West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 5 November 1935, page 17


NATIONAL FILMS.

ENGLISH CO-OPERATION. Production Unit Arrives Today,

Three members of the GaumontBritish Picture Corporation production unit, which is to make the film 'The Flying Doctor' at the National Studios, Page

wood, near Sydney, early in the new year, for distribution throughout Australia and overseas, will arrive at Fremantle by the Strathnaver this morning. They are ?-rr. Miles Mander, the wellknown English author, actor and director, who will direct the picture; Captain J. O. C. Orton, who will be in charge of the scenario department; and Mr. T. W. Connochie, who will act as unit production manager. They will later on be joined by Mr. Derek Williams, the lighting and camera expert,' who will reach Fremantle on the Moldavia on November 18. The. arrival of this unit signifies Australian participation in a significant development in the international film field. The Gaumont-British Corporation, which has grown into one of the biggest production companies, is out to put the British Empire on the cinema map of the world, and to this end will co-operate next year in the production of 'The Flying Doctor' in Australia, 'Soldiers Three In India, and 'The Barrier' in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. For 'The Flying Doctor,' as for the other films, wellknown atars will be engaged. Mr. Michael Balcon, director of productions for Gaumont-British-Gainsborough, and one of the highest paid men in the British industry, who is shortly visiting Hollywood, will be in touch by cable with the production unit in Sydney, and it is the intention of the producing company to make star arrangements with him direct. If possible, Australian actors will be se

Mr. ALAN J. WILLIAMSON.

Mr. ALAN J. WILLIAMSON.

lected. At the very least the production will cost more than £20,000. The cOmr pany, National Productions, Ltd., with a registered capital of £50,000, whose directors are Sir Hugh Denison, Sir Samuel Walder and Sir James Murdoch, with Mr. Fred Daniell as general manager, is prepared to increase its finances if necessary. Studios Near Sydney. This, and other information concernIng the company's plans, was divulged yesterday by Mr. Alan Williamson, direct Australian representative of the Gaumont-Britlsh Film Corporation, who reached Perth yesterday in order to welcome today's three arrivals. He said that the Pagewood studios, eight miles out of Sydney, were now complete in every way, having been equipped under the supervision of Mr. Leslie Fry, the GaumontBritish engineer specially sent out for that purpose four months ago. With wide range recording, the studio was a replica of the largest studio erected by GaumontBritish at Shepherd's Bush, London, and some 23 acres of ground were available for exterior sets. Mr. Charles Chauvel was shortly renting the studio for one of his own productions. ? . . . 'We shall spend a considerableMme pi*frin'uig^of 'pfbaaottonN&f^gfte^^iyMBr Doctor/ ' Mr. Williamson said, 'and may, not start shooting until early next year. The popular story by Robert Waldron, published by the New South Wales Bookstall Co., has been liberally translated by Captain Orton on the way out. It is a good romance with a rather unique national hero, and will give us the opportunity of putting in a fair amount of station life, as well as modern city life. This subject will enable us to show the vastness of Australia in a way that should interest the outside world. Accuracy of detail is assured by the promised cooperation of the Australian Aerial Medical Service.'The 'The Gaumont production unit cannot, ; of course, remain in Australia permanently—indeed, they are all under contract to return with six months; but it is the intention of the producing company gradually to develop its own technical unit, and in this connexion the visiting unit's guidance should be invaluable. In this first film they win have under them an Australian staff which has already had some training in film production.'