NEW ZEALAND FILM

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND FILM

“DOWN ON THE FARM” PRODUCTION IN OTAGO From time to time New Zealanders have been entertained by New Zealand screen efforts—productions conceived and executed entirely within the Dominion. There have been such ventures as the unforgettable “Rowi’s Last Stand,” the dainty “Bush Cinderella,” and the scenic shojp, “New Zealand .at Work and Play” and “Romantic New Zealand.”

Something quite new for Antipodea.n film producers to attempt, a hilarious comedy of farm, .life, has just been completed in Otago, and is to be given release ill Auckland within a few weeks. This is “Down oil the Farm,” produced by Messrs Stuart Pitt, of Dunedin; and Lee Hill, of Wellington, along lines, which were evidently inspired by the Australian successes, “On Our Selection,” “Grandad Rud,” and “The Hayseeds.” Mr Lee Hill may he remembered by ardent “fans” for liis fine educational films of a fewr years ago,' also for his two comedy ventures in Taranaki, “Susie of Stratford” and “Helen of Hawera.”

“Down on the Farm,” however, should not be mentioned in the same breath. It gives every promise of being a really ambitious and expensive undertaking, and the results certainly should give New 7 Zealand a definite place with Australia as a film-produc-ing country. The picture should enjoy great success in this country and Australia, and if of a sufficiently high technical standard, should appeal in England. The cast is mainly a Dunedin one, and production was made in Otago and Southland. Rolling hill country, beautiful hush scenes, homesteads nestling in green valleys—tho incomparable New Zealand scenery grftjs the picture its convincing background. But it is indeed only a background to the wealth of comedy imported into it. The chief romantic part is taken by Daphne Murdock, as Mary Hiekmot. She ,is young, and said to bring a fresh beauty to tho screen. She is a well-known Dunedin “amateur.” In accordance with its classification of “ultra-comedy,” the film has more laugh-getting roles than serious. There are Miss Erpingtou-ETpington (Gwenda Burt),, .’Oruee ’Opkins (John Stuart jbick), the “Cockney Killer”; Bill Petrie, the Woodsido Terror (Bert Nelson); Lizzie Perkins (Erina Newbold) ; and many others who provide humour. Sir Henry Hiekmot (Sydney Lock) is a contrasting character role. Other members of the cast include Angus Gorry, Joe Lee, Bobby Simpson, Ernest Griffin, Elsie McPeek, Audrey Watson, George Claridge, Roegairn Gare and the delightful children —Leila Murdoch, Joy Grey, Efron. Reid and Ra Hould.

Problem for ProducerWhether or not he should wear a blond wig'over his own jet black hair was the burning question which, confronted Fredric March and the studio research department when he prepared to play Robert Browning, the poet, in ‘‘The Barretts of Wimpole -Street,” the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which will commence, a season of three nights and three matinees at the Opera House on Saturday. The film was to have shown for four nights, but because of . heavy demand elsewhere, the Hawera booking has been curtailed. Even among experts opinion was divided as to whether the great poet was a blonde with wavy hair or a brunette. Discussion waxed hotter as production time approached, with March himself buried deep in a pile of research books.

Finally authoritative information was unearthed by the Pacific -Coast Browning Foundation, stating the poet's hair to be black and his complexion quite dark. And thus March, pleased at not having to wear a wig, appears -opposite Norma with his own dark, wavy hair in the screen version of the famous play. Another difficulty was met and bridged, this time by ingenuity. The furnishings of the original Barrett home in London, furnished before Queen Victoria’s influence was felt, was Georgian rather than Victorian. All was supplied for the settings ex cept one plush covered chair. A canvass of neighbouring collectors did not locat'o it. Pictures of a similar chair were studied, and the discovery made —the chair conformed in every detail to those used on Pullman Club cars. Thus a Pullman chair, properly modified as to legs, adorned the studio set and appears in the picture.

Douglas Fairbanks. Douglas Fairbanks, senr.„ has cancelled his contract to act in films produced by London Films Ltd., tlie company for which he appeared in “The Private Life of Don Juan.” Negotiations for the sale of Fairbanks holdings in London Films Ltd. to Mr Alexander Korda, the film director, have been completed. Fairbanks’ interest iu the company is said to be “substantial.” The cancellation of the contract to appear in the company's films is included in the present arrangement. The reason given at Hollywood for the sale is that Fairbanks intends to make pictures in future in the United States. Mr Alexander Korda states that the arrangement is quite abac able. He and Fairbanks are very good friends, and he hopes that the latter will return to England to make another film.

Gaumont-British is to make a picture based on the life of the late Edgar Wallace.