OK For Sound (1928-1948)

The beginning of the talkies in Australia. The managing director of the Hoyts theatre chain, Frank Thring, starts Efftee Film Productions. Efftee developed a quaint device to sync sound with picture; the clapperboard. The George Wallace comedies. Child actor Bill Kerr relates how his mother helped him get his start. Clive Cross details the innovation of the Cinesound system, leading to the company Cinesound Productions. Hoyts and Greater Union join forces, once again squeezing local productions out of cinemas. Longford makes his final films. The film quota comes into being. The films of Charles Chauvel including '40,000 Horsemen, starring Chips Rafferty. Ken Hall's 'Orphan of the Wilderness' makes a household name of Chut the Kangaroo. One of Hall's stars recalls how she destroyed an expensive scene. The Dad and Dave films enjoy continued success. Newsreel coverage of World War II, including Damien Parer's Academy Award-winning 'Kokoda Front Line'. Charles Chauvel's docudrama 'Soldiers Without Uniforms'. Grierson's impact on Australian documentary production. Robinson made one of the early Australian colour films, 'Namatjira the Painter'. Ken Hall's Smithy becomes one of the post-WWII successes and his last film.