"Freedom Radio"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 10 (Supplement)

"Freedom Radio"

BIG BRITISH FILM

"Freedom Radio" is probably the biggest British film to go into production since the outbreak of the war. There are 120 speaking parts, ninety sets and there will ,bo work lor 3000 extras.

Incidentally, with extras in demand again, the studios are now finding it difficult to get the number they need.

Assistant Director Rex Thomas, who had the job of finding 250 for a dance hall scene for "Sailors Three," the new Tommy Trinder—Claude Hulbert comedy at Ealing, said that the difficulty was that so many had found war jobs. "This applies to women as well as men," lie explained. "They are doing A.R.P. jobs of all kinds, and aro no longer available for screen work. "The problem of finding men is getting increasingly difficult. Those who were reservists or territorials were called up right at the beginning of the war. and now .the others are being called up with their age groups. It's bard to cast a film in which the characters are young men. /- "These difficulties are doubly increased when it comes to getting'particular types. This is our second successive 7ia\-nl film at Ealing (the first was "Convoy," just completed), and we have needed numerous sailors for each. But most of the younger sailor types are now serving in one or the other of the forces."

One extra on the "Sailors Three" set —a man young enough to be just on the verge of being called up—relates that he could have had two other film jobs the same day.