Character From Real Life

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 13

Character From Real Life

NEW Zealand audiences who have enjoyed the art of Cecil Kellaway, are now to see him in a medium he has used only once before—the screen. In “It Isn’t Done” this master of characterisation is not only seen in one of his greatest roles, but in a story written by himself.

“I tried, not just to place my story in an Australian setting, but to give the screen something that is essentially Australian in spiirt when I wrote, ‘lt Isn’t Done,’” states the actor-author.

"Hubert Blaydon—the squattor who inherits an English title —is an actual character. I’ve enjoyed portraying this role, because I know him so thoroughly. I’ve stayed on his property, I’ve studied his mannerisms. He is the jovial, lovable person who is symbolic of the democratic carefree spirit of a sunny land.”

Asked in Sydney if he always based pis charaetfffisstioiis on actual people, Mr, Kellaway admitted that Ho found this most satisfactory,

“Take 'Music In The Air,’ ’’ he said. “The character of the music master immediately suggested to me un old musipifin I knew; his name was Voight. When i was speaking my linos I could perpetually see him In my mind’s eye. From him, I developed this character. Subconsciously I found myself adopt-