Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Saturday 8 March 1947, page 12


Rank's men to make children's films here

BKITISH cinemagnate J. Arthur Rank's fastexpanding organisation plans to make several children's films as full-length features in Aus

tralia this year.

Success of producer Ralph Smart's Bush Christmas — made in Australia last year for Gaumont-British Instructional Films — is behind the move. Bruce Woolf, managing director of this company, says: 'Btish Christmas is such an excellent film that it justifies production of more similar children's movies. 'Australia has first-class material; and we hope to get everything ready soon.' The Rank organisation is hoping to get Ralph Smart (coproducer of The Overlanders before he made Bush Christmas) to carry on this Australian film job. Says Smart: 'I want to make -a really swift, exciting serial

story for youngsters. 'I may possibly tell the adventures of a family of Australian children who live outback.' At The Theatre ?THE Day family on the stage and the thin ranks in front of it went happily through the homespun humanisms of Life With Father last night but in what unhappily amounted to splendid isolation. This notable play was adequately acted (principally, Leonard Lord), quite adroitly produced and lacking nothing of first-night glitter apart from a sizable first-night audience. It deserves a better fate. — HIS MAJESTY'S.