The Commercial Traveller – relic of a bygone era, obviously very important back in the 1950s – more important than a film star!
“Quorn Mercury” August 3, 1950
TRAVELLER TRINDER
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A city traveller called at a hotel in the Quorn district where the movie, “Bitter Springs” was made, asked if Tommy Trinder – star of the film – had called in there at all.
“Tommy Trinder” said the man running the hotel. “I don’t think so. Who does he travel for?”
“Quorn Mercury” 14 September, 1950
Director Who Made Lordly Clifton Webb
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LEWIS MILESTONE EXPECTED IN PORT AUGUSTA SOON
Director Lewis Milestone, who is expected in Port Augusta in the near future to make 20th Century Fox’s new color film, “Kangaroo”, among other achievements, unearthed that princely Clifton Webb and set him on the path to stardom.
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“Quorn Mercury”, Sept 14, 1950
Furniture Sought for Film Homestead
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SATISFACTORY PROGRESS WITH BUILDING
Mr Mark-Lee Kirk, art director of 20th Century Fox Company, who had been in Port Augusta for some days making preliminary arrangements in connection with the production of the color film in the nearby Flinders Ranges, said on Tuesday that work on the 19th century homestead at the main filming site was progressing satisfactorily.
However, difficulty was being experienced in obtaining suitable furniture and furnishings. He pointed out that the story made it necessary for the building, the home of the leading landowner of the district, to be well furnished, especially two bedrooms, kitchen, living room and halls.
His company was pleased to hear from people prepared to sell or hire furniture, oil lamps, a grandfather clock, cooking utensils and a wood burning stove of that period.
Mr Mark-Lee Kirk praised the cooperation being received from the South Australian people and said that he was able to obtain two wooden windmill wheels previously sought at Glenelg. He left Port Augusta on Wednesday for Sydney, and would like persons willing to assist with furniture, etc., to contact Mr Westonhiser, at Hotel Flinders.
12th June 2008 – Racing Recovery Flicks.
Quorn Town Hall.
SILVER BRUMBY (1998)
The Silver Brumby is about a Brumby called Thowra, who lives a wild life with his his friends, Wombat, Boon Boon and the rest. He gets up to adventures to help save his friends from the evil hunters.
BLUE FIRE LADY (1977) directed by Ross Dimsey
Jenny Grey a horse loving country girl leaves her widowed father to move to the city after her father’s frustrations towards Jenny and her desires to ride horses, after her mother had died from a horse-riding accident. Jenny finds work at a country race track and becomes obsessed with a troublesome horse called “Blue Fire Lady”. “Blue Fire Lady” shows promise in Jenny’s hands, but around everyone else misbehaves and shows no discipline. When “Blue Fire Lady” is put up for auction it is up to Jenny to either buy her or prove her.
MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (1982) directed by George Miller
A story about Jim Craig – an 18 year old who has recently lost his father in trying to capture ‘the colt from Old Regret’. While working on Harrison’s farm Jim falls in love with Harrison’s daughter Jessica. After Harrisons’s prize colt disappears a roundup of the brumbies in the highlands is going to be conducted with Clancy of the Overflow in the lead.
The Chronicle, 9 July 1964
ZANUCKVILLE HOUSES GONE
A reference to the 24 houses erected to house the film unit making the film Kangaroo in 1950s. The accomodation, on the outskirts of Port Augusta, was named Zanuckville after the 2oth Century Fox producer Daniel Zanuck.
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“Quorn Mercury” Sept. 7, 1950
MAKING A FILM
(BY MICHAEL DAVENPORT)
South Australians and particularly the northern people are gratified at the decision to make a Technicolor film of the cattle industry, with a location in the lower Flinders Ranges. Read the rest of this entry »
“Quorn Mercury” Thursday August 3, 1950
QUORN MAY BE SCENE OF ANOTHER FILM
PROPOSED SITES INSPECTED BY U.S. VISITOR
Mr S. Hall, a representative of 20th Century-Fox Films, visited Quorn at the weekend to investigate sites for a color film with a cattle industry background.
Accompanied by officers of the Government Tourist Bureau, Mr Hall called on Mr L. Pope, a local businessman with an introduction from Chips Rafferty, who played on of the main parts in “Bitter Springs”.
The requirements are a 19th century homestead with in plain country with a background of hills.
The Quorn manager of Goldsbrough Mort & Co. Ltd (Mr N. Fuss) recommended several sites.
It is understood that Mr Hall’s visit is directly due to the favourable reception overseas of “Bitter Springs”, which was made in the Quorn country.
“Quorn Mercury” October ?, 1950
It would appear that Quorn and Port Augusta locals either did not have suitable furniture and furnishings for the 20th Century Fox film “Kangaroo” or were not prepared to hire or sell it, if they did.
PROPERTY FOR COLOR FILM ARRIVES
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GRANDFATHER CLOCK ABOUT 175 YEARS OLD
A pantechnicon with a full load of 30 cubic tons arrived in Port Augusta last week with furniture which will be seen in the Technicolor film, “Kangaroo”. The consignment will be the basis of the furniture for the film homestead set near Port Augusta.
It included a grandfather clock nearly 174 years old and wardrobes and dressing tables for the star, Maureen O’Hara.
Three Victorian period lounge suites and four chests, including a bow-fronted mahogany one 145 years old, bookcases, sideboards, hall tables, assorted chairs, seven mirrors and a dozen cases of miscellaneous bric-a-brac made up the load which came from Period and Art Furnishers, Waymouth Street [Adelaide].
23 May 2008
Flinders Flicks screened Australian film Razzle Dazzle and Local Digital Stories at Quorn Youth Centre.
DIGITAL STORIES
Films made by Flinders Ranges residents during the Media Resource Centre’s Digital Stories project held as part of the Port Augusta Re-imagines programme in May 2008.
RAZZLE DAZZLE (2007) directed by Darren Ashton.
Australian mockumentary about youth dance competition. Who said saving the world can’t be entertaining?
The first Flinders Flicks events were held during the Flinders Ranges Bush Festival 2007, at the Quorn Caravan Park, on the 25 & 26 April 2008.
With the support of Big Screen Australia, two films were shown that had been made in the local area.
GALLIPOLI (1981) directed by Peter Weir
The story of a group of young Australian men who leave their various backgrounds behind and sign up to join the ANZACs in World War I. They are sent to Gallipoli, where they encounter the might of the Turkish army.
LUCKY MILES (2007) directed by Michael Rowland.
An Indonesian fishing boat abandons a group of Iraqi and Cambodian men on a remote part of the Western Australian coast. While most are quickly rounded up, three men with little in common but their history of misfortune elude capture and begin an epic but confused journey drawn on by their hopes amplified by the empty desert.
