“BIRTH OF AUSTRALASIA”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 13

“BIRTH OF AUSTRALASIA”

BEAUMONT SMITH’S BIG FILM. Mr Beaumont Smith, leading Australian' picture producer, announced last n ijght that he 'had decided to mate a super film, entitled "The Birth of Australasia." "It will be the biggest thing ever attempted in Australasia," added Mr Smith, "and will cover the story of tho Commonwealth and New Zealand from thfe days of the-earliest explorations.'' "It will not he purely historical, hut a typical Australasian story will run throughout.” Mr Smith has been engaged for a considerable time on research work for this film, and will commence actual work on the production in a few days. Scenes will be taken throughout the whole of the Commonwealth, and many people will he required to impersonate many well-known figures in the history of Australia and New Zealand. The production is estimated to cost at least .£15,000. Mr Beaumont Smith is the most consistent and successful of Australian producers, having made seventeen feature pictures within the past four years.

dmiininßainiuiiunamnninnniuumimanißißßigaiiiinmßg Louis B. Mayer, famous motion pictu Sroducer and head of the Metro-Goi civvy layer studios at Culver City, Californi asserts that it is only by encouragii young players that the future popularr of the motion picturo can be assure '‘People to-day want youth/' he say “and it should be the business of evei producer to see that talented youth r ceivcs every opportunity of asserting i self/' Mr Mayer is as good as his wor for during the past twelve months 1 has brought a number of young playe well to the front. They include ti Canadian beauty, Norma Shearer, Au tralian Mae Busch, Williarh Haine Beautiful Eleanor Boardman, Barm Novarro, who is the star of “Ben Hur little Sally O'Neill, who only a fe months ago wns a totally unknown “e tra/' and who is now being starred 1 such directors as Rupert Hughes ai Marshall Neilan.