AUSTRALIAN FILMS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1934, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN FILMS

CAN XOW STAND ALONE

"FORCE TO BE RECKONED

WITH"

Well known in New Zealand as a former player in Clem Dawes's "Midnight Frolics," Mr. A. Regan arrived from Sydney today to take up an important managerial position for J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Mr. 'Regan spent threo years in Dunedin as manager of the Regent ana Octagon Theatres, but for the past eighteen months has been in Australia. ' Accompanied by Mrs. Regan aud their child he is looking forward to settling in the Dominion again. "I think vaudeville as we knew.it in the earlier days is finished definitely, with the important exception of isolated instances," said Mr. Regan speaking to an "Evening Post" reporter. "By that I mean that a. company may come to Wellington and owing to a long absence of vaudeville, win a success. Then another vaudeville company may follow immediately and fail.

"In tho not too distant future there may be some combination of flesh and blood with films, but I believe the, films will always predominate now. 'After seeing 'The, Silence of Dean Maitland' produced in Australia, I am convinced' that Australia will need no sentimental enthusiasm to boost her future productions. That picture definitely, stamps the Australian product as a force to be reckoned with, provided suitable stories can be obtained;

"The groat competition offered by successful British films to the American productions can only result in better films coming from both countries. It must be noted that many of the bigger Hollywood pictures contain casts which are practically all British. The motion picture, in my opinion, has definitely established itself as the entertainment for the masses, and that provides better chances, for large production."