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Ran Randell, well-known Sydney stage and radio
star, will play the leading role of Sir Charles Kingsford
Smith in Columbia Pictures' first Australian film.
The managing director of Colum.
bla Pictures and producer of the
"'Smith.v" filmn Mr. N. P. PerY'
announced this today.
There had been considerable
speculation in Australia as to who
would occuPv the top role in the
Kingsford Smith film. Recently it
was rumored that Hollywood film
-tar David Niven would be im
Dorted to play the role.
The director of the filmn (Mr.
Ken G. Hall) said Randell would
receive the greatest opportumnity
ever given an Australian player in
motion pictures.
"The choice was finally made
after exhaustive tests of many top
line Australian actors. Randell ir
a person ideally suitable and cap
a.ble of portraying Smithy's life
and career.
"He clamuns not only extensive
local experience. but brings to his
role valuable experience secured
on a visit to America. when he not
only starred with Nancy Carroll
in the play "Mr. and Mrs. North,"
but appeared with Robert Young
and Peter Van Eyck in the Colum
bia Broadcast series "Passport for
Adams."
"He was hailed in America as a
professional artist of outstanding,
merit and as a true example of a
young Autralian."
Randell served in the Army at
the beginning of the war, and was
later discharged. He is the
youngest of three brothers. One isl
a pilot-officer in the R.A.A.F., while
the other is in the A.I.F.
"Smithy" is being made for
world distriboution, and is the first
Australian production to be en
tirelv made by an American corm
pany.
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