from that recognised order of idiocy that made "Mum and Dad and Dave" the only Australians known overseas.

As time goes 011 and we become more self-supporting it seems there will be no dearth of talent among native-born film stars.

Our own New Zealand stage actress. Elaine Hamill, made a very successful film debut in "Thoroughbred" lately. The'part was ijnimportant, but the lady wais not. In past Australian pictures Jocelyn Howartli is native born, and so are Peggy Maguire and Mar got Rhys, the startling actresses of Mr. Cliauval's historical film document.

These, not to mention Australians now overseas, chief of which is the world 6tar Merle Oberon, form a little gallery of their own. And when we think of the success abroad of Colin Tapley of Dunedin, and Errol Flvnn of Sydney, we may suppose there are Valentinos and Lauglitons yet unknown somewhere in the wilds of the great Australia, and even 011 our own shores, who will star in the films of the future that will be part of a great industry here.