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Out of the Shadows

It's not a simple matter to identify the 'first talkie' made in Australia. The first talkie to begin production, in March 1930, was Out of the Shadows (A. R. Harwood). This was completed, but, sadly, never released.

Early in 1931 Harwood attempted to beat Efftee to the screen with Australia's first talkie. A five-reel 'society' romance, Out of the Shadows was shot in Melbourne using a makeshift sound-on-disc recording system. The only set of wax discs, however, buckled in a heat wave before the film could be shown, and the whole enterprise foundered. Pike & Cooper: 154.


Garry Gillard | New: 24 December, 2012 | Now: 27 June, 2020