Cinesound Varieties
Encyclopedia
Cinesound Varieties is a 1934 Australian variety short film from director Ken G. Hall
made to go out on a double-bill with the full-length feature, The Silence of Dean Maitland
(1934).
1) 'Evolution of a Waltz' - a musical presentation with Hamilton Webber and the State Orchestra illustrating the evolution of the waltz from the age of Mozart to Irving Berlin
2) 'Nautical Nonsense' - a musical comedy revue, featuring several Australian variety stars including
There were also appearances by Emanel Aarons at the grand organ and an adagio dance by the Orlandos.
was using the studio for a film of his. There were also a number of scenes shot on Sydney harbour. "It was written in a hurry and it was a bad effort," said Hall later. "I'm not proud of it."
"It is difficult to believe that Cinesound Varieties comes from the same studio as The Silence of Dean Maitland - if it did," said the reviewer from The Argus. "In it all those things that should not be done are done and all that should be done are left undone."
"A sadly overdressed mus:cal revue whicli has inherited all the evils the talkies were ever heir to, except the American slang," said The Advertiser.
Only 18 minutes of the film survive today.
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
made to go out on a double-bill with the full-length feature, The Silence of Dean Maitland
The Silence of Dean Maitland
-Synopsis:The plot concerns a clergyman, Cyril Maitland , living in a small seaside town, who impregnates the beautiful Alma Lee despite being engaged to another woman. When Alma's father Ben finds out about the pregnancy, he attacks Maitland and is killed in a fall...
(1934).
Synopsis
There were two main components of the film:1) 'Evolution of a Waltz' - a musical presentation with Hamilton Webber and the State Orchestra illustrating the evolution of the waltz from the age of Mozart to Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
2) 'Nautical Nonsense' - a musical comedy revue, featuring several Australian variety stars including
- Fred BluettFred BluettFrederick George Bluett was a London-born vaudevillian who worked extensively on Australian stage and radio. His children Gus and Kitty also worked on stage.-Selected credits:*Showgirl's Luck - film...
and his Boy Scouts story as pirates in Sydney - the Tom Katz saxophone band
- soprano Angela Parselles
- tap dancing by the Lowell brothers
- musical numbers by the Cinesound Octette
- the Cinesound Beauty Ballet of twenty Australian girls.
There were also appearances by Emanel Aarons at the grand organ and an adagio dance by the Orlandos.
Production
The movie was made in two weeks in a local showground because Charles ChauvelCharles Chauvel
Charles Edward Chauvel OBE was an Australian filmmaker.-Early life:Born in Warwick, Queensland, he was the nephew of General Sir Henry Chauvel, Commander of the Australian Light Horse and later the Desert Mounted Corps in Palestine during World War I...
was using the studio for a film of his. There were also a number of scenes shot on Sydney harbour. "It was written in a hurry and it was a bad effort," said Hall later. "I'm not proud of it."
Reception
Contemporary reviews were poor. "Pace is the essence of a variety show, and pace is what Cinesound Varieties definitely lacks," said the critic from the Sydney Morning Herald. "The text which holds everything together is painfully weak, and the humour deplorable. These are two points in which every Australian film so far, except On Our Selection has come desperately to grief; and, even in On Our Selection, the actors and the photographs had to triumph over unfavourable material. Talk of winning success in oversea markets will remain so much beating of empty air as long as producers continue to give text and narrative value last place in their attention, instead of putting these matters first. Sooner or later, the literary side of things must come into its own.""It is difficult to believe that Cinesound Varieties comes from the same studio as The Silence of Dean Maitland - if it did," said the reviewer from The Argus. "In it all those things that should not be done are done and all that should be done are left undone."
"A sadly overdressed mus:cal revue whicli has inherited all the evils the talkies were ever heir to, except the American slang," said The Advertiser.
Only 18 minutes of the film survive today.
External links
- Varieties 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...
- Cinesound Varieties at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...
- Cinesound Varieties at Australian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen OnlineAustralian Screen Online is an on-line database operated by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. It provides information about and excerpts from a wide selection of Australian feature films, documentaries, television programs, newsreels, short films, animations, and home-movies. It also...