AUSTRALIAN FILMS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN FILMS

DOMINION BACKGROUNDS PROSPECT OF DEVELOPMENT VISITING MAGNATE'S OPINION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Monday That the development £f the moving picture industry in Australia should be much more rapid than in the early days at Hollywood, was the opinion expressed by Mr Adolph Zukor, head of the Paramount Pictures organisation, on the arrival of the Monterey. He was a through passenger from Sydney to Los Angeles. “ The Australians are where we were 26 or 27 years ago,” said Mr Zukor, “ but we had to blaze the trail and they will have the advantage of our experience. They are just as well off in human material as we were when we started, and they should have no difficulty in securing the technical equipment required. It is not hard to get capital, but the problem is to make good use of it when you get it.” As to New Zealand’s position Mr Zukor thought it might be possible to bring an occasional cast of performers to the Dominion from Australia or America and make use of supporting local talent for films to be screened against a New Zealand background. The native life and scenic wonders here would be the chief attraction m such ventures.