-By David Pearce
It often takes international cooperation to get a film made, or
restored in the present day. Australian film historian Paul Brennan
recently tracked down a print of the 1930 Technicolor epic
Mamba, an expensive film that bankrupted its studio, Tiffany
Pictures. (It is said that prints from Tiffany Pictures were used
to fuel the fire in
Gone with the Wind.) The print was found
in Adelaide in the property of an 85-year-old ex-traveling showman.
But this print had no sound. Brennan then discovered a complete set
of nine soundtrack records at UCLA. Then it was time to hire a
Swedish sound engineer, Jonas Nordin, to synchronize everything.
The restored
Mamba had a premiere screening in Melbourne in
November and a U.S. screening in Syracuse, New York, last month.
The film was initially advertised as the "screen's first
all-talking, all-color drama.”
An international co-production of a different kind bought the
Finnish dark sci-fi comedy
Iron Sky to life. Finnish, German
and Australian companies banded together to fund the movie, with
filming done in Germany and Australia under the control of Finnish
director Timo Vuorensola. The story follows a group of German Nazis
who fled to the dark side of the moon in 1945; they have now
regrouped and are ready to invade Earth. The film opened in April
in Finland and Germany, with other countries to follow. Even before
it had debuted, the picture sold to over 70 countries including
most of Europe, the U.K., the U.S., Australia and much of
Asia.
Australian author Tim Winton's book
The Turning has 17
connected short stories of the same name. Screen Australia has
recently given development funding to a film adaptation. The movie
will have 17 directors each helming a chapter. Directors include
the actors Cate Blanchett, Mia Wasikowska and David Wenham, as well
as numerous film directors including Justin Kurzel, Tony Ayres and
Jonathan Auf Der Heide. No casting choices have been announced as
yet.
On a recent trip to Indonesia, I helped Disney's beleaguered
John Carter. Faced with a choice of 2D for around $2 or 3D
for $3 (Australian or US dollars—they are near equal), I chose the
more expensive option.
Send your Australia/New Zealand news items to David Pearce at
insidemovies@hotmail.com.
Rediscovering a lost 1930 Technicolor gem
April 13, 2012
-By David Pearce
It often takes international cooperation to get a film made, or restored in the present day. Australian film historian Paul Brennan recently tracked down a print of the 1930 Technicolor epic
Mamba, an expensive film that bankrupted its studio, Tiffany Pictures. (It is said that prints from Tiffany Pictures were used to fuel the fire in
Gone with the Wind.) The print was found in Adelaide in the property of an 85-year-old ex-traveling showman. But this print had no sound. Brennan then discovered a complete set of nine soundtrack records at UCLA. Then it was time to hire a Swedish sound engineer, Jonas Nordin, to synchronize everything. The restored
Mamba had a premiere screening in Melbourne in November and a U.S. screening in Syracuse, New York, last month. The film was initially advertised as the "screen's first all-talking, all-color drama.”
An international co-production of a different kind bought the Finnish dark sci-fi comedy
Iron Sky to life. Finnish, German and Australian companies banded together to fund the movie, with filming done in Germany and Australia under the control of Finnish director Timo Vuorensola. The story follows a group of German Nazis who fled to the dark side of the moon in 1945; they have now regrouped and are ready to invade Earth. The film opened in April in Finland and Germany, with other countries to follow. Even before it had debuted, the picture sold to over 70 countries including most of Europe, the U.K., the U.S., Australia and much of Asia.
Australian author Tim Winton's book
The Turning has 17 connected short stories of the same name. Screen Australia has recently given development funding to a film adaptation. The movie will have 17 directors each helming a chapter. Directors include the actors Cate Blanchett, Mia Wasikowska and David Wenham, as well as numerous film directors including Justin Kurzel, Tony Ayres and Jonathan Auf Der Heide. No casting choices have been announced as yet.
On a recent trip to Indonesia, I helped Disney's beleaguered
John Carter. Faced with a choice of 2D for around $2 or 3D for $3 (Australian or US dollars—they are near equal), I chose the more expensive option.
Send your Australia/New Zealand news items to David Pearce at insidemovies@hotmail.com.
