Recently I was reading a local online news service and there it was "Memories sought for film premiere restaging". It had been 50 years since the Gala Premiere of "A Town Like Alice" at the Pioneer Theatre in Alice Springs on the 24th July 1956; and the good people of Alice Springs wanted to relive some of the excitement and glamour of Hollywood coming to the Alice. According to the "Centralian Advocate" dated July 20th 1956 a world record was to be set on July 24th (the big night) , the record was that in no part of the world have so many people travelled such long distances to see one film ( I wonder if this is still the World Record Holder?).
I read this book at High School as did most Australian children. It tells the story of a group of women and children Prisoners of War forced to march across Malaya by the Japanese. Along the way one of the women (Jean Paget) meets up with an Australian soldier (Joe Harman) who sneaks food in for them from his labor camp. After the war, she goes to Australia to see the town that he was from; that being Alice Springs and settles there.
The Film Premiere itself was also used to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, invaluable today as it was then to the people and visitors of the outback of Australia. On July 27th 1956 the Centralian Advocate advises us that as much as 1000 Australia Pounds (this was before demical currency) was raised for the RFDS. It further goes on to say that the premiere was well organised and enjoyed by all adding that both Mr Finch and Mr Shute " enjoyed themselves but were careful to leave the limelight to other folk"(who may they have been?)
Apparently Mr Finch and Mr Shute were both charming and made great impressions on all who met with them. Unlike the film, and I quote "The filming of the few moments devoted to "A Town Like Alice" smacks of an American Western "cheapie". In fact the film should have another name". (Centralian July 27th 1956).
I read this book at High School as did most Australian children. It tells the story of a group of women and children Prisoners of War forced to march across Malaya by the Japanese. Along the way one of the women (Jean Paget) meets up with an Australian soldier (Joe Harman) who sneaks food in for them from his labor camp. After the war, she goes to Australia to see the town that he was from; that being Alice Springs and settles there.
A Town Like Alice starred Australian actor Peter Finch along with British actress Virginia McKenna, and this is where I have to mention that this is actually not an Australian film at all. Really the only connections to Australia is that one of the characters was an Australia and that he lived in Australia and that is where the Jean decides to follow . The author took inspiration from a trip to Australia. According to the Centralian Advocate of July 20th 1956 Mr Shute had settled in Australia at the time, not sure if he returned to England.
The Film Premiere itself was also used to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, invaluable today as it was then to the people and visitors of the outback of Australia. On July 27th 1956 the Centralian Advocate advises us that as much as 1000 Australia Pounds (this was before demical currency) was raised for the RFDS. It further goes on to say that the premiere was well organised and enjoyed by all adding that both Mr Finch and Mr Shute " enjoyed themselves but were careful to leave the limelight to other folk"(who may they have been?)
Apparently Mr Finch and Mr Shute were both charming and made great impressions on all who met with them. Unlike the film, and I quote "The filming of the few moments devoted to "A Town Like Alice" smacks of an American Western "cheapie". In fact the film should have another name". (Centralian July 27th 1956).
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