Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Saturday 2 April 1949, page 1


Mr. Playford "Sells" S.A. Film Sites

SYDNEY, April 1.

The enterprise of the Premier of South Australia (Mr. Playford) has gained for his State at the expense

of Queensland, the location site for one and possibly two new Australian pictures. The general manager in Australia for EalingStudkjs, of London (Mr. Eric Williams) announced tonight that the outdoors sequences fUor the new Australian comedy film, "Bitter Springs," would be made in the Joinders Ranges in South Australia. The film unit will be located at Quorn. The isnel "*l comedian Tommy Trinder is coming to Australia later this month to play the lead in t*l* wim The Australian actor Chips ftafferty and the Bnglteh actor Gordon Jackson will also have major rotes. Earl' pr, plans had been made by Ealing executives in Australia to film the outdoor shots in the *iim at Murgon, Queensland. Mr. Playford. keen to obtain some film-making honor for bis State, bad a motion picture made of suitable location sites in South Australia and forwarded it to executives in London with a suggestion that one of tile sites could be ptywifx* for "Robbery Under Arms,'' which will be put in production after "Bitter Springs." QlcL AbmcLonQQ. The settings in Mr. Playford's picture so impressed the English executives of the company that they decided to abandon plans for the Murgon site and switch their activities to South'. Australia. Mr. Williams said that Mr. Playford's film also showed practically every type of setting needed for "Bobbery Under Arms" and it was possible that this picture would also be made there, although an early decision would not be made. He added that several major changes had been mtt flp in the script of "Bitter Springs" since tne Queensland site was tentatively selected, and this also influenced the decision In favor of South Australia. Mr. Williams, the producer (Mr. Ralph Smart), and ttw production manager (Mr. John Six) came to Adelaide from Sydney last week for final discussions witb Mr. Flayford and the Director of (he Tourist Bureau (Mr. Baker). They inspected the Qoom ana. Mr. Bix win return on Monday to start prelittlnaiy produe-