King of the Coral Sea
Encyclopedia
King of the Coral Sea is a 1954 film starring Chips Rafferty
and Charles Tingwell
, directed by Lee Robinson
and shot on location in Thursday Island.
ring in the process. He is helped by Peter Merriman (Tingwell), the owner of King's company. Merriman romances King's daughter Rusty (Ilma Adey).
, a character Lee Robinson created with the aim of making the film more appealing to the international market.
. The filming was unique as the cameraman and the actors dived with a rare scuba known as the Lawson Lung. It was a patent violation of the Cousteau-Gagnan patented Aqua Lung. It had a unique appearance, which came from the tank being worn on the diver's back, with the regulator worn on the divers chest. The Lawson Lung was made in Sydney in small numbers, because getting scuba gear in Australia was very difficult at the time. "Chips" dived in an open British made Heinke helmet as well as using the Lawson Lung towards the end of the film. Thursday Island was known for its pearl shells, which were collected for jewelry and buttons. The film was noted for the documentation of pearl shell divers and the luggers they sailed in.
Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
and Charles Tingwell
Charles Tingwell
In 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
, directed by Lee Robinson
Lee Robinson
Lee Robinson may refer to:*Lee Robinson , American football linebacker*Lee Robinson *Lee Robinson *Lee Robinson , Australian director...
and shot on location in Thursday Island.
Synopsis
Rafferty plays Ted King, a pearler who investigates a murder, uncovering a people smugglingPeople smuggling
People smuggling is defined as "the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries laws, either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents"...
ring in the process. He is helped by Peter Merriman (Tingwell), the owner of King's company. Merriman romances King's daughter Rusty (Ilma Adey).
Production
The supporting cast includes Rod Taylor in his feature film debut. Taylor plays an American who elected to stay on in Australia after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a character Lee Robinson created with the aim of making the film more appealing to the international market.
Underwater Photography
The film was shot almost entirely on location on Thursday Island, except for the underwater footage, which was filmed off Green IslandGreen Island
- In Africa :* Green Island , in the Gulf of Suez* Green Island , in the Red Sea - In Asia :* Green Island, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China...
. The filming was unique as the cameraman and the actors dived with a rare scuba known as the Lawson Lung. It was a patent violation of the Cousteau-Gagnan patented Aqua Lung. It had a unique appearance, which came from the tank being worn on the diver's back, with the regulator worn on the divers chest. The Lawson Lung was made in Sydney in small numbers, because getting scuba gear in Australia was very difficult at the time. "Chips" dived in an open British made Heinke helmet as well as using the Lawson Lung towards the end of the film. Thursday Island was known for its pearl shells, which were collected for jewelry and buttons. The film was noted for the documentation of pearl shell divers and the luggers they sailed in.
Cast
- Chips RaffertyChips RaffertyChips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
as Ted King - Charles TingwellCharles TingwellIn 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
as Peter Merriman - Ilma Adey as Rusty King
- Rod Taylor as Jake Janiero
- Lloyd BerrellLloyd BerrellLloyd Berrell was a New Zealand actor who played Roo in the original Sydney production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. He worked extensively in Australian radio and theatre, and appeared in a large portion of the few films being shot locally at the time...
as Yusep - Reg Lye as Grundy
External links
- King of the Coral Sea in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Clip from film at You Tube
- King of the Coral Sea at the Rod Taylor Site