Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 5 March 1925, page 2


"JEWELLED NIGHTS"

Filming in Progress

MANY HARDSHIPS EXPERIENCED

Excellent progress is being made with the filming of Miss Marie Bjelke Petersen's well-known nov-el, ''Jewelled Nights," by Miss

Louise Lovely and her company at the Whyte and Savage Rivers. The weather conditions have been very trying, and members of the company have undergone consider-able hardships in carrying out their duties. It is expected, however, that the work in Tasmania will be completed in a couple of weeks, when the company will return to

Melbourne.

Miss Marie Bjelke Peterson, who has been with the company for the past 10 days, returned to Burnie last even-

ing.

In conversation with an "Advocate" reporter Miss Peterson said that they had had a most sensational week. The weather was phenomenally wet, and the many times she had visited the Whyte River she had never experi-enced such trying conditions. The Savage River was in flood, and rose many feet daily. So bad was the weather that the Diggers, as well as the company, were obliged to take

shelter at the 19 mile. All the "close

shots" in connection with the filming had to be done in this locality, but the company would return to the Savage River in order to take the "long

shots."

Continuing Miss Peterson said that the roads were in a dreadful state, and in parts were under water. The car conveying the party met with quite a number of mishaps, and in one instance the springs were broken. They had endured no end of hardships, having to walk three miles daily in the wet and mud. The film star, Miss Louise Lovely, had had many terrible falls, and frequently instead of being on her feet found herself lying on her

back in the mud. She could not be daunted, however. The party worked very hard at the cessation of rain, and on the only fine day experienced

took 30 scenes.

"I have never in my life," con-

tinued Miss Petersen, "spent a week

where the sun was of such tremendous importance. On rising first thing in the morning the first question was, 'Is the sun shining?' and at night, 'Will it be fine to-morrow ?' One benefit gained from the wet weather, however, was that during the whole 10 days only one snake was seen. Con-sidering the inclement weather the party are making excellent progress, and if the fine weather continues they expect to get all the outside work completed within the next two weeks. The party will then return to Mel-bourne to photograph the indoor scenes. An expert is to visit the os-miridium fields for the purpose of tak-ing models of the hills so that they may be erected in the Melbourne studio exactly like those on the field.

Referring to the film, Miss Peter- sen said that over 2,000 feet had been forwarded to Sydney to be de-veloped, and the result was being eagerly awaited. They had carried out a few tests at the river, and the result had been most satisfactory.

"When I passed through Burnie 10 days ago," said Miss Petesen, "I had not made the acquaintance of the members of the company, but I can now tell you something about them. Of course, I had met Miss Lovely pre-viously, but not in an official capacity. As Dick Fleetwood she makes a most beautiful boy, and she is very proud that on a visit to Waratah she was taken for and treated like a boy. I am most enthusiustie regarding her acting, and find that she is entering into the spirit of the book. If I had searched the world over I would not have found anyone so capable of tak-ing this role. The leading man is Mr. Gordon Collingridge, who is play-ing the part of Salomo. He is most suitable to the part, being a giant in stature and very handsome and grace-ful. He has had great experience in movie work ; he has starred in 15 pro-ductions. Grafton Williams is also in another important role, that of Red Roff. He has had a world-wide ex-perience, having been with the South African film trust for a number of years. The part of Sam is being taken by Godfrey Cass, who has had 16 years' motion picture service. Arthur Styan, who is one of the finest char-acter actors in Australia, is in the role of Ned. Another well-known actor, Harry Halley, is also in the cast his role being 'Wowser.' Jim Dobbie is playing 'Jim the Packer,' and he is a product of Miss Lovely's screen tests. She is fortunate to make such a find. Another of Miss Lovely's finds in her tests is Miss Joy Law, who is taking the part of Nora. Miss Lucille da Rago is acting as Netta, the vamp of the picture. These girls are both exceedingly pretty, and doing Miss Lovely great credit. Charles Brown is another well seasoned actor and is

well known to the public. There are two camera men — Tasman Higgins and

Walter H. Sully — both of whom have had considerable experience in this kind of work. Miss Lovely is to be congratulated ou having secured such

an able cast, and I am full of en-thusiasm over their work and charm-ing personalities."

Miss Petersen returns to Hobart to- day, calling at Sheffield on route. It

is understood that she will return to Burnie in about a fortnight in order to meet members of the company be-fore they proceed to Melbourne.