Cinesound Productions
Encyclopedia
Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was one of Australia's first feature film production companies. Established in June 1932, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred around Greater Union Theatres
, that covered all facets of the film process, from production, to distribution and exhibition.
Cinesound Productions established a film studio as a subsidiary of Greater Union Theatres Pty Ltd based on the Hollywood model. The first production was On Our Selection
(1932), which was an enormous financial success.
and Ken Hall
were the major figures involved in the establishment of Cinesound in 1931. Stuart Doyle was the Managing Director of Greater Union Theatres, and it was his desire to encourage an Australian film industry that provided the impetus for Cinesound to develop. Doyle appointed his then personal assistant, Ken Hall, to the position of General Manager of Cinesound, and also put him in charge as supervisor of production. In this role, Ken Hall directed all but one of the seventeen films that Cinesound produced and also handled the business affairs of the company. Hall continued to lead Cinesound until 1956.
Both Doyle and Hall were very committed to the notion of showmanship, which encompassed ideas relating to the type of entertainment the public would want to enjoy, and how to effectively publicise that entertainment to the masses. The publicity campaign for The Squatter's Daughter
, and its star Jocelyn Howarth
, was particularly imbued with this concept. They were also interested in creating a star system along Hollywood lines promoting the idea that Cinesound was a "little Hollywood". It was this dedication to showmanship that led to all but one of Cinesound's feature films making a profit from the first release, and all of the films eventually at least broke even. In 1939 Hall said that the budgets of Cinesound films were usually between ₤10,000 and ₤20,000, and estimated that his first fourteen films had earned ₤350,000 at the box office.
and an adaptation of Robbery Under Arms
, as well as several films produced in Queensland over the next two years, one set in the cattle industry, another in the cane fields and a third on the Great Barrier Reef
. It was proposed Cinesound would make 12 movies a year in the first year of the quota: four "super productions", four "quota specials", and four independent Cinesound productions. There was also talk of establishing a studio in Melbourne at St Kilda.
In 1936 they announced they would make six films a year, with one unit devoted to shooting outdoor movies..
In the end the quotas did not prove effective enough to support such a program, although Cinesound kept making movies until 1940.
On June 30, 1937 Cinesound reported a loss of £5,254 but soon recovered - in the six month period ending December 31, 1937 the company earned a profit of £2,788.
For the financial year ended July 2, 1938, the company made a profit of £7,647. However, the feature division was affected by an amendment to British film legislation which meant that Australian films no longer counted as "British" under the local quota. This saw the loss of a guaranteed market for Cinesound films, which normally sold for £6,500 - £7,500 to Britain, and forced the studio to make more broad-based comedies.
In February 1939 a company was registered, Cinesound Features Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of Cinesound Productions Pty. Ltd, to produce the feature productions of the parent company. The directors of the new company were the same as Cinesound Productions: Norman Rydge, Edwin Geach, and John Goulston.
Profits for later years were as follows:
1940 - ₤2,821
1941 - ₤1,242
1942 - ₤5,018
(who acted in many Cinesound films), it offered training in "deportment, enunciation, miming, microphone technique and limbering." By 1940 the school had had over 200 students, including Grant Taylor
and Yvonne East, who featured in Dad Rudd, MP
(1940), plus Valerie Scanlon, Lorna Westbrook, Natalie Raine, and Mary Sinclair.
After the war, a British producer and exhibitor named J. Arthur Rank bought a controlling interest in Greater Union
, and used the theatre chain primarily to exhibit British films, whilst discouraging local feature production. Hence Cinesound never regained its place as a major local film producer, and Australian film production was almost non-existent for the next two decades.
In 1940 the Australian Government decided to channel news footage to the public through the existing newsreel companies, Cinesound and Movietone. In the same year Cinesound abandoned feature production for the duration of the war. By this stage it was estimated Cinesound films had earned ₤400,000 at the box office.
