Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 2 August 1936, page 14


CIRCUS THRILLS

- in "Wilderness Orphan"

Small boys and girls, grown men and women, round ' the Waverley (Sydney) district have had the treat of ] a lifetime-a real circus to which admission has been free for three matinees and three nights. All they have had io do is io laugh heartily and naturally at the spectacular turns thai have been put on-and that is

what they have had no trouble in doing. And to add ' io the thrills, the audience has been filmed in Cinesound's new production, "Wilderness Orphan''

There was all the real circus atmo-sphere, powerful arc lights blazed down on a sea of faces-a row of small boys dangled their legs from the back of a high tier of benches in a crowded circus tent.

In the centre of the ring, two boxers fought a desperate battle. One, seven or eight feet high, a grotesque, clumsy figure, lashed out, with gloved hands, and sent an agile little man in black tights reeling into the ropes. There was a cry from several hundred throats as "Chut," the world-famous boxiag kangaroo, with a swift kick from his powerful hind legs, tried to tear his hated master, the villainous

"Shorty McGee," to pieces. \

The tent was in an uproar- Scream-ing women shrank back in horror, as several brave men rushed into the ring to drag the senseless body from the

frantic animal.

Before they could reach him, how-ever, a boy sprang forward, and clap-ped a black board, painted with white figures, before the still figure. A tall man in a brown leather jacket faced the crowd. "Thank you." he said, "that was fine." And thus Director Ken G. Hall had completed another circus shot of "Wilderness Orphan."

Harry Abdy, no longer a leering vil-lain, sprang to his feet, patted the 'roo, and led him off the set to thun-derous applause.

Tall circus attendants in green uni-forms cleared the ring, and, through tlie canvas entrance, a dainty figure in a white ballet frock, rode into the ring balanced on a handsome pony. In true circus fashion, Gwen Munro, lovely young star of the film, showed how a bare-back rider should ride.

Another girl, with shining black hair, a pleated ruffle and an abbrevi-ated spangled costume, entered on a smaller pony, and also trotted around the ring. It was petite Sylvia Kelle-way, who plays the role of "Nell" In

the film.

As Gwen is one of the few women in Australia with a steeplechase license, and Sylvia used to ride her father's racehorses, you know why they man-aged to stay on!

As they left the ring, the camera moved its position- Lights were drawn closer towards the ring. The crowd leaned forward, eager to watch the next exciting "shot," With a leap, two clowns jumped into the centre of the ring. A shout of laughter greeted their antics, and the grimaces of their painted white faces. The small boys screamed with delight.

There was a call for silence. A buz-zer sounded- The boy ran forward with the clapper. The voice of the director called "Roll." There was s faint whirring of the camera, and at his cry of "Action,"' the audience broke into a roar of laughter. There wac no need to act. They laughed naturally.

' Cinesound'e circus waa a huge

success. The house was always packed to capacity« and audiences are going to have the thrill of their lives trying-ta pick themselves out when "Wilderness Orphan" ia rm»

leased shortly.