Securing Authentic Backgrounds

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22582, 21 November 1936, Page 16 (Supplement)

Securing Authentic Backgrounds

AUSTRALIAN FORESTS AND DESERTS VISITED

How thoroughly Expeditionary Films, Limited, of Australia, carries out its policy of getting film backgrounds as authentic as possible was described by the director and producer, Mr. Charles Chauvel, when he passed through Auckland a few days ago on his way to Hollywood. In referring to the recently completed picture, " Uncivilised," Mr. Chauvel said that the company had spent several weeks " on location " in the Cape York district of North Queensland. Palm Island, on which was situated the largest aboriginal settlement in Australia, was used as the headquarters for most of the work in this region, and scenes were enacted in the rain forests about the Daitree River and in the Hinchinbrook Passage. Using camel trains the film unit also penetrated into Central Australian desert beyond Broken Hill and had also done other work on the Drysdalo River, in the remote West Kimbcrley district of Western Australia. I' or studio and other scenes taken at Sydney, aborigines were required, and an entire tribe of Wei pa Biver natives was brought by special train from Queensland. Expeditionary Films' purpose, as outlined by Mr. Chauvel, of making films for an international market is apparently the object of other Australian companies according to an article in the Melbourne Herald. Australian film producers, the pa(>er states, intend to make features of world interest and are optimistic about tho future of tiie industry in tho Commonwealth. Helerling to " Uncivilised." among others, the journal adds that several Australian pictures of unusual ir.t"rest will be screened 111 different parts of tho world this year. Besides " Uncivilised/' " White Death," the Zane Grey picture made by Barrier IJeef Productions, Limited,

and " I'angle liivcr," which was made by Columbia in conjunction with National Studios, have recently bocn released in Australia. Cinesound'a " Orphan of the Wilderness," which was bought in Kngland before it was completed, received a eulogistic welcome on its recent release in Sydney. The same company lias now begun filming its new feature, " Jt Isn't Done."