In 1942 Cinesound provided the operational base for the film unit of the US Signal Corps to prepare newsreels for viewing to American troops in the South West Pacific theatre of the war.
In 1946 arrangements were made with the commercial film distribution companies to distribute selected Commonwealth Film Unit productions in Australian cinemas on a commercial basis. Similar arrangements existed for the release of general sponsored documentaries produced by Movietone and Cinesound.
Other Australian producers were almost totally deprived of access to commercial cinema screens.
Despite the success of Ken G Hall's last feature, Smithy, which was backed by Columbia Pictures as a means of repatriating frozen currency held in Australia due to wartime restrictions, Greater Union Theatres decided not to resume post-war production through Cinesound.
Of all these an adaptation of Robbery Under Arms
was the most frequently discussed - Ken G. Hall later described it as "the film I wanted to make more than any other". Film rights were bought from Raymond Longford
and a script prepared with the movie meant to go into production in winter 1934 after making Cinesound Varieties
, but it was originally postponed because of a desire to make the film in summer time. Plans to make the film the next year were held up because Cinesound were unsure whether the ban against bushranging films still applied.
Greater Union
Greater Union, Birch Carroll and Coyle, Event Cinemas, Skycity Cinemas and Damodar Village Cinemas together form a chain of cinema multiplexes across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji...
, that covered all facets of the film process, from production, to distribution and exhibition.
Cinesound Productions established a film studio as a subsidiary of Greater Union Theatres Pty Ltd based on the Hollywood model. The first production was On Our Selection
On Our Selection (1932 film)
On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
(1932), which was an enormous financial success.
Establishment
Stuart F. DoyleStuart F. Doyle
Stuart Frank Doyle , better known as Stuart F. Doyle, was an Australian radio and theatrical entrepreneur. He joined Union Theatres and Australasian Films and worked his way up to managing director, establishing the Capitol Theatre and State Theatre in Sydney as well as the State Theatre in Melbourne...
and Ken Hall
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
were the major figures involved in the establishment of Cinesound in 1931. Stuart Doyle was the Managing Director of Greater Union Theatres, and it was his desire to encourage an Australian film industry that provided the impetus for Cinesound to develop. Doyle appointed his then personal assistant, Ken Hall, to the position of General Manager of Cinesound, and also put him in charge as supervisor of production. In this role, Ken Hall directed all but one of the seventeen films that Cinesound produced and also handled the business affairs of the company. Hall continued to lead Cinesound until 1956.
Both Doyle and Hall were very committed to the notion of showmanship, which encompassed ideas relating to the type of entertainment the public would want to enjoy, and how to effectively publicise that entertainment to the masses. The publicity campaign for The Squatter's Daughter
The Squatter's Daughter
The Squatter's Daughter is a 1933 Australian melodrama starring Jocelyn Howarth. It is based on a 1907 play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan which had been previously filmed in 1910.-Synopsis:...
, and its star Jocelyn Howarth
Constance Worth
Constance Worth was an Australian actress who became a Hollywood star in the late 1930s.-Early life and career:...
, was particularly imbued with this concept. They were also interested in creating a star system along Hollywood lines promoting the idea that Cinesound was a "little Hollywood". It was this dedication to showmanship that led to all but one of Cinesound's feature films making a profit from the first release, and all of the films eventually at least broke even. In 1939 Hall said that the budgets of Cinesound films were usually between ₤10,000 and ₤20,000, and estimated that his first fourteen films had earned ₤350,000 at the box office.
Corporate History
The success of On Our Selection and The Squatter's Daughter, along with the proposed introduction of quotas for Australian films in the mid 1930s, saw Cinesound become bullish about expansion. They increased the size of their studio to make Strike Me Lucky, and announced a series of future productions, including Grandad RuddGrandad Rudd
Grandad Rudd is a 1935 comedy featuring the Dad and Dave characters created by Steele Rudd and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to On Our Selection, and was later followed by Dad and Dave Come to Town and Dad Rudd, MP.-Original Play:...
and an adaptation of Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms is a classic Australian novel by Rolf Boldrewood . It was first published in serialised form by The Sydney Mail between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in London in 1888...
