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King of the Coral Sea

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Wikipedia article




'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. It was one of the most commercially successful Australian films of the 1950s and was Rod Taylor's film debut.

Synopsis



A body is found floating in the Torres Strait and pearler Ted King is asked to investigate. He discovers the murder is connected to a people smuggling ring and involves one of his men, Yusep. He is helped by Peter Merriman, the playboy owner of King's company who romances King's daughter Rusty. Yusep kidnaps Rusty but Merriman and King rescue her.

Cast



*Chips Rafferty as Ted King

*Charles Tingwell as Peter Merriman

*Ilma Adey as Rusty King

*Rod Taylor as Jake Janiero

*Lloyd Berrell as Yusep

*Reg Lye as Grundy

*Charles Peverill as Sergeant Charlie Wright

*Frances Chin Soon as Serena

Production



Lee Robinson had previously made a documentary on the pearling industry, 'The Pearlers' (1949). All Australian slang was removed from the script to ensure it would not be confusing for international audiences. The shoot took place from June to October 1953.

Casting

The supporting cast included Rod Taylor in his film debut. He played an American who elected to stay on in Australia after World War II, a character Robinson created with the aim of making the film appealing to the international market. Taylor, Robinson, Rafferty, Charles Tingwell and Lloyd Berrell all knew each other from working in Sydney radio.Stephen Vagg, 'Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood' (Bear Manor Media, 2010) p36 Also featured in the cast were Ilma Adey, a model and cabaret entertainer without any previous acting experience, and Frances Chin Soon, a local nurse from Thursday Island.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28660648 "FEATURES Monsters Looked On When Australians Took Their Camera Underwater... Film Cast's Peril On Sea Bed." 'The Sun-Herald (Sydney)' 11 Apr 1954: 26]. Retrieved 16 December 2011

Underwater photography

The film was shot almost entirely on location on Thursday Island, except for the underwater footage, which was filmed off Green Island. Noel Monkman was primarily responsible for this.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42836723 "FAR NORTHERN SCENES." 'Cairns Post' 21 Aug 1954: 5]. Retrieved 16 December 2011 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 chest. The Lawson Lung was made in Sydney in small numbers, because getting scuba gear in Australia was very difficult at the time. Rafferty 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.Stephen Vagg, 'King of the Coral Sea: A Royal Achievement', Metro Magazine 158 Sept 2008 p88

Release



The film was originally entitled 'King of the Arafura' but was retitled 'King of the Coral Sea' as it was felt the Coral Sea was a better known sea than the Arafura."THE LOCAL SCREEN SCENE: Feature on Atomic Bomb Spies Planned -- Of Guided Missiles -- Other Matters" by A. H. WEILER. 'New York Times' 24 January 1954: X5. The world premiere was held on Thursday Island on 17 July 1954, with a simultaneous screening in Melbourne.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42832626 "ISLAND FILM." 'Cairns Post' 16 Jul 1954: 7]. Retrieved 16 December 2011[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50590763 "Natives enjoy local character, places." 'The Courier-Mail' (Brisbane, Qld) 20 Jul 1954: 12]. Retrieved 16 December 2011 The film enjoyed a successful release and Robinson estimated it tripled its costs within three months. A "Queen of the Coral Sea" competition was held to promote the movie.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42844669 "QUEEN OF THE CORAL SEA" 'Cairns Post' 30 Oct 1954: 7]. Retrieved 16 December 2011

References




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