Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 5 January 1928, page 6


£100,000 SPENT.

Australia's Year in Films.

YOUNG INDUSTRY.

SYDNEY, Wednesday.-1927 will go down as a red letter year in the his-tory of Australian film production, as a brave effort has been made to put the local industry on a firm footing. Dur-ing the year more than £100,000 has been spent on films. In twelve months' production, expenditure equalled that of the preceding decade.

One film alone cost £50,000, and it is expected that the Australian rentals for this picture will bring in the cost. There is some speculation as to what amount foreign markets will return, but it is thought by experienced men that at least another £40,000 will be forthcoming from that source.

Two other pictures cost £30,000 and £15,000 respectively, but they have not yet been released. The former is in the last stages of editing.

As the film industry in Australia is yet "a baby," it is easy to compile a list of productions, including cost and the earnings of some. Compari-son proves interesting.

"For the Term of His Natural Life"

cost £50,000; "The Adorable Out-cast" approximately £30,000; "The Romance of Runnibede, " £15,000;

"The Moth of Moonbi" £4400: "Greenhide" £3800; "Jewelled Nights" £8016; "Sentimental Bloke" £2000; "Nurse Cavell" £1400; and

"Environment" £4000.

Earnings are credited as follows: "Peter Vernon's Silence," £1114, of which the producing company received £724; "The Dinkum Bloke," £6148, of which the producers received £3990; "Nurse Cavell," about £25,000; and "Jewelled Nights" nearly £6000.

"The Kelly Gang" and "The Man They Couldn't Hang" made big profits on the outlay of capital. The first cost £450 and made £20,000, and the latter was produced for £300 and earn-

ed a similar amount.