, as well as several films produced in Queensland over the next two years, one set in the cattle industry, another in the cane fields and a third on the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
. It was proposed Cinesound would make 12 movies a year in the first year of the quota: four "super productions", four "quota specials", and four independent Cinesound productions. There was also talk of establishing a studio in Melbourne at St Kilda.
In 1936 they announced they would make six films a year, with one unit devoted to shooting outdoor movies..
In the end the quotas did not prove effective enough to support such a program, although Cinesound kept making movies until 1940.
Profitability
In 1933 Cinesound reported profits of ₤4,010 and in 1934 these reached ₤8,800. In the financial year ending 1935, the studio stopped production for six months out of the uncertainty within the Australian film industry, and allowing Hall to visit Hollywood. This saw profits drop to ₤4,220 for that year.On June 30, 1937 Cinesound reported a loss of £5,254 but soon recovered - in the six month period ending December 31, 1937 the company earned a profit of £2,788.
For the financial year ended July 2, 1938, the company made a profit of £7,647. However, the feature division was affected by an amendment to British film legislation which meant that Australian films no longer counted as "British" under the local quota. This saw the loss of a guaranteed market for Cinesound films, which normally sold for £6,500 - £7,500 to Britain, and forced the studio to make more broad-based comedies.
In February 1939 a company was registered, Cinesound Features Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of Cinesound Productions Pty. Ltd, to produce the feature productions of the parent company. The directors of the new company were the same as Cinesound Productions: Norman Rydge, Edwin Geach, and John Goulston.
Profits for later years were as follows:
1940 - ₤2,821
1941 - ₤1,242
1942 - ₤5,018
Talent School
Cinesound established a talent school for young actors in 1938. Run by George Cross and Alec KellawayAlec Kellaway
Alec Kellaway was a South African-born actor best known for his work in Australian theatre and film, notably playing a number of character roles for director Ken G. Hall. He was the brother of Cecil Kellaway...
(who acted in many Cinesound films), it offered training in "deportment, enunciation, miming, microphone technique and limbering." By 1940 the school had had over 200 students, including Grant Taylor
Grant taylor
Grant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
and Yvonne East, who featured in Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, MP
Dad Rudd, M.P. is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and Frank Harvey....
(1940), plus Valerie Scanlon, Lorna Westbrook, Natalie Raine, and Mary Sinclair.
1940s
Cinesound Productions produced feature films until the Second World War, when it was considered that feature films were too great a financial risk to undertake. Cinesound then concentrated on producing the Cinesound Review, a newsreel that they had been generating to exhibit alongside their feature films.After the war, a British producer and exhibitor named J. Arthur Rank bought a controlling interest in Greater Union
Greater Union
Greater Union, Birch Carroll and Coyle, Event Cinemas, Skycity Cinemas and Damodar Village Cinemas together form a chain of cinema multiplexes across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji...
, and used the theatre chain primarily to exhibit British films, whilst discouraging local feature production. Hence Cinesound never regained its place as a major local film producer, and Australian film production was almost non-existent for the next two decades.
In 1940 the Australian Government decided to channel news footage to the public through the existing newsreel companies, Cinesound and Movietone. In the same year Cinesound abandoned feature production for the duration of the war. By this stage it was estimated Cinesound films had earned ₤400,000 at the box office.
In 1942 Cinesound provided the operational base for the film unit of the US Signal Corps to prepare newsreels for viewing to American troops in the South West Pacific theatre of the war.
In 1946 arrangements were made with the commercial film distribution companies to distribute selected Commonwealth Film Unit productions in Australian cinemas on a commercial basis. Similar arrangements existed for the release of general sponsored documentaries produced by Movietone and Cinesound.
Other Australian producers were almost totally deprived of access to commercial cinema screens.
