South Pacific Playground is a 1953 Australian documentary directed by Ken G. Hall. It is a travelogue of Sydney beach suburbs, in particular Manly. It was released as a supporting featurette in some cinemas.
| South Pacific Playground | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ken G. Hall |
| Produced by | Ken G. Hall |
| Cinematography | Ron Horner |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 20 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £2500[2] |
The movie was meant to be the first of a series of panoramic fea-turettes being produced locally by Cinesound Studios in full colour.[3] It was shot in Gevacolor.[4]
The film was screened privately to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Canberra during their Royal Tour of 1954.[5]
Reception
editThe Catholic Weekly wrote, "The film has some faults. Its beautiful photography is marred several times by glare, and also by the motion of the camera. Sensitive ears will not take kindly to a bad grammatical error the commentator makes at one stage. And perhaps some will grow tired of looking at the same girls parading in front of the camera. But for all that it is a beautiful piece of work. One feels there are many other places in our country waiting for the cameraman to do justice to them."[6]
The Bulletin called it "a magnificent photographic tour of Sydney’s northern beaches from Manly to Palm Beach. The producer hasn’t missed a trick. Into the 20 minutes’ running-time he has crowded every possible diversion for the pleasure-seeker. In particular the shots of surfing and surf-skiing are first-rate. If there is a fault it is that the colour (by Gevacolor) is occasionally too heavy."[7]
The film is described as "a particularly fine short film" in the Motion Picture Directory.[8] The Hollywood Reporter mentions its success.[9]
According to the Film Censorship Board "This film is enjoying great popularity with Australian audiences and, when screened in Other Countries, will assuredly provide excellent publicity for Australia".[10]
References
edit- ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 December 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 13 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Rotarians Hear Talk On Film". The Blue Mountains Advertiser. Vol. 35, no. 25. New South Wales, Australia. 24 June 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 12 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "What's new in the film world". The Sun. No. 13, 693. New South Wales, Australia. 30 December 1953. p. 15 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 12 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Films and Theatres". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVIII, no. 207. New South Wales, Australia. 19 November 1953. p. 34. Retrieved 12 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Stage And Screen". The Newcastle Sun. No. 11, 158. New South Wales, Australia. 4 March 1954. p. 26. Retrieved 12 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "South Pacific Playground". The Catholic Weekly. Sydney. 7 January 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 13 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Talkies", The Bulletin, 75 (3856), 6 January 1954, nla.obj-540492598, retrieved 12 January 2024 – via Trove
- ^ Motion Picture Directory: Who's who in the Motion Picture Industry of Australia and New Zealand. Derwent Enterprises Pty. 1952.
- ^ The Hollywood Reporter. Wilkerson Daily Corporation. 1954.
- ^ Commonwealth Film Censorship Board (Australia)., "FILM PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA", Report, Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) (1953), nla.obj-2747562263, retrieved 12 January 2024 – via Trove
External links
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