Despite the success of Ken G Hall's last feature, Smithy, which was backed by Columbia Pictures as a means of repatriating frozen currency held in Australia due to wartime restrictions, Greater Union Theatres decided not to resume post-war production through Cinesound.
Feature Films
- On Our SelectionOn Our Selection (1932 film)On Our Selection is a 1932 comedy based on the Dad and Dave stories by Steele Rudd. These had been turned into a popular play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan in 1912, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Bailey repeats his stage role as Dad Rudd. He also write the script with director Ken G...
(1932) - The Squatter's DaughterThe Squatter's DaughterThe Squatter's Daughter is a 1933 Australian melodrama starring Jocelyn Howarth. It is based on a 1907 play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan which had been previously filmed in 1910.-Synopsis:...
(1933) - The Silence of Dean MaitlandThe Silence of Dean Maitland-Synopsis:The plot concerns a clergyman, Cyril Maitland , living in a small seaside town, who impregnates the beautiful Alma Lee despite being engaged to another woman. When Alma's father Ben finds out about the pregnancy, he attacks Maitland and is killed in a fall...
(1934) - Strike Me LuckyStrike Me LuckyStrike Me Lucky is a 1934 comedy starring popular stage comic Roy Rene in his first and only film.-Synopsis:‘Mo’ McIsaac and his sidekick Donald try to find work to support a young orphan girl he finds dancing for pennies in the street, Miriam , unaware she is really the missing daughter of rich...
(1934) - Grandad RuddGrandad RuddGrandad Rudd is a 1935 comedy featuring the Dad and Dave characters created by Steele Rudd and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to On Our Selection, and was later followed by Dad and Dave Come to Town and Dad Rudd, MP.-Original Play:...
(1935) - Thoroughbred (1936)
- Orphan of the WildernessOrphan of the WildernessOrphan of the Wilderness is a 1936 Australian feature film from director Ken G. Hall about the adventures of a boxing kangaroo. The film was banned in England because it depicted cruely to animals. It starred Brian Abbot who disappeared at sea not long after filming completed.-External links:* in...
(1936) - It Isn't DoneIt Isn't DoneIt Isn't Done is a 1937 comedy about an Australian grazier who inherits a baronacy.-Production:The film was based on an original story by Kellaway which he had written in between acts while performing in White Horse Inn on stage. Hall liked the basic idea but said Kellaway was unable to put it...
(1937) - Tall TimbersTall Timbers (1937 film)-Production:It was based on an original story by Frank Hurley which was rewritten by Frank Harvey. Hall claims it had no connection with the 1926 film Tall Timber, which he had never seen. He also said the resulting movie was "weak as hell"....
(1937) - Lovers and LuggersLovers and LuggersLovers and Luggers is a 1937 adventure melodrama about a pianist who goes to Thursday Island to retrieve a valuable pearl.-Production:The script was based on a novel by Gurney Slade which was set in Broome and adapted by Frank Harvey...
(1937) - The Broken MelodyThe Broken Melody (1937 film)The Broken Melody is a 1938 Australian drama film directed by Ken G. Hall and starring Lloyd Hughes, Diana Du Cane and Rosalind Kennerdale. It was based on a best-selling novel by F.J. Thwaites.-Production:...
(1938) - Let George Do ItLet George Do It (1938 film)Let George Do It is a 1938 comedy starring popular stage comedian George Wallace. It was the first of two films Wallace made for Ken G. Hall at Cinesound Productions, the other one being Gone to the Dogs...
(1938) - Dad and Dave Come to TownDad and Dave Come to TownDad and Dave Come to Town is a 1938 Australian comedy film directed by Ken G. Hall, the third in the 'Dad and Dave' comedy series starring Bert Bailey.-Synopsis:...
(1938) - Gone to the DogsGone to the Dogs (1939 film)Gone to the Dogs is a 1939 comedy vehicle starring George Wallace. It was the second of two films he made for director Ken G. Hall, following Let George Do It .-Synopsis:...
(1939) - Come Up SmilingCome Up SmilingCome Up Smiling is a 1939 Australian comedy starring popular US stage comedian Will Mahoney.-Synopsis:Barney O'Hara is a performer in a touring carnival who tries to raise money to save the voice of his talented singer daughter Pat Come Up Smiling is a 1939 Australian comedy starring popular US...
(1939) - Mr. Chedworth Steps OutMr. Chedworth Steps OutMr. Chedworth Steps Out is a 1939 Australian film directed by Ken G. Hall. The film is a comedy about a mild-mannered clerk who is dominated by his wife and gets fired from his job after years of service...
(1939) - Dad Rudd, MPDad Rudd, MPDad Rudd, M.P. is a 1940 comedy that was the last of four films made by Ken G. Hall starring Bert Bailey as Dad Rudd. It was the last feature film directed by Hall prior to the war and the last made by Cinesound Productions, Bert Bailey and Frank Harvey....
(1940)
Short Films
- Thar She Blows!Thar She Blows!Thar She Blows! is a 1931 short Australian film, the first production from Cinesound Productions. It is a documentary on the West Australian whaling industry.-Synopsis:...
(1931) - That's CricketThat's CricketThat's Cricket is a 1931 Australian featurette from director Ken G. Hall about the game of cricket and it's importance to the British Empire. It features appearances from some of Australia's top cricketers of the day and footage of the Australian cricket team in England in 1930.-Cast:*Lionel...
(1931) - Cinesound Review (weekly newsreel) (1931-1975)
- Cinesound VarietiesCinesound VarietiesCinesound Varieties is a 1934 Australian variety short film from director Ken G. Hall made to go out on a double-bill with the full-length feature, The Silence of Dean Maitland .-Synopsis:There were two main components of the film:...
(1934) - 100,000 Cobbers100,000 Cobbers100,000 Cobbers is a 1942 dramatised documentary made by director Ken G. Hall for the Australian Department of Information during World War II to boost recruitment into the armed forces. It was filmed at Liverpool Military camp in 1941 using national servicemen...
(1942) - South West PacificSouth West Pacific (1943 film)South West Pacific is a 1943 propaganda short Australian film directed by Ken G. Hall.-External links:* at Australian Screen Online...
(1943)
Unmade Films
Various films were announced for production by Cinesound that were not made, including- Pearl of Great Price, a story about the pearling trade
- Yellow Sands - a "thrilling tale of Australian sport and manhood"
- the story of the 'Overland Telegraph
- an adaptation of Robbery Under ArmsRobbery Under ArmsRobbery Under Arms is a classic Australian novel by Rolf Boldrewood . It was first published in serialised form by The Sydney Mail between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in London in 1888...
- as a version of the Eureka StockadeEureka StockadeThe Eureka Rebellion of 1854 was an organised rebellion by gold miners which occurred at Eureka Lead in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The Battle of Eureka Stockade was fought on 3 December 1854 and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict...
story. - Life of Melba, a biopic about opera singer Nellie MelbaNellie MelbaDame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
Of all these an adaptation of Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms is a classic Australian novel by Rolf Boldrewood . It was first published in serialised form by The Sydney Mail between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in London in 1888...
was the most frequently discussed - Ken G. Hall later described it as "the film I wanted to make more than any other". Film rights were bought from Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
and a script prepared with the movie meant to go into production in winter 1934 after making Cinesound Varieties
Cinesound Varieties
Cinesound Varieties is a 1934 Australian variety short film from director Ken G. Hall made to go out on a double-bill with the full-length feature, The Silence of Dean Maitland .-Synopsis:There were two main components of the film:...
, but it was originally postponed because of a desire to make the film in summer time. Plans to make the film the next year were held up because Cinesound were unsure whether the ban against bushranging films still applied.
External links
- Cinesound Productions - partial filmography – Australian Screen, an Australian Film Commission resource
- Cinesound Productions at IMDB
- Cinesound Productions at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...